“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land…So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.”
Numbers 13:30-32, 14:1-2, 5-10NKJV
This moment of choice had profound and lasting impact on the Israelites. They had to choose between a good report and a bad report – a report of faith or a report of fear. But, because they chose to believe the bad report, they wept all night and complained all day.
The responses to the complaining is interesting to me. Moses and Aaron responded by falling on their face and worshipping G-d. Joshua and Caleb responded by tearing their clothes – a sign of grief and sorrow – and tried once again to reason with the Israelites.
Yet the very people who witnessed G-d’s miracles in Egypt, saw His tangible presence in the form of a cloud by day and a fire by night, ate of the provision that came from His very hand, HEARD His voice as He spoke to Moses, people, those very people chose to believe one bad report. They chose fear over faith.
I faced with “reports” of things happening every day – what might happen, or supposedly is happening in the world around me and things that impact us personally – we all are. And each time I hear a report- I’m faced with the choice of my response – will I choose faith or fear? Will I respond with fear that fills my mouth and heart with complaints, weeping, regrets, lamenting, and accusations? Will I bow down in worship, seeking HIS counsel, crying out to Him for His truth in the matter?
There is power and impact in our choices. Because the Israelites chose complaint and unbelief, they lost the promise of inheriting the Promise Land and continued their wandering. Unbelief kept them from their inheritance. Unbelief kept them from their destiny!!
G-d have mercy on me. What is my unbelief keeping me from?!
Each report that comes, it’s my choice how I read it. May I read the report with a heart of faith. May I have His eyes. May my hope be found in Him alone and not the voices around me.
Father – Tune my ears and heart to You. Shift the dial. I hear static and my vision is blurry. But – YOU are good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Help me live fully in that space today. Amen.
Daily Reading: Numbers 14-15, Psalms 90