When bad news comes our way that goes against God's words and plans for our lives...who's report are we going to believe?
This is a powerful teaching and article from John Belt about the importance of believing God...at all times!
I know God is calling us to to stretch our faith, take new risks, and believe for much more!
As you read through John's article I pray it encourages you to continue on this new and exciting season that God is calling us to. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Faith: The Good Report
"Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, 'Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.'" (Numbers 13:30)
In the book of Numbers we see how God brings the children of Israel to the edge of crossing over into the Promised Land. Here God presents them with the opportunity to believe that "with God all things are possible." Joshua, Caleb and others went to spy out the land that God intended to give to them. When they returned, Caleb came back with a good report, in faith, encouraging the people to get ready to go and take this land.
Unbelief: The Evil Report
Sadly enough, there were others who were with them that had an opposing view. Their eyes were focused on the natural realities rather than the greatness of God. They were more self-conscious. They were focused on the obstacle – saying they themselves were like "grasshoppers" – rather than focused on the bigness of God. This was their self-perception. They did not have a life with God but were depending on their own strength.
| "God is faithful to those who believe His words." |
"But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.' And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, 'The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.'" (Numbers 13:31-33)
After this we see the natural gravitation of Israel: to not believe Caleb's good report, but rather the evil report of the others that created the downward spiral of actions that were hugely displeasing to God. It is important to note that all of the actions that followed began with "not believing the good report." As the book of Hebrews explains, they had an evil heart of unbelief that departed from the living God.
A Huge Pity Party
"So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night." (Numbers 14:1)
The first thing that happens as a result of their unbelief is that they had a huge pity party, weeping all night long, not because they could not go into the Promised Land but because they choose to believe the wrong report.
What can we learn from this all-night pity party? The answer: It is better to believe!
Blame Shifting
"And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, 'If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" (Numbers 14:2-3)
The second thing that happened was the congregation of Israel complained "against" Moses and Aaron. Instead of owning up to their own problems, mistakes and issues that they have in their hearts, they chose to blame someone else instead. After all, it is much more convenient to do that. It is the blame game in full force because they refused to see that it was their issue. Sounds a lot like what happened when Adam and Even fell in the Garden of Eden, doesn't it?
What is the sum lesson here from all of this griping and complaining going on? The answer: It is better to believe! (Photo via Unsplash)
Delusion and Presumption
The next thing the people did was start entertaining the idea that the grass was greener in Egypt, where they were slaves in bondage making mud pies. This is like a dog going back to vomit! In their minds they had believed a lie with the result being a warped and twisted fantasy that "it was better in the olden days." God brought them through the wilderness to bring them into the Promised Land – a land that was prosperous and flowing with milk and honey.
Yes, there were adversaries to overcome – anything good has a price – but at least they wouldn't have chains around their necks! They get a sword and shield to use as needed – seems like a much better plan.
"So they said to one another, 'Let us select a leader and return to Egypt'" (Numbers 14:4). In this deception, not only do they want to go back to Egypt, they are now falling into a much deeper and presumptuous sin by thinking they can actually select their own leader. They do not have this luxury or appointment. Now, they are delving into dangerous territory. This is the downward, destructive spiral of an unbelieving heart. Now we see delusion, fantasy and presumption setting in.
What could possibly be a good nugget to glean from this? The answer... (continue reading)
