Faithful Spies

Something hit me as I was reading Deuteronomy 1 this morning. The Israelites were camped on the banks of the Jordan preparing to finally enter the Promised Land. Before they do, Moses will remind them of the history that had led them to that point and the covenant that they had made with God. He reminds them that they had been here before. Forty years earlier, Israel had been camped in the same place waiting to enter Canaan. Spies had been sent into the land to give a report of what lay ahead for them , and their report was one of a land that flowed with milk and honey. But what ten of the spies focused on was that it was a land that flowed with mighty enemies, walled cities and giants. The heart of Israel melted, and their fear caused them to refuse to enter the land. Moses says in Deuteronomy 1:26-27—

But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You grumbled in your tents and said, "The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us.

So God respected their choice—they did not enter the land. For forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and an entire generation died never seeing the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It would be their children who would receive the promise. Moses said in verse 39—

And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.

Here’s what hit me. The only information Israel had about Canaan was the report of the spies. Their decision not to enter the land was based on the negative report of ten unfaithful spies. Think of the powerful influence those ten men had on the entire nation of Israel. The whole nation missed having what God wanted them to have because of their negative influence.

You are living as God’s witnesses today. The message of God is mediated to the world around you through your attitudes and actions. Your life and faith is having an impact on the people around you… either for good or bad. Each of us stands in the places of the spies who have seen Canaan and report back to others. The words you speak, the life you live, the faith you exhibit will impact many beyond yourself. Will you be a faithful spy?