In Deuteronomy Moses is giving his
last and final speech to the Israelites. And to start off his
speech he reminds them of the journey that they took up and till
the border of the Promised Land. And in Deuteronomy 1:19-46 he
recounts the event of the scouts going out and exploring the land
and how they got back and gave a negative report. He reminded them
how they overreacted to the negative report and refused to enter
the Promised Land. And he repeated to them what he had said:
"Don't be afraid! The Lord your God
is going before you. He will fight for you, just as you saw Him do
in Egypt. And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you again and
again in the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now
He had brought you to this place. But even after all He did, you
refused to trust in the Lord your God, who goes before you looking
for the best place to camp, guiding you by a pillar of fire at
night and a pillar of cloud by day." Deuteronomy 1:29-33
As you all know it was only
after the Lord punished them for not trusting in Him that
they repented and tried to enter the land on their own, which of
course didn't work.
"Then you returned and wept before
the Lord, but He refused to listen. So you stayed there at Kadesh
for a long time." Deuteronomy 1:46
What a sad verse. I can just
imagine how they sat there in the dust, filled with remorse and
regret, with no prospects of a better future for them. They will
all die aimlessly wandering through the wilderness. How different
it could have been if they had trusted in the Lord. The scouts were
only sent out to determine their battle strategy, not to determine
if they should conquer the land. God had already given
them the land, they simply needed to obey and take the first step,
but they believed more in the negative account of the ten scouts,
than in the power of the living God.
Today we need to learn that lesson
too. We as humans are so inclined to believe in the negative rather
than trusting in God. We would much rather stay where it is safe,
than to venture out to a brighter future ahead. But we need to take
a careful look at the Israelites and their lot for not trusting in
God and realise that that might not be the best option.
When you decide to venture out of
your comfort zone, there will most probably be giants and there
will be fortified cities, but that is nothing compared to the power
of the living God. He is mighty to save and He will be with you. If
you are positive that God is leading you, there is no obstacle too
big for Him to handle. A chance taken with God is better than
looking back and wishing that you had moved out when God told you
to.
May God be with you and may you be
filled with the power of His Spirit, because God certainly didn't
give us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound
mind.
Father, please help us to listen to
You when You tell us to move out. We don't want to be 'left behind'
and we certainly don't want any regrets in our lives. Please give
us the courage to follow You wherever You lead us. In Jesus' Name.
Amen