Like grasshoppers

The Children of Israel had learnt their lesson the hard way! Are we sure we have learnt ours? If massive problems arise as this world falls apart – will we seem “like grasshoppers”? Or will our faith be such as to give us “full assurance” (read Hebrews 10:22,23)?

Heb 10:22-23 The Scriptures 1998+ (22) let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water. (23) Let us hold fast the confession of our expectation without yielding, for He who promised is trustworthy.

With a day of remembrance coming near it is not bad to look into what happened in the past with God’s people. How did they come to hear about the promise of a land and a better future and how did they behave after they got saved from slavery.

“Like grasshoppers”

Can you imagine yourself as a member of the Israelites who miraculously escaped from Egypt? After seeing all the remarkable plagues, the wonder of crossing the Red Sea, then camping beside Mount Sinai with the earth quaking, the clouds, the fire and the voice from the mountain! After that, the miraculous provision of manna, quails, and water from the rock. Then, the teamwork to build the tabernacle as a centre of worship, with the divine presence indicated by fire and cloud! Next, the great celebration of a ‘Passover’ – one year and one month after leaving Egypt.

Surely, if we had been part of all that, our confidence and anticipation of God’s power to lead us to the promised land would be very great. Well might we be astonished at what we read today in Numbers! Why did 10 of the 12 spies sent to explore the land, come back in such a negative frame of mind? Although they said the land

‘flows with milk and honey and this is its fruit” (13:27).

They spoke against the two other spies who came back and had said,

“Let us go up at once and occupy the land for we are well able to overcome it” (verse 30).

But the 10 said

“We are not able … for they are stronger than we are … all the people we saw in it are of great height … we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers” (verses 31-33).

We are going to read of God’s anger with them because of this failure of faith after all the evidence they had experienced of his power that had surrounded them to their benefit.

Let us examine all the evidence for our own faith. How strong are our convictions in serving God? If serious difficulties arise will our faith falter? Will we only follow in the way of faith, when all is readily provided and there are deliverances and blessings?

Recall that remarkable Psalm 139 we read recently, David wrote,

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me … see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” (verses 23,24).

Next month we will read Moses’ final message to the people before he dies,

“and you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these 40 years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

It was a message to the next generation, for their parents had died during the 40-year journey. They had learnt their lesson the hard way! Are we sure we have learnt ours? If massive problems arise as this world falls apart – will we seem “like grasshoppers”? Or will our faith be such as to give us “full assurance” – read Hebrews 10:22,23.

– the Christadelphian

English: Sunrise on Mt. Sinai in Egypt — Sunrise on Mt. Sinai in Egypt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Find also to read:

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Ask the Rabbi: The great Jewish divide – rice at passover (jewishnews.co.uk)
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Christianity is not a ‘stand-alone’ faith. It stands on the shoulders of the faith of the children of Israel.
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We are too glib in dismissing the foundation laid by them, the carrying of the promise and the testimony into our day. We need to be more aware of the ground on which we are privileged to stand.
To Soar In The Spirit You Have To Be Hard Core (theinscribedheart.com)
Moses successor, was a foreshadow of our Christ. Jesus Christ and Joshua actually were called by the same name in Hebrew, Yeshua. Understand that Yeshua leading the children of Israel into the promised land of their inheritance is a direct correlation to Yoshua, the Christ, leading the redeemed church through the salvation of the soul. The children of Israel fought Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Canaanites, and so on. We do battle with envy, greed, selfishness, lust, idolatry and so on. Though our enemies are somewhat different, we should have the same uncompromising approach when it comes to dealing with them. Make no deals, show no mercy, and utterly destroy.
The Twelve Spies – The Edge of Believing (gfrase.wordpress.com)
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The edge of believing is always in front of us. Fear is a natural human emotion. Wisdom and healthy respect are benefits, but fear can shut us down when we don’t take it to God. He is absolutely approachable with honest prayer and provides several means of reassurance through His son, His Word and the spirit penetrating our hearts.
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It is a challenge to those devoted to the purity of the Lord’s teaching to not only adhere to that teaching, but to resist all competing ideas. The ecumenical spirit, whether motivated out of genuine interest or impure motives, is a spirit (teaching) that is corrupting. Those who fall into its trap are those who do not know the Lord.