A Majority Report and a Minority Report

“They gave Moses this account…”, Number 13:27a

As the Israelites drew near to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, God instructed Moses to send 12 men, one from each tribe, to spy out the land and bring back a report.  The men were chosen, and they spent 40 days traveling throughout Canaan. When they returned, they brought a cluster of grapes so large two men carried it on a pole between them. All twelve men agreed that it was a very fertile land. Numbers 13:27, “They gave Moses this account:  ‘We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey [as God had promised them].  Here is its fruit.”  So far, so good.

Ten of the spies reported that there were many people there and that the cities were fortified.  They said that the men of Canaan were so large that they felt like grasshoppers beside them.  The majority report concluded that the Israelites would be unable to take over the land they had seen.  These men operated out of fear, and this fear spread to all the Israelites.  They had left their all powerful God out of the equation.

Joshua and Caleb took God into consideration and gave a minority report.  Numbers 13:30, “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land for we can certainly do it.’”

What can we do when we are faced with what appears to be an overwhelming challenge?  Does it help to turn away in fear?  Fear limits our lives, putting constraints on our actions and preventing us from expanding our lives.  2 Timothy 1:7 in the NASB tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and love and discipline.”  Who do you suppose wants us to cower with fear?

Probably you have heard the saying, “God and I are a majority.”  It is true.  With God on your side, you can venture forth with courage--which is doing whatever even though you are afraid--and become victorious over the giants of challenge in your life.  We can either quake with fear and draw back or trust God and march forward.  Which will you choose?

Elizabeth Cheney wrote,

Said the robin to the sparrow,

"I should really like to know

Why these anxious human beings

rush about and worry so."

Said the sparrow to the robin,

"Friend, I think that it must be

That they have no Heavenly Father

such as cares for you and me."

Dear God, thank You that you are a Heavenly Father Who cares for each of Your creatures including me.  Amen.