Numbers
13:31
Cleanse Your Mind
Lord,
You faced such strong opposition as You walked on this earth,
yet You did not doubt God’s promises. Please help me follow
Your example today. Give me courage to recognize my true enemy
is not flesh and blood but the evil one himself. Show me how
to stand in the face of worldly opposition and how to remain
steadfast in the midst of religious opposition.
Hear
God’s Word
Sometimes
faith is so radical in comparison to human logic that even those
with a measure of faith are opposed to God’s plan. This
is demonstrated in the report of the spies as they returned from
the land God promised to give His people.
Numbers
thirteen and fourteen record the report and the turmoil the report
created among God’s people. Twelve spies went in to view
the land God had promised His people. For forty days the camera
of their mind captured every detail of the inheritance God promised
to Abraham and his descendants over four hundred years earlier.
Eight of the spies brought back a report based on what they saw
with their physical eyes alone, while two brought back a report
viewed through eyes of faith.
The
faithless report of the eight caused the people to weep all night
long and to grumble against Moses and Aaron for leading them away
from Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4). The faith filled report of the other
two was so unrealistic that it created a desire in the people
to want to stone these men (14:10). The faith of Caleb and Joshua
was so repulsive to the people because they did not see faith
as a benefit but as a liability.
Analyze
Your Status
Many
times the closer we are to experiencing the fulfillment of our
faith, the greater the opposition. This opposition can come from
those who supported us in the beginning or from those who were
certain we had lost our minds.
Opposition
seems to be the strongest when our present circumstances look
the bleakest. Every journey of faith has its crisis or a place
of decision. It is at this place of decision that our struggle
against the opposition can be the most formidable. If you are
at this crisis right now, the worst thing to do is bend to the
opposition. The cost will be extremely great!
Neutralize
Your Obstacles
When
our faith is challenged by logic and earthly perceptions, we must
return to the foundation God has given us in His promises. For
Caleb and Joshua they were reminded of God’s words that
He would take them to a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus
3:8,17; 13:5). Even the testimony the spies brought back was a
confirmation that God had preserved this land for His people.
Yet logic and fear created the opposition that destroyed their
faith.
As
we encounter opposition to our faith, it is important to distinguish
the defining motivators of each one. The opposition’s opinions
are most likely motivated by fear and doubt. However, faith is
driven by a confidence in God’s abilities, not man’s.
Read the argument of faith given by Caleb and Joshua (Numbers
14:7-9). Now read the argument of those opposing this faith journey
(Numbers 13:27-29; 31-33; 14:2-3). Which one centers on God and
which one centers on man? Analyze the arguments of the opposition
and God will give you the ability to overcome in faith (14:36-37).
Glean
God’s Promises
“Not
one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house
of Israel failed; all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45).
This bold statement was made by a man who refused to allow opposition
to stand in the way of faith. Joshua lived to see the inheritance
God gave the children of those who refused to take the land. He
was able to enter the land God gave Caleb and his descendants
because he had not surrendered to the opposition his faith created.
A
life of faith always encounters opposition. Those who are able
to identify the nature and motivations behind the opposition have
the ability to stand boldly on God’s promises and experience
the fulfillment of each one of them. To experience the final outcome
of faith we must be willing to withstand the opposition by confirming
God’s promises and focusing on His power to do the impossible.
Expedite
Your Decision
Following
God by faith will always produce opposition from those outside
and inside the church. It will come from those we might consider
our enemies as well as from those we have confided in as friends.
In a journey of faith opposition is inevitable. Do not be surprised
by its presence or by those who challenge it. Fix your eyes on
Jesus, and let Him silence the opposition by fulfilling the promises
God has given.
Study
Helps:
1.
How can opposition from others keep us from a journey of faith?
2.
What effect does opposition have on your decision making process?
3.
What promise does God give to help us endure opposition from others?
