Field Of Dreams: Delays– Fear
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.'
Numbers 13:1-2 (NKJV)
'We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there...
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, 'Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.'
But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, 'The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.'
Numbers 13:27-33 (NKJV)
When God’s children left the land of Egypt, their Promised Land from God was days away. So Moses sent leaders to spy the land. (Their secret mission took 40 days.)
Once done, ten of the twelve were terrified of fortressed cities filled with ‘giant’ men. Only Joshua and Caleb were not.
'The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us... Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people' (Numbers 14:7-9).*
But Israel’s leading men DID rebel. They threatened to stone God’s faithful heroes. They wanted new leaders to take them home: a return to their prior enslavement!
God was angry. He wanted to strike them– even to disown them as His children. Moses pleaded for the Jews-turned-rebels.
The Lord relented, but He sentenced them to wander around in the wilderness: one full year for each day of the spy trip. Also, every adult male complainer (who was ruled by fear, instead of by God)... was destined to die before arrival.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ: entertainment is a mighty fortress—ruled by media kings and giant stars.
Run forward, like David to Goliath. Walk bravely, like Joshua and Caleb. A remarkable parallel exists between Bible times and our world today. The number, 40, has significance!
Field Of Dreams: Delays– Fear (Part 10)
* Read Numbers 13 and 14 for the full and exciting story: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2013-14&version=NKJV
NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.