Again, the Israelites are worried about the new opportunity God is blessing them with. God tells them do not be terrified or afraid. Six words, one commandment and the reassurance they needed. A message meant to bring hope and to refocus them, not for them to feel defeated by.
Once again, God is ready to shower blessings down on the Israelites. He is ready to allow them to enter the Promised Land. Their fears and lack of trust create different reactions among the Israelites. Fear demands that they see where they are headed and what they are up against before they enter this new land. So, Moses sends 12 men to check out the land. One group experiences hope, focusing on the abundance and size of the fruit bringing back samples. The other group, seeing the Amorites’ size, report that they cannot go in because they will be destroyed. Their response is focused on fear. They focused on the size of the natives when they should have focused on the size and ability of their God.
How quickly they forgot all the other battles God had fought for them and won. They could not see this was the same situation. Was God testing them to see one more time if they were truly ready to handle this blessing before he let them in? If so, they failed. They had two choices, trust God or question God. They chose to question and doubt God. How quickly they forgot and how quickly we can also forget when we are in the midst of a trial.
I love the visual I see in verse 31 — God in control carrying me as an earthly father would his child. Gently holding me with his arms wrapped securely around me. Surrounding, protecting and shielding me as he wants no harm to come near me. He loves you and me that deeply as well, just as he also loved the Israelites so intensely.
God’s desire is that each one of his children enter the Promised Land when he sends his Son Jesus Christ back to redeem the world. Will your choices here be hopeful so you will be allowed to enter in or will your fears on earth keep you out just as the Israelites fears excluded them?
Eleanor Chew
Extended Scripture: Deuteronomy 1–2 (NKJV)
