Friday, September 12, 2014

September 13, 2014

One of the important functions of leadership is giving direction during defining moments. When God led His people to Kadesh Barnea on the border of the Promised-Land, He told Moses to choose twelve leaders to go spy out the land. So, he did and they did!

After 40 days, the twelve spies returned to give a report of their reconnaissance. While they all saw the same things and agreed on the report, they came to two very different conclusions.

Here is their report:

"They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”  Numbers 13:26-29

Their conclusions:

"But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Hebrews 13:31-33

That was the report of the ten spies. I refer to them as the "Grasshoppers". Not a cheery bunch are they?

Caleb, "Here is the report of the other two, Caleb and Joshua: 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.” Numbers 13:29-30

Joshua, "Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. f the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” Numbers 14:6-9

I call these two the "Giant-Killers" as opposed to the "Grasshoppers".

Quite a difference, eh?

Let's define this difference in the very different response to the defining moment for several million Hebrews.

The "Grasshoppers" defined themselves by fear and made a fearful forecast to God's people. 

The "Giant-Killers" defined themselves by faith in their God Who had already promised them the land and had continually provided for them and delivered them.

Are you facing a defining moment?

If not now, your time is coming.

When your moment comes you will be faced by two choices, "Will I be a grasshopper or will I be a giant-killer?"