As we seek to walk faithfully in the Christian life, one of the daily challenges is maintaining a God-centered perspective. Specifically, view as it relates to trust.
- Is it possible to be in a situation where anxiety is the dominant emotion that leads to altering the way you interact with the people around you?
- Is it possible for present trials to dictate our current attitude?
- When looking at what appears to be an unfavorable outcome, is it possible to lose heart and doubt God’s purpose in your circumstances?
By the time we get to Numbers 13, Moses had already sent the men to spy out the land of Canaan, hoping that their report would prove favorable for the people of God to enter into the land promised to them.
And then came the report: “But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us'” (Numbers 13:31).
Too strong for us?!
One observation, two implications, and an application:
- Observation
- The majority of the Israelite spies placed too much trust in themselves instead of God.
- Implication one: Their evaluation of victory was between their strength and the “people of the land.”
- Implication two: God’s power was limited.
- The majority of the Israelite spies placed too much trust in themselves instead of God.
- Application
- Principle
- Victory, for the Christian, from a biblical perspective, is experienced by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Sin and death are the ultimate foes, and Christ defeated them through the resurrection. Death does not have the final say.
- Christ’s victory over sin and death is a foundational principle for understanding the work God accomplished through Christ on mankind’s behalf. The apostle Paul writes, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:37-39.
- Challenge
- But, there’s a problem. We still struggle with sin. In the same way, the ancient Israelites doubted God; we also doubt God. Trusting God is often a daily battle. What’s the way forward?
- Living it Out
- Refocus by not limiting God.
- God has provided victory over sin and death. Therefore, trials experienced as a result of living in a sinful world are God’s training grounds for the maturation of His people.
- Confess and experience God’s mercy.
- Restoration is possible for the meek, the poor in spirit, and those hungering and thirsting for righteousness. The stiff-necked do not experience God’s mercy.
- Remember and remain in the vine.
- What set apart the report from the majority of the Israelite spies and Caleb’s was how they viewed God.
- Caleb remembered God’s omnipotence, which means he trusted that God does whatever pleases Him.
- Refocus by not limiting God.
- Principle