The Report Of The Majority

The Report of the Majority

Numbers 13:30,31

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Twelve men were sent out to spy out the promised land. Ten came back with a pessimistic report. However, they were a majority. Doesn't that make it the right choice?

The problem in this situation is that God had already spoken. That is why Canaan was called the "promised land".

Why did the children of Israel not go in to possess the land of Canaan?

1. They had a lack of Faith

2 Co. 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Evidently, the giants that they saw proved to be more convincing than their belief in God's words.

We cannot deny the existence of the giants, but we must hold fast in faith to believe what in the promises of God.

The enemy will use the tool of doubt to disuade you and cause you to want to back off from pursuing the promises and blessings of God.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

40 years travelling in the desert awaiting the day to receive the inheritance of the promised land, should have been enough to go in and lay claim immediately.

Sometimes our faith is constricted. We must cry out to God like the dad with the tormented son.

Mr 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

We feel like we are in the middle of a nightmare and are afraid of the dream that the Lord is giving us.

Mt. 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

II. They lacked a biblically-correct Self-esteem

Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

It is so easy to feel belittled and overpowered. We feel so inadequate for the task.

It is not a matter of psychology, but a proper perspective of who we are in Christ.

1 P 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Don't live a downtrodden life when God has made you a child of the king.

Walking around with a downcast attitude will only cause you to see defeat (the feet). God wants you to lift up your head and see your redemption.

III. They Lacked a Willingness to Sacrifice to find Success

Rev. 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

--Don't be afraid to sweat a little.

--Don't back away from work.

--Don't become preoccupied due to inconience.

A limited vision will entrap you to only see the difficulties of the daily grind and inhibit you of getting to the recompense offered to the dilligent.

Understand that the promises come with conditions.

We do not have to live a few feet short of the will of God. Be willing to rise to come face to face with the conflict in the name of the Lord.

Satan wants you to be content to stay on the wrong side of Jordan.

Reason says it is better than being a slave in Egypt.

Faith says that it is time to step out and go forward.

Like Caleb and Joshua, your voice will not always be with the majority vote, but how many of the other 10 can you recall by name?

God does not work with quantity so much as He works with quality.