Lessons for September 2
FAMILY BIBLE STUDY:
Fear too often rules where faith should reign
___ Numbers 13:1-14:45
___By Christine Hockin-Boyd
___Texas WMU, Dallas
___Looking back on your childhood days, I'm sure you can remember playing games in which you had to choose teams. Two things I recall vividly are that everyone wanted to be the leader and no one wanted to be picked last. Do you recall how leaders were chosen? Was it because they were the tallest, biggest, smartest or most popular?
___As you recall these memories, maybe you can remember a time in which you were
chosen to be the leader and what it felt like. You stood taller. You felt important. You now had the opportunity to choose your team. Whom would you choose?
___Moses chose a team to explore the land of Canaan before entering it. "From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders" (1:2b). Leaders? Moses was the leader of the Israelites on the journey to the Promised Land. Now he had to choose a team made up of leaders to represent each tribe. Can you imagine the challenge of 12 strong leaders working together?
___The question still remains, why did Moses send the team? The story is retold by Moses beginning with Deuteronomy 1:19. It reveals a little insight into the frustration Moses may have felt. God had already given the land to his people. God had said to take possession of it. Moses continues to note the Israelites were reluctant and wanted to send out a spy team.
___Why? With specific instructions and affirmation from the almighty God, why would they hesitate? Something to ponder and ask yourself the next time God gives you the unbelievable, the unimaginable and yet you turn and say, "Wait God, I need to check out the numbers before I can follow you."
___"What is more mortifying than to feel that you've missed the plum for want of courage to shake the tree?" said Logan Pearsall Smith. Well, when you think about it, it truly is absurd. Oh, how we as Christians are fearful and cautious when it comes to the Creator of the universe, the all-knowing and all-powerful God when he desires to give us something special.
___Do you remember the last time you served on a church committee? Business & Finance, Long Range or Strategic Planning. These are enough to make anyone have an ulcer or high blood pressure. Do you remember all the hard work you did? All the discussion, research and planning? Do you remember how each committee member had his or her own opinion, perspective and philosophy? Regardless of "self," the committee had one purpose, one task. The members would have to work through their differences and desires to do what was best for the church body.
___The spy team had been challenged with an assignment: Inspect the land. What kind of people lived there? What was the soil like for planting? What size were the towns? Was there a hint of the possibility that the Israelites could find a place to live and establish themselves? Moses instructed the spy team with specifics.
___After 40 days, the spy team returned and presented its report. Verses 26-33 record its findings. It was a true scenario of good news, bad news. The good news was the land overflowed with milk and honey (v. 27). The guys even remembered to bring a sample of the fresh fruit to show the quality and beauty. They must have been of Baptist nature to bring the food. The bad news was the land was filled with strong and large cities. The cities must have been massive in sight with the large walls surrounding them. The crowd began to stir. And stir they did.
___Caleb had to help Moses quiet the crowd from all their murmurings and grumbling. Women probably began to weep and cry at the very thought of not being able to settle down and raise their children. The children themselves likely watched in amazement that turned to fear, and they too began crying because mommy was upset and daddy was talking loudly with the other men. Teenagers and young adults were torn on whom to believe and trust. Could they win the fight? Could this truly be the place for them?
___Caleb tried his best to calm the crowd and assist Moses with reassurances. The challenge of trying to affirm God's direction to the Israelites was like sand slipping away in an hour glass. Caleb remained positive they could take the land and possess it. But the spy team quickly dismissed the good news of all the positive things and focused on the negative.
___What happened to their faith? What happened to their trust? Evidences of miracle after miracle as they journeyed to the Promised Land? How could the Israelites in one moment forget it all? One word--fear.
___El Elyon (God most high) was deserving of trust and unquestionable faith as he led and provided for the Israelites to the Promised Land. Worthy, you are worthy, King of kings, Lord of lords, you are worthy.
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