“The Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people despise me and not believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have done among them? I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.’
“But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Then the Egyptians will hear of it,.. and will tell the inhabitants of this land. They’ve heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people… You are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them… Now if you kill this people.., then the nations… will say, “It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land…” Now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised… Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love…’
“The Lord said, ‘I’ve pardoned, according to your word. But… none who’ve seen my glory and signs… and yet put me to the test… and not obeyed my voice, shall see the land… None who despised me shall see it. But Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land… Now,.. set out for the wilderness.’
“‘How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me?.. Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness,.. not one shall come into the land except Caleb and Joshua. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey,.. shall know the land you have rejected… Your children shall be in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness.'” Numbers 14:11-17,19-25,27-31,33
It was true. The inhabitants of Canaan were formidable, yet God had determined that the Israelites would settle there. Rejecting God’s plan through their lack of faith, all the spies and the adult Israelites alive at the time of crossing the Red Sea would die before entering the land- a harsh consequence for those who saw the enemy as larger than God. They foolishly allowed the enemy’s perceived threat to supersede God’s promises, and would miss out on their fulfillment. Moses had better vision, and prayed the Lord would continue with his people so His reputation would be upheld, and His honor magnified.
As we daily deal with the enemy of our souls, we can choose to arm ourselves with the better vision of who God is and what He is doing. Rather than hanging our heads in dread or fear, we can set our sights on His worth and glory. Instead of despising God’s invisible assurances by grumbling and worry, we can fix our hope in His promises and ultimate good purposes, and be strong and courageous to stand at every struggle with the enemy. Will we? (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Do we regularly recount the works and deeds of the Lord, particularly those that personally affect us or are in direct answer to prayer? How else will we fill our sights with His greatness, beauty, and might? Do we see how this magnification of the Lord and His goodness fuels our faith, and eternal far-sightedness clears our vista to hope? The next time we are prone to a spirit of doubt and woe, will we choose instead to prove the Lord’s greatness and give Him pleasure?
Lord, help me daily remember You are the greatest of all, and Your promises and power can always be trusted.
As the rain and snow 