Sunday Morning Podcast May 29, 2016. Bro. Richard Lehman.
The Israelite’s journey, brought a decision of commitment to cross over, …or turn back from His chosen plan. God instructed that one of each of the 12 tribes go and spy out the chosen land of Canaan to give a report of it. This chosen land was abundant with what they had never before prospered in. When the 12 spies came back, only 2 (Joshua and Caleb) gave a good report. The other 10’s report was one of fear and no faith of what God could conquer for them (Numbers 13:17-33). They once again, seemed to forget that God had already brought them through many calamities, and had delivered them so many times.
TEXT: NUMBERS 14:1-11
1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?
The 10 spies giving a bad report, resulted in despair to this people who exercised no faith. All 12 spies agreed that the land was a bountiful one. But only 2 showed the faith necessary, to commit to God’s plan to pass over and conquer it. The Israelites expressed their desire to have died in the wilderness, or to choose a captain to lead them back to Egypt, their land of bondage. This proved that their hearts were not truly committed to cross over Jordan, to the promised land. The same decision, spiritually, is needed today. Are we going to fully commit to spiritually pass over the Jordan, to God’s promised land? What is our plan of “attack?” We can not conquer without a complete commitment. Once going forward, there can be no turning back if we hope to inherit what God has promised.
Today many are of a heart of no commitment. “And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?” Numbers 14:11 This verse shows that even God can be discouraged when people refuse to commit to Him. The people “stewed” all night (verse 1) in their unbelief of what God could do for them. God wants us to not stew, but by faith go forward into His complete will and plan for us. God desires human vessels He can work through. Once you commit to God, He will bring you through to the other side, the land of promise, and His perfect will.
Are you committed to fight for God’s purpose in your life? Many today don’t realize all that has been “handed” to them. Many don’t realize they aren’t entitled to the blessings enjoyed. Yet God is noting all that we have been made accountable to of His Spirit and Word. He is requiring us to commit to all He ask. It is only then, that He can, and will help us cross over into a land of His fulfilled promises. A land of deliverance from sin and selfishness. Serving God requires loving everyone, and everything, less than Him. (Luke 14:26). Serving God, is a full commitment to pass over into all His will and plan.
Are we committed to pass over, ..or turn back?