Good morning all! Father, we pray that You would enlighten our eyes to see the promises that You’ve placed in our life. Help us to speak only of Your faithfulness and love, teach us to truly know Your word and the life it gives, Amen. If you’re at a stop sign can look both right and left at the same time? What about faith? Do you see promise or problem?
Numbers 14
Num 13:32 KJV – And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
So ten of the spies said the land we searched will eat us up and ALL the people we saw there are too strong for us.
Num 14:7 KJV – And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
Here’s what Joshua and Caleb said, the land we searched look’s really great.
Num 14:8 KJV – If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
And when the Lord delights in us He will get us in and the land will flow with milk and honey.
Num 14:9 KJV – Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
Don’t ignore God’s word, and don’t fear folks that look different; they’re helpless and have no protection, but the LORD is with us!
Num 14:10 KJV – But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
But the whole community began speaking about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the presence of the LORD appeared to all the congregation and caused them to stop.
Bottom line
How is that 12 people can look at the same thing together and yet have 2 completely different points of view? 10 of the spies had nothing good to say about the land and two had nothing bad to say. Why is it some saw a problem and yet some a promise? Do you suppose it matters? I guess only if you want to enter the promise land, Joshua and Caleb moved into the promise land the other 10…they didn’t make it. Why? They gave an evil report, they had nothing nice to say about the land. You know the difference between a good report and an evil report?
Mat 15:11 KJV – Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. What comes out of the mouth of mankind? WORDS!!! This is what brings defilement into the world, it’swhat we say about one another…also known as an evil report. The verse in Matthew was spoken by Jesus Christ, now why did He say what comes out of our mouth is what makes us unclean? He was responding to the scribes and pharisees, those that generally looked at the outward actions of others…not that any of us could relate to that, right?
Mat 15:2 KJV – Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. They called His disciples sinners because they looked at their actions and said they were unclean…an evil report. Jesus says on the contrary, they’re not sinners it’s those that call others sinners. This is what the scribe and pharisee in me does, it looks into the life of others and sees what they do wrong and then tells others…I mean, I am holy after all-Ha! I’ll never enter the promise land with that attitude, instead maybe I should find the good in others and report that?
Pro 12:18 NIV – The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Kind of hard to have the tongue of the WISE if I call you unclean…sinner…hypocrite…phony…sounds like those words are reckless and will cause damage. You know there’s a blessing from God when we provide a good report?
Pro 15:30 NIV – Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. You want a healthy soul? Have something nice to say about people. You want joy in your heart? Put a smile on your face when you speak to others. Remember we are the temple of God, shouldn’t that temple speak about the goodness of God? Like Love? Like Mercy? Like Joy?
1Co 3:17 KJV – If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. You can enter the promise land today if you like, all you gotta do is give someone a good report with a smile on your face even if their hands are dirty…don’t defile His Temple.
Point to Ponder
How should we speak? Tit 3:2 KJV – To speak evil of NO man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto ALL men. You gotta hand it to God, He is consistent.
Let’s all see the promise, In Him Phil
Faith – Family – Friends
