February 3...

Numbers 12-14

think about it...
what if your sin was revealed to everyone, like miriam?
what if everyone knew, like your skin turned a certain color, your nose grew, or you got sick... how do you think the world would react to God and His ways? would that be too much to bare? would that be cruel? would the "mark" of being sinful then become "cool"?
how much of a realist are you?
do you think the 10 spies were just being realistic?
it's obvious that the isrealites could not defeat these giants... and we could also think that the 10 spies were good men, why else would they be leaders or called to serve for their tribe. they weren't against God, or God would have already judged them. they still we're missing the perspective that God could do anything. the perspective that God could do the impossible... that's called FAITH.
why do we doubt what God can do?
when we get on a rollercoaster, it's insane what that ride is about to do to you, and yet you will not get hurt. when it comes to God and our faith, if we do not see exactly how it's going to work out... it's hard for us to get on board with Him.
joshua and caleb knew they were in the minority... they knew what would happen if the people dissaproved of what they were saying! 14:10 says they wanted to kill them.
i wonder if any of the 10 thought that God maybe could help them out... but they didn't want to be in the minority, even if that made them right.
do you ever stand up, even if you'll be in the minority?
is it more important to you to be in the majority (the popular decision) or in the right (usually the minority)?
what is the fate of the people because of their unbelief?
what is the fate of the spies because of their lack of faith?

in exodus 33 we read about when moses saw God pass by... it's amazing that the people had already forgotten about this. they'd forgotten about God's rescue and providence. they forgot that moses said that he would not go forward if God didn't go with them... listen to this songs lyrics and how it describes moses' encounters with God.