All twelve spies bring back the same report that basically says, one, the land is very good, and, two, the people there are very strong. All twelve spies saw the same thing, but only Joshua and Caleb understood the situations. Not only does the Lord want to take Israel into the Promised Land, but also, the people living in the land have lost their “protection.” The word “protection” is sel translated literally “shade,” or “shadow.” (See Psalm 91:1) In the hot, arid climate a “shadow” was a form of protection. But, now the Canaanites are without the protection of shade or shadow. They are, instead, exposed to the Lord’s judgment. (Abraham was told in Genesis 15:15-16, that the Amorites, or Canaanites, sin was not yet full, so they still had divine protection and privileges from the days of Abraham until now.) An Israelite invasion at this time will be against a people who are open and vulnerable, that is why Joshua and Caleb say, “We will Devour Them!”
Joshua and Caleb tell the Israelites that the balance of power has shifted because the Lord has left the Canaanites unprotected, and is with Israel. There is no reason to be afraid. This is a time for confidence and action.
Failure to see the fact that God has brought the Israelites to this point is not only a matter of unbelief, but it is also rebellion against the Lord. Lack of faith and failure to respond with action, in this case, is nothing short of rebellion, because the people have had time for spiritual growth and God has provided opportunities for their advancement in their faith. Here the rejection of God’s will is a matter of the soul that has rejected knowledge of God and dismissed evidence of his will. Belief in God requires that we not only accept all that he says, but we also act accordingly by trusting his promises and obeying his requirements.
They will not be taught and disciplined, but will instead be rejected and punished. |
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The median size of a church in the US is 75 regular people in a Sunday morning service.
Median size means that a church with an attendance of 75 is bigger than half the churches in the US, but also, smaller than half the churches in the US.
Median size means that half the churches in the US are bigger than 75 and half the churches in the US are smaller than 75.
(Details here) |