March 15

March 15

The 12 Spies & 40 Days of Searching -- The fears of the 10 spies vs. the faith of Caleb/Joshua.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: Numbers 13

Reading 2: Deuteronomy 1:19-28

Reading 3: Joshua 14:6-9

What do you see?

What do you say?

Today we read a cautionary account of the results of seeing with eyes that are not focused on God, nor seeing by faith. We see what happens when our assessment of a situation is based on a comparison of ourselves with our circumstances rather than a comparison of our circumstances to God's promises.

The spies saw what God had promised them, but compared themselves with the people in the land, rather than listening to God's promise that He would give them the land. Even though God promised to be a Father to them, they preferred their own estimation of the situation, and the fear-filled, negatively-focused account took hold in the whole nation (with the exception of Caleb and Joshua).

The result was that those who had faith received the inheritance God promised them, and Caleb was still full of faith and boldness at the age of 85! But the rest wandered in the wilderness until they died.

So today, the choice for us is: what do we see? God's promises or the world's threats? And what do we say? "With God all things are possible" or "They will eat us for breakfast!"? (Numbers 13:32).

There truly is life and death in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Because our vision forms our confession, and our confession sets our direction, determining our destination.

God has great plans for your future and mine; where will you go today?

Have a great day!

Mark.