11/3/11 DO NOT BE AFRAID
Numbers 14:1-9 Thursday, November 3, 2011
Key Verse: 14:9 Kevin Jesmer
“Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” 
Dear Lord Jesus. Thank you for helping me to be transformed in my heart, by your grace. I pray that I may promote your holiness and your grace sp that others may live in victorious lives of faith. Lord, I pray that you may bless and transform the women going to the woman’s conference. May they be strengthened and may they love you and find joy in the Lord. May your name be glorified in their lives. Thank you for helping me to be faithful to daily bread thus far. I pray in Jesus’ name. Please help me to accept one word of God though this passage. Amen!
1. Let’s go back to Egypt! (1-4).
Verses 1-4 read, “ 1 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 
When the people heard the reports of the spies, they forgot the power and promises of God and fell into fear. Fear is unbelief. This was not the first time they fell into fear, but this time it was critical, for it was the time of decision. Instead of looking at God, they looked at the powerful enemy and at themselves. They said, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes. Let’s go back to Egypt.”
Those who have been delivered from bondage by the power of God must live by faith from first to last. To go back to the old way of life is death. Sometimes we become fearful about the future, if we take a certain course of action. We are fearful about the future where Jesus will lead us. We are fearful about the loss and not having enough money. We are fearful about rejection from family members and friends. Sometimes, because of our fears and the hardships of life, we want to go back to our old lives or at least retreat and shrink back into an easy going life. So often I want to shrink back and rest and sleep and not think about anything. It is ok to sleep enough, but when I fall into this way of thinking and fall back into a lazy life, then I suffer and shipwreck my faith.
There are a lot of demands in my life of faith. Yes. But thank God I am not grumbling. This is the will of God in my life. I am content with that. The only life I fall into is a lazy life of resting and mindlessly going in facebook. But luckily this is not that often. Lord, save me from a grumbling heart and help me to remain in your love and grace and calling.
2. Only do not rebel (5-9).
Verses 5-9, “ 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
Caleb and Joshua also had seen the powerful enemies, but they believed that the Lord would give them the good land if they pleased him. They begged the people not to be afraid and not to rebel. Fear and rebellion displease God. The Israelites could conquer the land because the Canaanites had no protection, and the Lord was with his people Israel (9).
The fact is that if we trust and obey God, he will give us victory and success. Caleb stood up as a leader and boldly declared this truth. We need to stand up and not let the spirit and grumbling take over, but we must make a stand and make sure that the spirit of faith takes over. We must always build an atmosphere of hope and faith in the Lord.
Also, we need to repent of wanting to go back to our old lives in the world. Whatever we are facing, Jesus will be with us and help us to overcome. There is some dryness in regards to outreach and discipleship in our ministry. But Jesus is getting us through these dry times and will bring about a true spiritual victory in regards to ministry. Have faith in God.
Prayer: Lord, drive out fear, which is the seed of rebellion. Help me to live by faith.
One Word: “We will swallow them up!”
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