Monday, 25 July 2016

Faith Focus vs Fear Focus, Numbers 13 and 14.

From the above passages, those people had seen God’s power and faithfulness but instead of continuing to trust Him, they murmured and were afraid to trust Him to bring them to their destiny.

In Numbers chapter 13, God commanded Moses to send spies to spy the promised land. A representative from every tribe went up to Canaan and 40 days later they returned and reported back what they saw in the land. Ten of the spies’ report went like this, “Certainly the land flows with milk and honey, but the inhabitants of the land are strong; the cities are walled/fortified and very large; there are descendants of Anak (people of great stature and courage,” vs 27-29. But Caleb quieted the people saying, “Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it,” vs. 30. Actually, the ten spies said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us”. In fact, “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight,” vs 31, 33.
How blind and forgetful could they be? Many of us suffer this same amnesia syndrome. We forget so easily the power and the faithfulness of God and we allow fear to cripple us and hinder us from seeing and possessing the destiny God has for us. I join with Shusho in praying, “Nipe (Mungu) macho nione sawasawa.” What you see is what you become. If you see yourself as a grasshopper so are you. Open your eyes and see clearly where God wants you to be. Genesis 13: 14.The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15. For all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.” We miss our destiny because we lack faith focus. “See it. Believe it. Receive it.” May the Lord help us to have a faith focus.
In chapter 14:2-4, instead of the people remembering the goodness of the Lord in the past, they were filled with fear and murmuring. They wished to die in the wilderness. They wished they died in Egypt. They even wished to go back to Egypt. They saw their children and wives being plundered. What a short-sighted and faithless congregation! Joshua and Caleb were filled with grief to see how faithless the people were. They spoke to the assembly saying, “The land through which we passed as spies is an exceedingly good land.  If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them,” vs7-9. But the congregation almost stoned them.
Because of fear and lack of faith in God, their destiny was cut off. Their destiny was delayed by 40yrs and tragically, all those who were 20yrs plus and murmured against God died in the wilderness. In their arrogance, they even attempted to go up to possess the land but God was not with them so they were defeated.

When we fail to have a faith focused on God our destiny is delayed and worse, we may even die prematurely and miss our eternal destiny. It is critical to trust God. It is important to remember from where He has brought us from. It is necessary to recount His faithfulness, and goodness. It is essential not to lose sight of our destiny. If you have ever witnessed the power of God in your life, you cannot to afford to lose your focus now. You cannot afford to forget all His benefits.

My friend, See it. Believe it. Receive it. Do not fear. The LORD is with.
Regards

Kachel

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