Main Verse: Numbers 13:35 – 14:45

Good morning!

The nation was on the cusp of entering the New Land, something the people had been discussing since they left Egypt 45 days earlier. The Lord Moses sent in 12 spies one from each of the tribes. The 12 men spent 40 days in the land and returned with two separate reports and samples of the fruit that grew there. One report said, “We can do this even if there are giants in the land and there is abundant fruit”. The other report said, “We should not do this because we are but crickets as compared to the giants. Yes there is abundant fruit but the problems outweigh the fruit.” (Numbers 13). This is where the brake lights come on, and the wheels come off the cart because the number of people who believed the 2^nd report was more than the ones who didn’t, and “Fear” spoke louder than “Faith”; in essence, they developed a case of Mosesitis which is common to mankind.

What happened next may surprise and possibly be deemed unfair but, God doesn’t play favorites and He will not put up with rebellion. The people were turned back around and told that they would enjoy 40 years of walking in circles until the last of the rebellious died in the wilderness. The Lord’s mandate was irrevocable although many thought they could placate God by forging ahead into the wilderness but, the door was shut. When the Lord calls us to ministry, we may be very happy about it until the time comes to shoulder arms and that is where we look for any excuse like the case of people invited to the wedding (Luke 14:7-11).  My encouragement for you today is that as you are on the cusp of launching a ministry you will find strength in this fact, “The same God who called you to the ministry will be the same God who sees you through providing you do not allow fear to speak for you” (The Same God).

I.H.S. MK

Father