The story of the Israelites surveying the Promised Land has two parts: God’s command and the Israelites’ response.
“Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel,” God commanded the Israelites in Numbers 13:2.
God did not just offer hope of the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. He did something more. He confirmed the promise with His Word, and God always performs His Word.
Ten out of the twelve men who had ventured to scout the Promised Land returned with evidence of a prosperous land, but they also presented a negative report about the formidable opposition that must be overcome. Only Caleb and Joshua were not concerned about the opposition. They believed in God’s promise. They knew God had given His Word and would go before them.
“There we saw the giants,” the other ten reported. “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight!” (Numbers 13:33)
God’s Promised Land was confirmed right before their eyes, but they only saw the opposition to be overcome to receive it. Fear claimed the spies and then spread like wildfire to everyone else. God was angry with the Israelites’ complaining and their fear.
“Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me. Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and Joshua, son of Nun” (Numbers 14:27-30, NLT).
The giants never defeated the Israelites. It was the fear of the giants that defeated them. They never even faced the giants. The Lord would have gone before them to defeat the strongholds of Canaan, but their fear never allowed it. They saw defeat before they even tried. The Israelites were defeated, not by the giants, but by fear.
Faith is the capacity to believe. We can believe God or believe a fearful report. What we believe will determine our consequences. On what is your faith focused? On the Word of God or the giants in your life, and what you think might happen? If you live in fear, you will never even face the giants. You will never know that God is with you. You will never know what it means to trust Him. Fear will keep you from receiving God’s promise. Fear alone will defeat you.
Do you have a promise God has confirmed to you with His Word, but you only see the giants? Fear keeps you from fighting the good fight of faith. God has not given you a spirit of fear but power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
“Fear not,” God says, “for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
What is your response to God’s promise? Faith overcomes your opposition. Don’t let a fearful report hold you back. There will always be giants to defeat. Believe in the promise God has confirmed to you! Believe in His excellent report! Be courageous! Step out in faith! His power in you overcomes the enemy and the strongholds keeping you from taking possession of your promise.
“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
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