Scouting Out The Land

"The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. [....] Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. [....]  And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.” [....] So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” - Number 13:1-2,17-20,27-29,32-33

So there you have it. I am certain you are familiar with the story. And you well know the decision that Israel made. The report from 10 of the spies struck fear in the hearts of the people, they refused to cross the river and instead they wandered in the desert for 40 years until their entire generation, with the exception of Moses, Joshua, and Caleb had died. God led them to the river, sent 12 men to spy out the land before they crossed the river and they said "no, we won't go".  It is easy for us, sitting in the bleachers to be critical of those people. It is quite a different matter to suit up and go out on the field to face your opponent, who happens to be bigger and more fierce. So what to do. You do what David did. You face the giants anyway but with faith in God.

God never asks you to do anything that you can do without Him. You always need Him.  The people needed Him to cross the river and defeat their enemies, but they lost faith and considered only what they could do or not do on their own.

Today, Martie and I are going to scout out the land. The Lord has brought us to the water's edge at our River Jordan. We have stood here many times before. Toes so close to the water, but not yet wet. I can remember my mom's advice in 2005 when we knew that the Lord wanted us to stay in Mississippi and not return to Alabama following Hurricane Katrina.  She said, "The river did not back up until they stepped out into the water!" We understood what she meant. We had to cross the river to accomplish God's purpose. we had to trust God and not lean on our own understanding. It happened again when we were called to Haiti in 2010. Again when we were called to Texas in 2017. And now, it seems, again as we are called to Florida in 2023.

And guess what. Already we are receiving reports that there are giants in the land. Reasons why we won't be able to do what we are certain the Lord is calling us to do. We can believe the reports (which in fact may have an element of truth) and think of reasons why crossing the "river" is not really a good idea and maybe it is not God after all. I mean, after all, we just had our windows replaced in our home! Or we can step out in faith and watch God do what He has done in the past and will do in the future. He is faithful.

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21

He can do more than any of us can ask or think.  That is the God we serve, trust, and obey.

So, we will cross the river tomorrow and scout out the land. And then make plans to cross the river again to occupy the land. We don't know exactly what adventures lay ahead. What challenges. What opportunities to be discouraged and perhaps encouraged, but God does and He will be there waiting for us.

Please don't be impressed by what we do - that is not my point in sharing this. Instead, be impressed and have faith in what God can do. I am reminded of an old timey song, "It Is No Secret". Written by Stuart Hamblen, who is regarded as one of radio's first "singing cowboys." Hamblen, the son of a Methodist minister from Texas, didn't handle his fame very well. As Wikipedia tells us, his drinking, and brawling and "destructive behavior" it [his fame] produced, landed him in jail "many times." Then one day he met Billy Graham and through a course of events, came to Christ. The chorus to the song - his testimony - goes

It is no secret what God can do
What He's done for others, He'll do for you
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do

And that is the truth my friends! Is it time to get your feet wet?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone