See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today.” Hebrews 3:12-13a
Good Morning Everyone,
Well, today, as God would design, I am in Numbers 13 where the spies go out to scope the good land. I pondered this a lot given the tenor of what is happening in this nation.
I realized that every fact brought back to the people was exactly correct. But what fascinated me is that what they brought back was luscious fruit. They did not grab a giant, they grabbed fruit; they grabbed hold of the things God had promised: a land flowing with milk and honey. But most forgot what He said! Then I realized, smack dab in the midst of God's goodness, is a BIG Giant. The marker in my own life at that juncture is my perspective of who God is - not what I see in front of me - but what He speaks to me!
Both the fruit and the giants were real. Both were very factual, but only two spies remembered what God had promised and that changed their passion and drive. It separated them from the rest. Many times in my life I wake up in the night and Giants are there resting on my chest. In these times, typically loneliness is a big open door for that to occur. And I’m sleepless. Why? Because I do not believe; the giants become bigger than God. I lose sight of the massive fruit of God's goodness and I do not trust in the One who has promised to be a good good Father; to prepare a table in the wilderness, and to lead me into His very best no matter what! So, I lay there in unrest, pondering how to talk my way out of Big Giants.
This is exactly what Israel did: died in the wilderness in unrest. It also never really hit me until today that my laying there in unrest is sin of unbelief. That kind of got to me. But then, I was reminded of this little verse in Hebrews 3:12-13. God says to take care lest you fall into unbelief, but then He says, "encourage one another." And I realized that one of the best things is that we as believers can encourage one another, but we have to receive the encouragement in return.
I wonder what would have happened if the other spies had embraced the encouragement from Caleb when he quoted the people and said, "Hey, we have God! Look at these amazing grapes. In Christ we are giant; not them." After which the people would resound, "Yes," and fall on their faces in belief. I hope when I’m encouraged that my reaction is to fall on my face and say, "Cari, what the heck! Remember to Whom you belong. Believe in your God."
Much love,
Cari
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