For 40 Days – Day 14: The Scouts’ Reports: Conclusions

Key Episode Scripture: Numbers chapters 13-14

How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? (Numbers 13:11 ESVUK)

They were on the brink of the Promised Land. It was within reach. They could even pop over for 40 days, see what the place was like, and bring back some of the luscious fruit. Yet Israel managed to snatch defeat from the hands of victory. We looked at the context of this tragic episode before outlining the content of this colossal blunder. Our previous entry explored a few concepts that give us a grasp of understanding what’s going on. Here are some conclusions we can reach, summing everything up.

What Did God Say? An entire congregation of people were influenced by negative news. The news did not come from God. When they messed up the first time, they got bad news from God and chose to believe they were ready to do what God said in the first place. Their approach did not come from God. God’s criticism of these stiff-necked people was that they were very good at being unfaithful to Him and His word. It would be rather brave of anyone today to suggest that there’s no way they’d be caught up with that. The key takeaway from this episode is to treasure, value, revere and prioritise the presence of God and His Word. Those who are blessed to have a relationship with God know this relationship is based on communication. And quality communication is based on understanding. Understanding God is all about hearing what He says, valuing that and then focusing on obeying that until He instructs the next thing. Understanding God values what He says even if news reports on circumstances suggest something else.

What Does God See? In the UK, there was a brilliant TV quiz show called Bullseye based on the game of darts. It saw different pairs of people play their way through a knockout round of activities involving general knowledge and playing darts, winning money and smaller prizes to whittle down to the last pair playing in the final. That final round required the pair to get enough points to win the star prize, putting up everything they’d won to that stage on the line. Failure to get enough saw them lose what they had and be shown the prize they missed out on, with the host usually saying to them, “Look at what you could have won.”

This is the land that God is giving you. It’s clear. The God who, with a mighty hand, took the people out of slavery, will, with that same mighty hand, bring them into the land He promised. That hand that saves and delivers will sustain the blessings available in the land He promised.  When Caleb and Joshua saw what the Lord promised, they agreed with what God saw. They agreed with what God saw in the present as they observed what God did in the past. They even saw how victory depends on agreeing with God on what He sees. If it’s not clear what God sees where the next steps are concerned, He can make the perspective clear. It’s one thing to agree with what God says; it’s a step further to agree with what God sees and align with that. This capacity to view things from God’s perspective was what allowed Caleb and Joshua to inherit what they saw.

Meanwhile, the ten spies who chose not to see what God saw lost what they could have won and everything they already had. They hardly had time to consider what they could win before God wiped them out of the game show of life. God takes it just as seriously today to engage with people who will see what He sees, or else they won’t see much for long. They definitely would be in the same predicament as those who had seen what God did but wouldn’t get to see what God would do in fulfilling His word.

What does God require? The book of Hebrews takes much of its warnings to the saints of the day by looking at God engaged with the Israelites in this sad episode. As the book points to Christ as supreme over even Moses, there is still an implicit warning about why the generation that saw the signs would not inherit the land. It’s summed up in the line that without faith, it is impossible to please God, for those who come to Him must believe that He exists and He’s a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

All that God required from His people was faith. It wasn’t blind faith; it wasn’t a stab in the dark hoping for something to work out. This was faith in God, who is faithful. This wasn’t crossing fingers and wishing things would be alright but extending that trust and confidence to believe God based on all He proved Himself to be.

He didn’t want the persistent murmuring and complaining – that put the relationship to the test. He didn’t want the grumbling as though things were better in slavery – that put a strain on the relationship. He didn’t want a people to ditch Him and the man He chose and take a different path from the righteous one He set for them. He expected faith.

He applauded faith in what Caleb stood for. He gave those who did not believe them precisely what they feared – death in the wilderness. Why? Because they did not exercise faith. And faith is what God requires.

There is an overwhelming catalogue of episodes of what happens to those who walk by faith, and we today should soberly consider the consequences of operating without it. God isn’t so much bothered by sentiments, sacrifices and smooth talk – He requires faith.

Next, we will approach some consequences from this episode that should inform our beliefs, behaviours and character as we continue the mission.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom