Can you recall the names of the twelve spies that went in to spy out the promised land for Moses and the Children of Israel? I expect that most of you are like me – I can remember the names of two of them, Joshua and Caleb.
It’s such an interesting story. Twelve men went into the promised land. They all saw the same things. They all saw that the land was good. It produced good crops and would be great for farming. In fact, they brought back a single cluster of grapes, and that required two of them to carry it on a pole between them. Very desirable land. But there were also giants in the land. The people were larger and taller than the Israelites, their cities were large, and they were surrounded by walls that went up to heaven. And those giants, that made the Israelite spies feel like grasshoppers. How big they were we have no idea, but they were big enough to scare the Israelites. So, although they returned to Moses with a positive report about the land, they also brough a negative report about their ability to possess the land. Well, ten of them did. Joshua and Caleb encouraged the Israelites to go into the land because they had confidence that God would help them. God had brought them out from Egypt, safely brought them across the desert, and had promised to help them possess this land. Of course they should be obedient and move into Canaan.
Twelve men spied out the land. Ten of them discouraged the Israelites from moving into the land, and two of them encouraged the Israelites. Because of the ten, the Israelites were disobedient to what God had told them, and consequently they were barred from ever entering that good land. Their children would later move in and possess the land. But Joshua and Caleb were the exceptions. They did possess the land, along with the children of those who were disobedient.
Joshua and Caleb did not enter the land straight away, but they did enter. And it is interesting to me that those of us who remember the story probably only remember their names. If we want to make an impact on this world we need to be like Joshua and Caleb. The giants we may be facing, be they problems with employment, problems in our family, problems with relationships, problems with finances, or any other problems, are all able to be defeated in the name of the Lord. Your problem is not too big for the Lord. My problems are not too difficult for the Lord to deal with. They may feel like it sometimes. Then I have a choice – am I going to speak out my trust in the Lord or am I going to speak something negative.
The ten spies who discouraged the Israelites from entering the promised land may have been speaking the truth, mostly. The inhabitants of the land were probably strong, and their cities were well defended. But the Israelites God was stronger than the gods of the people in the land. And God had promised to help them.
My problems are real too. I have some physical struggles that make it hard for me to do certain things. My husband has been fighting migraines for months now. Others in my family are having employment difficulties, financial difficulties, relationship difficulties. These are real problems that can feel overwhelming. I have a choice – am I going to trust God or not? Am I going to look at the problems and see no easy solutions, or am I going to continue to declare my trust in God?
There is one thing that has really helped me in these situations, and that is giving thanks to the Lord. I find that when I take the time to focus on what God has done for me, what he has given me, it seems to minimize the giants. Even little things, like “Thankyou Lord for the sunshine today.” I love the sunshine. I enjoy the sunshine. So naturally I need to give thanks for the sunshine. Others may have experienced sunshine too, and either taken it for granted, or perhaps not enjoyed it too much. Then I can take it further. “Thank you Lord that I can walk in the sunshine.” I tend to take it for granted that I can walk, but when I see it as a gift from the Lord, and thank him for it, I find myself appreciating it more. And I am grateful for the food that he has provided for me, the shelter, the opportunities to row, to swim, to play golf and tennis. I have so much to be grateful for, and as I focus on these things the giants in my life become less significant.
Let’s grow in our trust of the Lord. There may be giants in our lives, but the Lord has promised to help us defeat them. If you want to make a difference in this world you need to believe what God has said to you. And so do I.
Mary Foulger - Author, speaker and intercessor 