When I was younger in my Christian walk, I made many foolish statements out of ignorance. One such confession was regarding God’s power in my life. I would say “I know God CAN do this (fill in the blank)…but I’m not sure if He WILL do it for ME.” I was acknowledging that God has all power (that’s good), but still doubting His goodness (that’s bad). It was also a blatant disregard for what He’d already said in His Word. We often believe partially – like having faith for salvation, but stopping short of believing God will bless or heal us.
Let’s look at what happened in the Bible – God had Moses lead the people out of Egypt (saved them). Then He said I’m GIVING you a PROMISED land (blessing them) that flows with milk & honey.
So Moses sent out spies to check out the land God promised them. Joshua & Caleb came back in agreement with God’s promise (the land is good). The other ten spies came back with a bad report, focusing on the giants in the land and doubting God.
I know how tempting it is to focus on the negative instead of believing what God has promised! You must actively renew your mind and renounce wrong mindsets that are contrary to the Word of God! The Bible says that the people believed the spies with the bad report (the majority) and wanted to stone Joshua & Caleb.
As a result, here is the fate of those ten spies:
“Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord.” – Numbers 14:36-37
Joshua & Caleb are spared and blessed:
“But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.” – Numbers 14:3.
Have you ever thought about how differently it would have been for the people if ALL twelve spies came back with a good report? There is a great responsibility to those in leadership not to go against God’s Word and plan.
Fate of the Children of Israel:
God decreed that everyone 20 years old and above would die in the wilderness. Only the younger generation would enter the Promised land. (Numbers 14:26-30)
It’s important for us to understand that for the Israelites in the wilderness, it wasn’t a one time moment of unbelief that made God angry enough to say they couldn’t enter into the Promised land. It was a continual lifestyle of doubting, murmuring, complaining, and basically calling God a liar.
Younger Generation:
God allowed the younger generation to enter into the Promised land despite their parents/grandparents sin of unbelief.
“But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.” – Numbers 14:31
Still, they did have to suffer for the sins of their forefathers.
“And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness.” – Numbers 14:33
The younger generation often has to “bear the brunt” of our sins when it comes to unbelief. If we don’t learn how to trust God, and take Him at His Word, how much harder will it be for our children, and our children’s children?
While the younger generation of Israelites experienced God’s protection and provision in the wilderness, they didn’t see firsthand the deliverance from Egypt, or the parting of the Red Sea – they only heard about it. Unfortunately they also heard their forefathers constant complaining and witnessed their unbelief.
We MUST pass on our faith to our children, not only in word, but in deed as well! They need to hear and SEE us walking the things we believe. They need to hear and SEE us reading our Bible, worshipping the Lord, praying for the sick, helping the needy, ministering to others, and walking in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Doubt is the opening for unbelief. When we are struggling to trust God, we need to pray against the Spirit of Unbelief, and exercise our faith in God’s Word.- God is truth
- He is not a man who would lie.
- In Him there is no darkness at all, He’s not even capable of telling a lie.
- The devil is the father of ALL lies
- God IS good, and His plan for us is good
- God is faithful
- He will never leave us or forsake us
Encourage yourself in God’s Word and speak out loud who He is and what He’s said. Give no room for the devil to deceive you. Don’t entertain negative thoughts that contradict God’s Word, but take these thoughts captive and throw them out!
If we allow our doubts to become a stronghold of unbelief in any area of our life, not only do we miss out on (all/or some) of our “promised land”, we end up dying a spiritual, emotional, mental, and sometimes even physical death in our own personal wilderness. We also need to remember that our disobedience and unbelief affects the next generation.
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