Bible Study - Second Nature (1) - Caleb:Unwavering Faith - Numbers 13:26-30; 14:6-10, 21-24 - October 15, 2017

Bible Study – Second Nature (1) – Caleb: Unwavering Faith – October 15, 2017

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Second Nature: Choosing 

CHRIST-Centered Living in a Self-Centered World.”

Our focus scripture is Numbers 13:26-30; 14:6-10, 21-24.

CHRIST-centered living chooses trust in GOD, not in circumstances.

When Christians look at their circumstances, often they are defeated because they do not consider the power of GOD.

We have to be careful. Some of our circumstances are the result of our doing. Even then GOD will do all HE can for them to turn out better than they would, if we do not call upon and trust HIM to come to our assistance. Consider Romans 8:28:

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

It is not things that determine our destiny in life. It is GOD Who is in all things working to bring good. It may not be what we think is good but what GOD thinks is best for us in our situation. This is trust in our LORD.

Keep in mind that GOD never abandons us but is always working to bring us closer to HIM.

When we are outnumbered; what will we do? This is the basis for our lesson. 

Will we go along with the majority or stand firm trusting GOD? Caleb and Joshua were outnumbered 10 to 2. Let’s explore!

For background, let’s read Numbers 13:1-2:

Scouting Out Canaan: GOD had delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. HE had revealed Himself and HIS power through the plagues in Egypt, in the pillar of fire at night, in the cloud cover by day, parting of the Red Sea and HIS presence upon Mount Sinai. Upon Mount Sinai, the Israelites heard the voice of GOD when HE spoke to Moses. Now, the Israelites were approaching their final destination, The Promised Land. GOD spoke to Moses ---

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:

2 "Send men to scout out the land of Canaan I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes."

The LORD organized this scouting trip. Moses chose one person from each tribe, thus twelve (12) men were chosen to scout the Promised Land. What were these spies to look for?

Let’s read Numbers 13:18-20:

18 See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many.

19 Is the land they live in good or bad? Are the cities they live in encampments or fortifications?

20 Is the land fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous. Bring back some fruit from the land." It was the season for the first ripe grapes.

GOD knew all about the Promised Land, Canaan but HE wanted the Israelites to know the magnitude of GOD’S power and vision for them as a nation under HIS care. GOD’S desire was for them to be excited about the land HE was giving to them. So the twelve scouts entered the Promised Land and explored it for 40 days. What did they find?

Let’s read Numbers 13:26-33:

Report about Canaan

26 The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land.

27 They reported to Moses: "We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit.

GOD desires the best for HIS chosen but HE expects HIS chosen to take action based upon HIS leadership, guidance and trust. What they saw measured up to GOD’S promise but they must go forward, trusting HIM to obtain it. Often, we as Christians want our blessings without having to trust GOD. Just zap us with Holy Dust and make us into these Spiritual giants without us having to do anything. The fear of failure looms over us. Life is filled with uncertainties but when GOD reveals that HE is our guide, protector and shield what will we do? We must watch out for the “however in life.” Not saying to blindly follow our own desires but depend upon GOD’S leadership.

28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak (giants) there.

In our lives there will be obstacles and giants. The key is following GOD’S leadership. When HE tells us to stay, then stay but when HE says move forward, then move forward under HIS leadership, care and trust.

29 The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan."

30 Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, "We must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!"

Caleb knew as soon as the Israelites began to focus upon the issues they would encounter that they were headed toward a negative decision. Simply, where is your faith in GOD? GOD has led us to this very place that HE promised to us. You have witnessed HIS presence, power and care, we, as people of faith, have no alternative except to go forward under HIS leadership and guidance to obtain HIS gift to us.

Caleb in essence was saying, “Why would GOD lead us to the land HE promised to us and not give us success? Now, is not the time to abandon GOD.”

31 But the men who had gone up with him responded, "We can't go up against the people because they are stronger than we are!"

Then there is the “but” in life. It is true we cannot go up against the giants and stronger issues in our lives but GOD is greater than anything life throws our way when we are led by GOD. When life throws us such issues that is when we must trust GOD and HIS power, guidance and leadership.  

32 So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: "The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size.

The negative report of the ten scouts painted a dismal picture based upon human effort. The naysayers prevailed and in case they had not convinced the majority to vote “no,” they threw in one additional obstacle. There are giants in the land, as we read on ---

33 We even saw the Nephilim there." (The offspring of Anak were descended from the Nephilim.) "To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them."

They measured their success by what they saw rather than by GOD’S ability.

Let’s read Numbers 14:1-10:

Israel's Refusal to Enter Canaan

1 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night.

2 All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and little children will become plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"

4 So they said to one another, "Let's appoint a leader and go back to Egypt."

How sad when GOD’S chosen fail to trust HIM for victory over the giants and obstacles along life’s journey.

Does this happen today? It sure does. GOD uses the giants and insurmountable obstacles in our lives and in the lives of churches to reveal HIS care and love for us.   

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell down with their faces [to the ground] in front of the whole assembly of the Israelite community.

Moses and Aaron knew the Israelites had rejected the gift that GOD had provided and knew there would be consequences. Unfaithfulness always has consequences. This is true for us, as Christians, and the leadership of organized churches.

6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes

The tearing of their clothes was an outward sign of their frustration with the Israelites’ lack of faith and trust in GOD Who had revealed Himself so vividly along their journey to the Promised Land.

7 and said to the entire Israelite community: "The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land.

8 If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us.

9 Only don't rebel against the Lord, and don't be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don't be afraid of them!"

Joshua and Caleb made one last attempt to get the Israelites to trust GOD and move forward to obtain GOD’S gift. The Israelites had witnessed and experienced the presence of GOD since HE delivered them from Egypt. They begged them to look beyond their ability and trust GOD. WOW! But what was the response of the Israelites?

10 While the whole community threatened to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.

Often, when the few do not go along with the majority, the majority are ready 

to annihilate the few who don’t go along with their conclusion. When the majority fail to trust GOD, all suffer the consequences. The Israelites had rejected GOD’S gift to them and HE was not pleased. When GOD is not pleased, there will be consequences.

As we read on, we get to see some of the options GOD was considering.  

God's Judgment of Israel's Rebellion

11 The Lord said to Moses, "How long will these people despise Me? How long will they not trust in Me despite all the signs I have performed among them?

12 I will strike them with a plague and destroy them. Then I will make you into a greater and mightier nation than they are."

GOD gave Moses an opportunity to receive the promise HE made to Abraham. Moses’ family line could become the chosen to be honored by GOD. It was an opportune moment, what would Moses do? Was GOD testing Moses? 

GOD’S offer came immediately after GOD was very upset with HIS chosen people. Would Moses accept GOD’S offer?

13 But Moses replied to the Lord, "The Egyptians will hear about it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from them.

14 They will tell [it to] the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, Lord, are among these people, how You, Lord, are seen face to face, how Your cloud stands over them, and how You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.

15 If You kill this people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of Your fame will declare,

16 'Since the Lord wasn't able to bring this people into the land He swore to [give] them, He has slaughtered them in the wilderness.'

17 "So now, may My Lord's power be magnified just as You have spoken:

18 The Lord is slow to anger and rich in faithful love, forgiving wrongdoing and rebellion. But He will not leave [the guilty] unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children to the third and fourth generation.

19 Please pardon the wrongdoing of this people in keeping with the greatness of Your faithful love, just as You have forgiven them from Egypt until now."

20 The Lord responded, "I have pardoned [them] as you requested.

The character of Moses was revealed. GOD forgave the Israelites for their lack of faith and trust. But forgiveness does not always mean there are no consequences. GOD forgives HIS children for their sins but they must live with the consequence of their sin. Murders can be forgiven but their victims are still dead and the loved ones of the victims devastated.

So what was the consequence for their sin? Let’s read on ---

Let’s read Numbers 14:21-24:

21 Yet as surely as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the Lord's glory,

22 none of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these 10 times and did not obey Me,

23 will ever see the land I swore to [give] their fathers. None of those who have despised Me will see it.

Some Bible scholars interpret “none of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these 10 times and did not obey Me,” as GOD’S way of stating numerous times from Egypt to the Promised Land, I revealed Myself to them.

But consider this ----. Was GOD referring to the ten scouts who witnessed HIM from Egypt to the Promised Land but failed to connect the dots regarding GOD’S protective power regarding HIS presence and deliverance? Were the ten scouts intimidated by what they saw through their eyes rather than through the eyes of GOD? Out of the twelve only two had complete faith in ME!

All twelve had the freedom to choose but were the 10 influenced by the majority? It is tough to go against the crowd and take an independent stand for what you believe GOD’S desires for you to do.

So, what did GOD reveal to Moses and Aaron?  

24 But since My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me completely, I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it.

Caleb had a different spirit. Caleb was fully confident in GOD and HIS ability for success in the face of the physical observations. Caleb saw everything the ten saw but his GOD was more powerful than what he saw. What he saw was GOD’S ability. He placed his faith and trust in GOD. GOD loves it when HIS children place their faith and trust in HIM.

Although not mentioned here, Joshua also was a man with a different spirit. Joshua would lead the Israelites into the Promised Land 40 years later.

Consider the over 2 million Israelites, Joshua would lead across the Jordon River, on a dry riverbed during flood season. Then the priests, each carrying a trumpet, walked before the ark and Joshua’s troops following behind the ark walking around the mighty, well fortified walls of Jericho. On the seventh day, on the seventh time around the wall, the priests sounded their trumpets, Joshua commanded the people to shout and the mighty walls of Jericho fell down. 

That was GOD revealing to the Israelites what faith in HIM will accomplish. 

Nothing is too hard for GOD when we obediently serve HIM. HE uses the simple to confound the wise. (Numbers 14:24-35 records the consequence for the sin of the Israelite’s fearing to enter the Promised Land. e.g. men 20 years and older would not enter the Promised Land; wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.)

36 So the men Moses sent to scout out the land, and who returned and incited the entire community to complain about him by spreading a bad report about the land-

37 those men who spread the report about the land were struck down by the Lord.

38 Only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to scout out the land.

Joshua and Caleb had to wait 40 years before they would enter the Promised Land.

So how does this event resonate with you and your journey with GOD or you and your witness of church life?

GOD’S desire is for HIS children to stand firm and trust HIM as HE leads us through life’s obstacles and opportunities. It takes courage to stand against the majority. Be strong in the LORD and stand firm on truth! Blessings!!!