God, Giants, And Grasshoppers

God, Giants, and Grasshoppers

Numbers chapter 13:1, 14:6-9

Introduction- Image- God, Giants, Grasshoppers

Did I tell you how excited I am to see the great blessing that the Lord has given us and the tremendous amount of hard work by so many to make this happen.

5 years ago this was just a wish on a long wish list.

3 years ago a dream with expectation of going to the next level for our church.

Almost a year ago, stepping out in faith and beginning to plan and budget for the renovation and installation of our multi-media projection project.

Watching God supply what we needed and make it happen! Praise the Lord!

This is an answer to pray and it is casting vision and allowing God to be the main character in your plans.

Our text this morning comes from the book of Numbers. It is the 4th book in the Bible and it is a story of casting vision and believing God to do what He has said He would do.

So that we don’t take the time to read almost 2 chapters, would you allow me to set this up for us this morning?

Chapter 13:1- Blank image

God instructs Moses to set up a team of men to explore the land of Canaan and report back to Moses what they found.

“Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.”

Key being that the Lord has already promised that it was their land.

He told them:

See what it was like

See if the people are strong or weak

Is the land good or bad?

Are there cites un-walled or fortified?

Bring some fruit back that you find.

They were sent on this spying adventure for 40 days.

Moses sent 12 spies, one from each tribe of Israel and they brought back their report.

All 12 spies agreed that the land was just as good as God said it was.

In fact, it took two men to carry the grapes on a pole to show just how big the grapes were in the Promised Land.

10 came back to Moses and said, yes, Moses, this land is flowing with milk and honey. It is everything that God said it would be, butt….. that word gets us into a lot of trouble with God.

The people are powerful

The cities are fortified

Their giants that live there

Their descendants of Goliath, that giant that terrorized us in the past.

But there was only two – Joshua and Caleb of the 12 that came back and said,

“We should take the land that the Lord has given us.”

The text this morning

14:6-10 (read from Bible) Text put on image

“Joshua, son of Nun, Caleb, Son of Jephunnah, who were among those who explored the land, tore their clothes, and said to the entire Israel assembly, the land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into the 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 swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. So do not be afraid of them.”

Which report would you bring back?

(10) -who came back and said, yes it is good, but… and then begins all the negativity of why we cannot take possession of something that the Lord said they could have.

Those 10 who we cannot even remember their names.

(2)- Joshua and Caleb- that said it is exactly what God said it was and take possession just like God said that they should.

We have to define a giant image- Giant

For years for this church, the Goliath, our giant was the sound room, and the inability to move forward with technology that would enhance our worship experience.

A giant defined- is anything that stands between you and God’s plan for you.

A giant is- anything that seems bigger than you and your desire to serve the Lord.

A giant is stronger than you and cannot be face alone.

What is the giant for you this morning? Identify it right now to yourself!

The trouble with giants is that they:

Steal the peace from God’s people

Seize the possessions of God’s people

There are physical and spiritual giants that put barriers in front of you to keep you from accomplishing what God intends for your life.

I shared already that I am uncomfortable being called by my first name and desire to be called Pastor Tony or Pastor. (I’m strange but you have to love me)

Because I will stand before God as your pastor before I stand before him as your friend.