The above is the topic we need to teach in the children’s meeting. The story is taken from Numbers Chapter 13-14. It is about the spies sent by Moses to discover the good land which God had promised to give to the Israelites. As I was thinking about the story, it dawns on me that actually the 12 spies are in us. The ten spies represent the spirit of fear which are not from God and the 2 spies, Joshua & Caleb represent the spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind and is given by God. Christ is our good land and as we take time to discover Him, we realized that it is truly a good land flowing with milk and honey but at the same time, we saw giants and great and fortified cities.. I see these giants as tall as my pride, my very self, my own desires and some of the inhabitants in this land live in tents and some in these great and fortified cities. I see those inhabitants that live in the fortified cities are those strongholds that I have builded through the years, my concepts, my wrong thinking, religious concepts, erroneous teachings etc. Those living in tents may be some habits that were just acquired but can be easily dealt with.
If we do not focused on God’s word and on Him, we will be very much afraid, just like the ten spies… Numbers 13:31-33 and we may convince ourselves and influence the people around us by saying, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 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. 33 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.” Remarks: Not only we became frightened, but we also become irresponsible in our speech and influence the people around us.
However, if we depend and trust God, we will be like Joshua and Caleb…Numbers 13:30 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.” Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. If we trust God, we will believe and claim His word … God has given us the good land…we can go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it. The more we labor on Christ, the more we possess this good land. Exodus 23:23-24 For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. 24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.
Reflection: A responsible behavior is one that lays hold on the word of God and obey and act it out. Calebs shows responsibility by quieting the people and encouraged them to believe God’s word that they are able to take possession of the good land because it is promised by God. An irresponsible behavior brings in God’s judgement not only upon yourself but also upon your neighbours. Numbers 14:22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
If we do not focused on God’s word and on Him, we will be very much afraid, just like the ten spies… Numbers 13:31-33 and we may convince ourselves and influence the people around us by saying, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 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. 33 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.” Remarks: Not only we became frightened, but we also become irresponsible in our speech and influence the people around us.
However, if we depend and trust God, we will be like Joshua and Caleb…Numbers 13:30 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.” Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. If we trust God, we will believe and claim His word … God has given us the good land…we can go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it. The more we labor on Christ, the more we possess this good land. Exodus 23:23-24 For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. 24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.
Reflection: A responsible behavior is one that lays hold on the word of God and obey and act it out. Calebs shows responsibility by quieting the people and encouraged them to believe God’s word that they are able to take possession of the good land because it is promised by God. An irresponsible behavior brings in God’s judgement not only upon yourself but also upon your neighbours. Numbers 14:22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
Hi Iris, It's always so important to focus on Jesus, not on the 'giant' problems that seem to overtake us. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace!
ReplyDelete