Yesterday morning we were back in Numbers 14 with the children of Israel. My pastor had so many good words that I wrote down…I was sitting here over my coffee reading through two pages of notes and was drawn to these words I wrote down:
“Do not let what you see keep you from moving forward.”
Think about God’s chosen people as they wondered in the wilderness and the Lord told Moses in 13:1, “Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites.”
Giving.
Now, if you don’t remember how the story goes, the 12 spies went into the land and ten came back and said, “Nope. We ain’t going in there.” They seen it was exactly what God had promised, but in front of them were giants and fortified cities. Caleb (one of the 12 spies) said, “We must go take possession of the land!” The others responded with a resounding, “No”. The people in the land were stronger (in their eyes) and there was no way they could defeat them. Note, I said, “in their eyes”.
Now, let’s think about a time when you have seen a promise of God. These Israelites escaped the bondage of the Egyptians. These are the same people that seen God part the Red Sea…give them manna from heaven…clouds by day and fire by night.
Yet, they didn’t trust that God said He would give them this land flowing with milk and honey.
Oh, how quick are we to forget what God has brought us from?
You have seen Him move figurative mountains in your life before, yet you don’t see how He could ever give you what He has promised you in this moment? God did not give us a spirit of fear, friend. God didn’t ask the Israelites to conquer or overcome the people of the Promised Land. He told them to go in and receive it, because He was GIVING it to them. The people refused.
How often do we refuse the gifts and promises of God? It isn’t our obligation to understand or figure out the why and how…it is merely to receive in faith the promise He has given. We can’t look at things “with our eyes”, we must seek to see them through the eyes of faith in an almighty God. Our perception will never trump His promise.
There are going to be things in front of you that look unconquerable…but I want to encourage you to not let your perception persuade you against the prize of obedience in faith to God! He is not going to bring you to the edge of your promise and then want you to turn around. You have to trust that when He brings you to something, you are willing to receive it in faith.
You are at the edge of your promise.
Receive it.
