Men of Faith?

The Lord spoke to Moses: "Send men to scout out the land of Caanan I am going to giventhe Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes." Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran at the Lord's command. All the men were leaders in Insrael. These were their names:
Shamua from Reuben; 
Shaphat from Simeon, 
Caleb from Judah; 
Igal from Issachar; 
Hoshea (Joshua) son of Nun from Ephraim;
Palti from Benjamin;
Gaddiel from Zebulun;
Gaddi from Joseph;
Ammiel from Dan;
Sethur from Asher;
Nahbi from Naphtali;
Geuel from Gad.
At the end of 40 days they returned from scouting out the land. Numbers 13:1-15; 25
The 40 days represent the approximate time it would have taken Israel to get to the promised land (350-400 miles) on foot. However, we know they took several years.

At last the tribe of Israel was at te border of their promise, how exciting!

They waited for the spies to come back with anticipation, trusting those they sent to deliver an accurate report.

In verse 26 the spies return and give their report: the land did indeed flow with milk and honey however the people who lived in the land appeared strong and their cities fortified. They had forgotten what God had done for them thus far. They were looking at themselves.

In verse 33 they said: ' to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, we must have seemed the same to them.'

Caleb sounded a good report: 'we must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conqueror it.'v 30

In chapter 14:1 the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept all night.

Oh God! A good report brings hope, a bad report brings fear. How sad! Only Joshua and Caleb believed they were able, the remaining 10 had no faith. Scouts need to be people of faith.

When I know God wants me to step out, I have to be careful who I speak to. I need to hear faith. I need encouragement to step out not discouragement to hold back. Stepping out so needs to be protected, guarded by people of faith and not emotion, real faith, unwavering faith. Amen!

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