Hey, reader. I don’t have an interesting introduction. I won’t force one either… but if you are willing to continue reading, maybe you can be encouraged. Let’s began with the Word of God.
Numbers 13: 27-28, 30–31 (KJV)
And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
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.
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.
Before the children of Israel went forth to claim the land of Canaan, Moses sent a few men to view the land as instructed by God. The land was just as God told them, it flowed with milk and honey. Yet, the city was walled, the men of the city were strong, and to top it all off… they had giants. Caleb was optimistic and encouraged the children of Israel to go forward and seize the land.
But the men said ugh…yeah, no.
They said those Canaan men are stronger than us and they have giants and they have a wall! Yet, the men didn’t consider something. God told Moses to send the men out to view the land. Thus, God knew they would see the land was walled. God knew they would see the people were strong. God knew they would see the giants.
So, why did God allow them to see the odds were stacked against them? Why wouldn't God just give them the land without causing them to stress over how they would overcome strong men, an enormous wall of defense, and giants?
God allowed them to see the odds were stacked against them to show them that the odds did not mater. He had the power to deliver them out of an impossible battle. Think of it like this, if God never put you in impossible situations, how would you know He could do the impossible? If God never delivered us from the impossible, we may assume He is a mediocre God who only specializes in moderately hard problems.
But the funny thing was the children of Israel knew that God could do the impossible. They witnessed it when God parted the Red Sea. They saw it when they ate food sent from heaven. If God did the impossible for them before, why did they think He couldn't do it again? Thus, the question should not be why did God allow them to see the odds were stacked against them. The question should be why were they worried considering the miracles God had previously performed?
The men also did not consider that the land was already promised to them. Numbers 13:2 states, "Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel." We see here that the land was already theirs. In fact, the promise was made to their forefather, Abraham, years prior:
Genesis 12:6-7 (KJV) And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Yet, the people said we are not able to go against them because they are stronger then us. But when did God ever deliver the children of Israel based on their own strength? It was always by God’s power. But for some reason, they kept mentioning their inabilities... Much like how we tend to mention our inabilities today. We say,
"God you forgot that I can’t do that. I can’t beat this. I am not strong enough. I see the odds are against me. I, I, I …
Blah, blah, blah! God doesn’t care that you can’t do it. He knows you can’t do it. It doesn’t matter!
Stop making it about you and your shortcomings!
It does not matter what you can't do! It matters what God can do!
If you continue reading over in Numbers 14, you will find the children of Israel refused to go forward because of fear. They also began to bad mouth Moses and Aaron for putting them in what they thought was a horrible predicament. They questioned why Moses brought them there to die by the Canaanites. They said they were better off dying in Egypt or in the wilderness.
In an attempt to ease fear and motivate faith, Joshua and Caleb tried to reason with the crowd. But it was to no avail. In fact, the children of Israel considered stoning Joshua and Caleb. Because of their lack of faith and because they choose to stand against Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb (chosen men of God), the children of Israel died by the hands of the Canaanites.The land that was meant for them was given to the following generation. And it just so happened that Joshua, the very man they considered stoning to death, led their children to victory.
Let this be a lesson to us. If you find yourself thinking God forgot something, think again. He has it all planned out. We have a merciful God who we unfortunately doubt all the time. We have a hard time remembering what God has already done for us. But somehow, we don’t have a hard time remembering to tell God about the details He must’ve over looked.
I encourage you to stop thinking you have all the answers on how to defeat your problems. When Joshua led the children of Israel to Jericho, the strong men, the walls, and the giants weren't a problem at all. They simply followed God’s instruction and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. They waltz right into the land and took exactly what God said they would.
The children of Israel's forefathers spent all that time worrying about their lack of strength when God intended to make their battle as easy as 1,2,3 the entire time. Whatever detail you think God forgot, may not be of importance in the grand scheme. God hasn’t forgotten your weakness. And don’t you forget His strength.
He didn't forget that you couldn't do it.
He just never intended for you to do it in your own strength in the first place.
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