An evil report
Deuteronomy 1:22 “And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what we way must go up, and into what cities we shall come.”
Are we like the ten spies? Who, though carrying some of the blessings of our inheritance…
….”and they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down”……
…..still murmur and complain about the trials and “giants” in our walk?
We all know the story…..
Israel had come to the land to possess it.
Moses told them to “Go up and possess it….as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.”
This should have been a grand celebration! “We’re here…..we made it! Now we can have all that God has for us!”
But, instead, they thought to “search out the land”.
Why?
God had already chosen it…..and was ready to stand with Israel against everything in their way….
….but unbelief in God made them seek something other….than His Word.
So, the elders came to Moses, and said…..”We will send some men to spy out the land….so we know the way to go up.”
Notice, “we will”…..they were not asking the Lord…..they were plainly seeking their will.
Maybe Moses just heard the “and go up”…..because he agreed.
So for forty days and nights….the camp of Israel stayed close to the inheritance God wanted to give them….
…..and waited….
…..for twelve men to tell them what God should be telling them….which way to go, to have their possessions.
Ps 106:24-25 “Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not His Word:
But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.”
[It is important in this day, that we understand…….What Voice? How did the Lord speak to them?
First, they had the promise given Abraham and his seed for Canaan.
Second, they had Moses who spoke to them God’s message, even as they asked (Ex. 20:19)
Third, they had God’s Word in His law and commandments. “Which if a man do, he shall even live in them.” (Ezekiel 20:11,13,21). Obedience grows faith, and faith makes us to know God’s Will. (John 7:17)
Fourth they had heard God speak from the Tabernacle.
Fifth, they had the cloud and fire pillar which lead by day and night, leading them there.
Yet, they “hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord”]
So when Moses said:
Deuteronomy 1:21 “Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.”
They were to go in and possess it.
(I believe that if they had said, “yes, Lord, tell us how”…..they would have been directed how…..and possessed the land immediately.
What do we “say” when God tells us to do something?)
But instead, their own idea of “search and see”….
….lead them to “see” by sight and not by faith….the giants of the land.
Our plans…..giving way to our way…..giving way to “seeing” without faith…..
…..giving way to an evil report about God’s Will…..”we are not able”.
That is what our natural sight would tell us. (Numbers 13:31)
But faith says, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)
What of us?
And has not the Lord given us “great and mighty promises” (2 Peter 1:4) that we are to get into our experience….in a word, to possess them?
2 Peter 1:4 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Do we want to escape the corruption of the world’s system?
Then we must “partake”…get into our own experience, the promises of God.
The stress of this lesson is this: Why are we looking for some other way….than God’s Way?
God’s Way is faith. That is first….”….to them that have attained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:1)
Then, by giving all diligence…..we are to use our faith in God, and get virtue….or yielding to the force of the Holy Spirit within,…..giving us courage to obey.
Then, knowledge of Christ and His promises worked out by obedience….it is amazing knowledge to know what God will do for you….and you learn this here.
Then temperance….or moderation….not running or stopping but just walking with God.
Then patience….and this is a big one….for if we can not learn patience with God’s time,….and ourselves…..and others, we can not go on to godliness.
And we must “learn” it.
Godliness is taking on Christ’s character…..which we are promised will happen if we do these things…..(Romans 8:29)
Then when we love our God, we love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Then love….”Beloved, let us love one another : for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” (1 John 4:7)
God has promised us some amazing life promises…..but we must possess them.
As Moses said, “…go up and possess it..”.
So with our promises…let us believe God…give all diligence……and get the fulfillment of these promises….in us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 