Do not be afraid of the people of the land
“27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
14 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.”
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.””
The Israelites' experience at Kadesh Barnea, where they sent spies into the land of Canaan, highlights two very different perspectives in the face of fear and uncertainty. Ten of the spies focused on the visible challenges and threats, seeing themselves as "grasshoppers" in comparison to the giants they saw in the land. On the other hand, Caleb and Joshua emphasized faith in God’s promise and His faithfulness, urging the people to trust in His power rather than be overwhelmed by the daunting circumstances.
This story teaches us how we should respond when faced with difficulties and fears in life. No matter how great the challenges appear, the key to faith is to view ourselves from God's perspective and to trust in His power, not our limitations. There are times when we may feel small, powerless, or inadequate in the face of life's "giants." But when we remember God’s promises and His grace, we can overcome those fears and live victorious lives of faith.
God created us in His image, making us precious and noble, and through Jesus Christ, He is restoring and perfecting that image. Therefore, instead of focusing on our weaknesses, we must hold on to God’s promises and see ourselves as He sees us—within His plan and purpose.
May we learn to view ourselves, the world, and our communities through God's eyes. And I hope that today, no matter the size or scope of the challenges we face, we live with the faith of a courageous heart.
Prayer: Lord, we desire to proclaim Your kingdom in faith and step forward into the land You lead us to. Please keep us from letting fear born from our weaknesses turn into a heart of criticism or doubt. Open our eyes to see Your glory, power, and promises, and help us live with bold faith in the world. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
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