INTRODUCTION
A shoe salesman was sent to a remote part of the country. When he arrived, he was disheartened because everyone went around barefooted. So, he e-mailed the company, “No prospect for sales. People don’t wear shoes here.” Later, another salesman went to the same territory. He too immediately sent an email to his company. But his e-mail read, “Great potential! People don’t wear shoes here!”
How do we view the situation in this land once called ‘Paradise’? Realistically, like the 10 spies we may observe giant size problems in our land! For instance,
- When we open our newspaper or listen to the TV news, we may be reminded that our nation is still not out of the woods from bankruptcy.
- Then, when we go to the supermarket or to the pola, we are shocked at the dramatic rise in prices, like carrots! (Not 22 carat gold, but the four or five carrots we put into the basket!)
- And when we go to the Pharmacy, we get frustrated that some medicines prescribed by your doctor, are out of stock or not available, due to the shortage of medicines.
BACKGROUND
- Bible Reading: Numbers 13: 21- 30
- Now the background to Numbers 13, was those 12 spies, were chosen and commissioned and sent into the land of Canaan, by Moses.
- Now after these 12 spies entered the Promised Land, they make a report regarding the land. (In verses 26 to 29).
- However, verse 30 reports of an objection from Caleb, who was one of the spies. His objection was made on having faith in God.
THERE IS GREAT FERTILITY IN THIS LAND
… and they brought back word (or, they returned) to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land: … and truly (it) flows (or, gushes) with milk and honey (vs. 26).
The 12 spies, completed their assignment and moved back, or they returned, to their point of departure, to give a report to Moses, Aaron, and all the whole community of Israel. Now these returning spies not only spoke, but also showed all Israel what they had seen in the land. So, the whole assembly, not only
- heard with their ears the report of what the spies had seen. But they were also able to
- Observe with their eyes, and examine the fruits which the spies had brought back from the land of Canaan. (In fact, some of them may have even enjoyed tasting these fruits such as a cluster of grapes, pomegranates and figs!)
Now God had promised to take His people to a land “flowing with milk and honey”, meaning, a land that would be fruitful and blessed agriculturally. And these 12 spies, did confirm to the Israelites, that what God had promised, was definitely true. Canann was, a land of plenty, and certainly did ‘flow with milk and honey’.
God has placed us in a country,
- When compared to Singapore, which has no water, we have rivers and reservoirs and tanks for drinking, washing and agriculture.
- Or, when compared to Maldives, which has no vegies and fruits, we have plenty growing in our land (although right now a packet of fried rice is sold without carrots!!).
- Or, when compared to the Middle East, which is desert land, we in Sri Lanka were once self-sufficient in rice, vegetables, fruits, yams, pulses and spices, during the era of the kings. There was no need to bring rice from Pakistan or onions from India!
- Even though a small island on the Indian Ocean, of just 65,600 square kilo meters, Sri Lanka was viewed as a great destination by the Portuguese, Dutch and British to grow crops, such as coffee, tea, rubber and coconut.
Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as
“The finest island of its size in the world”.
Why? because, God had blessed this land with
- wonderful beaches,
- lush-green hills,
- majestic waterfalls,
- corals, and
- wild life.
THERE IS A GREAT FUNCTION FOR US IN THIS LAND
We went to the land (or, we entered the land) where you sent us: (vs. 27).
As initiated by Moses, these spies had moved from the desert in Kadesh, and gone into the land of Canaan, to explore the land. They had successfully concluded their mission and returned back to Kadesh, and reported back to Moses.
However, the response of 10 of the spies indicates that they may have failed to recognize that they were sent to Canaan as a mission from God. Perhaps they viewed their visit to Canaan as a mission from Moses.
Often, we think that a missionary, is one like David Livingston who went to Africa, or Hudson Taylor who went to China. But, if you look into the Bible, you will see that God calls every Christian to be a missionary! While some may be called to serve in another country, to many of us, we are placed here, to be a missionary in our own backyard. This is what kept me in this land, in spite of four offers from Reformed churches in Australia, 1 from the UK, and 1 from the Philippines.
THERE ARE GREAT FEARS ABOUT THE LAND?
Nevertheless, for the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities (are) fortified, and very large; And moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there (vs 28).
Bible scholars state that the word “nevertheless” is ‘a strong way to make a contradictory statement’. The word ‘nevertheless’ means, “in spite of all of that.” So, the message from the majority of the spies was, “The land is wonderful just as God promised, but we can’t conquer it.” The 10 spies were saying, that in spite of God’s promise to ‘take His people into a land flowing with milk and honey’,
- The people who inhabited the land were strong, powerful and fierce.
- Their towns were huge and well walled, and therefore inaccessible.
- and the descendants of the giant Anak, were people of great stature and courage.
Now, do we view the issues in our land as giants that are unconquerable? Or, do we believe that God can bring down the giants we are facing in this land. As we live in this land, like David, “let us not focus on the size of our enemy; but focus on God”.
WE MUSTS HAVE GREAT FAITH IN GOD ABOUT THE LAND?
And Caleb hushed (or quieted) the people … “Let us go up (or, let us rise up) and overpower and take possession of (or, inherit), for we will be able to (or, we will have power to) overcome it.”
Now Caleb interrupted the 10 spies and called for people to be silent. Thereafter, he commanded the people to immediately (or at once) trust God; obey God; and take the land. They would do so by instantly going to war, or to battle, and conquer the land.
Caleb believed, that with the Lord, the Israelites will certainly have the physical ability to overcome and occupy the land. Caleb believed, that there were no limits on God’s ability. This is why Caleb said to Moses, ‘“Let’s go up and take the land now. We can certainly do it.”
Like Caleb, who had great courage to stand against the tide of unbelief and doubt, do we believe that God is able to deliver us from bankruptcy, and the blunders made by our national leaders? Or like the 10 spies, do we have unbelief that God could and would deliver us?