The Twelve Spies – Numbers 13-14
1. Aim: To lead the people to understand how to avoid focusing on their fear, but concentrate on the positives we have in Christ.
Illustration:Where our Captain bids us go,
’Tis not ours to murmur no;
He that gives the sword and shield
Chooses too the battlefield
Where we are to fight the foe.
2. Explanation of the Aim: God expects obedient Christians to walk not by fear but by faith. The Bible promises, “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Tim. 1:7) When the scouts went into the promised-land they could not stop focusing on the reasons why conquering the land seemed humanly impossible. When the reported back to Moses they said, “The people living there are powerful and their cities and towns are fortified and very large… We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are! So they spread discouraging reports about the land among the Israelites.” (Numb. 13:28,31,32) Whenever you are facing difficult challenges remember that the things that are impossible with men are possible with God. (Luke 1:37) Learn to focus on all the positive power, perspectives and promises we have in Christ instead of allowing your fears to hinder you from moving forward in God’s will.
3. The Bible Story: Caleb and Joshua represented the minority viewpoint that is often not listened to, but truth has a way of accomplishing God’s purposes. Never be discouraged when the human or circumstantial odds are against you.
Believe and obey what God is directing you to do and He will see that everything is taken of. When the ten spies spread rumors of the human impossibility of conquering the “giants” in the promised land, most people complained to Moses that they would rather be back in the security of Egypt. Grumbling against Godly leaders is a sin. We can take confidence in the truth that God gives us in His word and through His Spirit. Place your confidence in the character of God knowing He is always true to His word, His promises and His kingdom’s purposes.
4. Consider how some people are afraid of many things that tends to hinder the growth of their faith. Ask the people what are some of the things that tend to be afraid of? Find out what are some of ways that fear tends to hinder the growth of faith? Ask the people what are some of ways that fear tends to confuse the truth of God’s word? Find out what the people understand 2 Timothy 1:7 to mean? The BIBLE STORY teaches the people how God uses people like Joshua and Caleb who inspired others to exploits of faith instead of the ten scouts who spread negative reports that caused fear to spread throughout their community. Teach the people how to live more by faith than by fear.
5. Are you more likely to speak like the ten scouts or like Joshua and Caleb? Find out if the people tend to lose their confidence in God when they feel like they are in the minority? Ask the people how they can follow the faith of people like Joshua and Caleb in their daily lifestyle, relationships and activities. Discuss how to base decisions more on faith in the facts of God’s word rather than on feelings.
6. Ask the people what are some of the things that tend to be afraid of? Find out what are some of ways that fear tends to hinder the growth of faith? Ask the people what are some of ways that fear tends to confuse the truth of God’s word? Find out what the people understand 2 Timothy 1:7 to mean? How does this verse relate to the faith and courage of Joshua and Caleb?
7. The Bible Story
The success of our lives is determined by the choices we make. The ten scouts chose to focus on the difficult challenges ahead of the people of Israel. In contrast, Joshua and Caleb chose to focus on God, His promises and His directives. Our lesson teaches us the importance of avoiding the human tendency to seek for circumstantial assurances that we will enjoy success before embarking on God’s pathway. When the Lord sends us to do a job He expects us to go with the full confidence that His purposes will be accomplished regardless of the situational difficulties. Instead of asking, “I wonder what my friends would say about this situation?” It is far better to ask yourself the question, “What does God have to say about my circumstance?” When you do what the Lord tells you to do it matters very little what others think. Many times the majority opinion of people runs contrary to the will of God. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind through the transforming power of the Spirit teaching you from His word.
8. People who failed to demonstrate faith and obedience in the face of adversity were sentenced to wander and perish in the wilderness.
Avoid complaining, grumbling or speaking out of fearful emotions that will tend to discourage others from living by faith.. Refuse to believe the reports of people who tend to live more by human insights than by faith in God and His attributes. People often live in misery because they choose to believe human reports of impossibilities rather than in God’s word. Many people spend more time reading newspapers than they do in searching the truths of the Bible. Whatever we feed our mind tends to be displayed in our emotions and actions. Do not walk by sight instead of by faith. When men of God give you an assignment do it boldly as to the Lord and not to men knowing you will receive your reward from the Almighty. Courage in such circumstances can only spring from strong faith, which Caleb and Joshua alone possessed.
9. Despite all the assurances of success they received from God and Moses, the people of Israel chose to believe the negative reports of the ten scouts rather than the positive expectations of men of God. Many times the volume and emotions of negative people gets a greater hearing than the positive statements of faith. Do not give in to the human tendency to believe the negative over the positive promises of God. Do not quickly forget all the miracles, promises and assurances you have received in God’s word. He will give you victory regardless of what others think or say about your circumstances. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (I John 4:4) Do not assess your situation merely in the light of human opinion.
10. Human understanding is limited in what it can see, but God’s perspectives are all encompassing. The sin of unbelief weakens people. Faith gives a person the confidence that they can do everything God asks them to do with Christ’s power. Do not put your confidence in the judgement of people when you have God’s word to embolden you. There are many people who know that God’s land is good, but they despair of enjoying its riches because they choose to go by what they think they know to be correct. Without a humble spirit of teachability no one can grow in all aspects in to Christ.
11. Caleb, however, encouraged them to go forward, though seconded by Joshua only. He does not say, Let us go up and conquer it; but, Let us go and possess it. Difficulties that are in the way of victory vanish before an active faith in the power and promise of God. Do not trust carnal sense and carnal teachers. Unbelief overlooks the promises and power of God, magnifies every danger and difficulty, and fills the heart with discouragement.
12. In chapter fourteen we see how people who fail to live by faith worry themselves into terrible states of misery. The Bible says that the sorrow of the world works death. The Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron, and in them reproached the Lord. Do not look back with causeless discontent. Consider the folly of speaking out of emotions instead of objective faith. The people said that they preferred to die like slaves in Egypt rather than live as conquerors through the one who loved them. Whenever people let their feelings direct them, they will fail. We are to walk in the Spirit’s power and not by the fleshly instincts. At last they resolve, that, instead of going forward to Canaan, they would go back to Egypt. Those who walk not in God’s counsels, seek their own ruin.
13. We hear many people complain about the difficult conditions in the country, but they fail to recognize the treasures God has placed at their feet. People who think the grass is greener somewhere else often fail to thank God for all His benefits in their home. The way to better our condition is to get our spirits in a better perspective.
14. Notice that while others looked at the strength of the enemy, Joshua and Caleb focused on their sinfulness. God’s discernment is given to godly people to see how weak sinful people are. No people can be safe, when they have sinned against God. Even though a person may dwell in a tent, they are fortified with God. While we have the presence of God with us, we need not fear the most powerful force against us. Sinners are ruined by their own rebellion. But those who, like Caleb and Joshua, faithfully expose themselves for God are sure to be taken under his special protection. The godly are protected from the anger of the most powerful people.
15. Moses gives us a good example by humbling praying for those who sinned against him. Instead of cursing those who curse you, bless them by praying for their best. Moses argued that, consistently with God’s character, in his abundant mercies, he could forgive sins of the unbelieving. The carnal mind is always at hostility against God to their ruin.
16. The Lord granted the prayer of Moses so far as not at once to destroy the congregation. But disbelief of the promise has grave consequences. They wished to die in the wilderness and God made their sin their ruin, took them at their word, and their bodies fell in the wilderness. Be careful of what you wish for because God may allow you to get it. Notice he spared the people because the Lord knows how to separate the innocent from the guilty.
17. The way to obtain peace with our friends, and success against our enemies, is, to have God, as our Friend, and to keep in his love. Go forward, depending on God’s mercy, power, promise, and trust and He will bring us to where He wants us to be.
Memory Verse: God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7)
The Meaning for Our Lives
Help the people make applications from the lesson. Ask the people if they are more likely to speak like the ten scouts or like Joshua and Caleb? Find out if the people tend to lose their confidence in God when they feel like they are in the minority? Ask the people how they can follow the faith of people like Joshua and Caleb in their daily lifestyle, relationships and activities. Discuss how to base decisions more on faith in the facts of God’s word rather than on feelings.
Response:
Song: We are bound for the promised land
Prayer: Ask the Lord to give you the courage, faith and confidence to speak more by faith in God than by fear of what others think.
At Home: Ask your family and friends what are the ways that they get help in making decisions based more by faith than by fear?
Conclusion:Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.
Thomas a Kampis.
