Trinity Baptist Church

Living By Faith in a World Full of Fear

Faith to Face the Future

Numbers 13:27-33

 

This morning if you have your Bibles I would like for you to turn to Numbers 13:27-33 and today we are talking about "Living By Faith in a World Full of Fear".  In particular today, I want to talk with you about “the Faith to Face the Future”.

 

How will you face your future?  The truth of the matter is all of us deal with the future in one of two ways:  Either you will face it with fear or you will face it with faith.  In fact, whether you are a believer or not, whether you realize it or not, everyday you face the upcoming events in one of those two ways. 

 

Even for those who are not saved and know nothing about God, they face life and its uncertainties in one of those two ways.  It may be in a positive mindset that everything will work out OK or it might be through sheer determination that they make up their mind to preserver that they show their faith, but it it still faith in something or fear about something. 

 

Now obviously I’m not talking about that kind of faith.  I am talking about the real object of faith and that is God.  And hopefully by the time I’ve finished today you will be convinced, whether you are lost or saved, that God is worth.  But just know this:  those are the only two approaches to the future.  Will it be faith or fear?

 

 

 

 

The Bible illustrates this over and over again.  And even though its experiences and circumstances are from centuries ago, we find there examples of people who had to deal with fears about the future. And in many ways, the circumstances we face and the experiences of our lives are exactly the same here in the 21^st century as were there’s back then.    

 

I want to focus our attention today on just one of those examples.  It is found in Numbers 13:27-33.

There we find the account of the children of Israel having been delivered from Egypt.  They have now marched through the wilderness and are at the border of the promised land. 

 

The future is now bright. God has promised them this land that is flowing with milk and honey. It will now be their privilege to possess the land that God had promised for centuries of time to their forefathers. 

 

This was the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and now after hundreds of years it was to be theirs.  They had heard about it; they had read about it, they had been taught about it around campfires and in their homes.  Their parents and grandparents had told them how wonderful it was and someday that a deliverer would come and that a deliverer would get them out of bondage and take them out of Egypt.  And they would march in to this wonderful land.

 

And one day Moses showed up in Egypt, knocked on Pharaoh’s door and said, “God said, Let My people go!” 

 

 

He led them out of that captivity, down to the brink of the Promised Land, and sent 12 spies in to spy out the area. 

 

Now understand he didn't send them in to the land to criticize the land; he sent them in to the land to plan a strategy for taking the land.  He didn't send them in to the land to decide whether or not they could take the land, but to chart the course for conquest. 

 

His instructions were to go in to the land and find out whether it is a mountainous land or if it is a land that is level.  They were to see if it was a land of many rivers or a land of not much water.  It was simply their job to see the lay of the land and come back and report. 

 

So the twelve spies went in to the land and what we have here in Numbers 13:27-33 is the report the twelve men gave to Moses. 

 

Numbers 13:27-33

 

They brought back a sample of its fruit and it was the biggest fruit people had ever seen; far bigger than the fruit they had eaten in Egypt.  In many ways, their report was very positive.  But then, the report took a very dark turn.  There were tribes and enemies everywhere.  Some live in the hills, some in the mountains, some near the sea, some along the Jordan River Valley.  And there are giants in the land.  They saw some of the descendents of Anak, giants, huge people, big people living there.  In fact, they were so big, the Israelites looked like grasshoppers in their sight.

 

In fact, we compared ourselves and we looked like grasshoppers in our own eyes.  And that is how we look in their eyes.  Therefore we cannot defeat them, we cannot take the land.  Basically what they said was, “This God of yours doesn’t have a clue!  He doesn’t know what He’s talking about if He thinks we can take this land. 

 

So they looked at their future through

 

I.  The Eyes of Fear

       

Why did they do this? Better yet, why do we do it?  What is it that causes a person who has experienced the power of God to be pessimistic and fearful about the future? 

 

I think one of the reasons is we tend to  

 

 

Ten of these spies said we cannot take the land. They were looking through the eyes of fear. They said, we went into this land and it is a good land; it flows with milk and honey; it is a desirable land, but nevertheless we cannot take it.

 

Now, understand their background.  Here are people who had witnessed the greatest miracle in all of their history. They saw the ten plagues that were sent upon Pharaoh.  They saw the greatest King of Egypt brought to his knees by nothing more than a stuttering Baptist preacher with a stick in his hand. 

 

 

 

 

And yet he caused hail with fire to fall from the sky and the Nile River turned into blood.  They were there when frogs were crawling all over everything and the cattle were dying by the thousands because of disease.  They knew about the death angel and little babies dying and mothers crying. 

They were the ones who were allowed to march out of Egypt when Pharaoh finally gave in and said, “Get out of here”. 

 

Listen:  they were the ones who walked across the bed of the Jordan River when it was dry as a bone because God had held the waters back and allowed it to happen. 

 

They saw the Egyptian army destroyed.  They saw God open the windows of heaven and feed them with manna from heaven.  They saw God make the bitter water sweet.  They saw all of these miracles and yet they forgot what God had done. 

 

And now here they are peeking over into the Promised Land like scared children, wishing it could be so, but afraid to take God at His Word and go in to possess the Land. 

 

They looked at the future and they viewed it with fear because they overestimated the difficulties of the enemies. 

 

And that is exactly what happens to us so many times.  The littlest problem can turn into a big problem.  The littlest difficulty can turn into a great difficulty.  Things that we imagine might happen never will come to pass.

 

 

In fact, we are told that almost 90% of the things we worry about will never happen and never do happen.  And yet we choose to borrow trouble from the future, which Jesus said never to do. 

 

He said, There’s enough going on today without you worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow.  Instead just trust God.  He knows how to feed the sparrows and clothe the lilies and He’ll will take care of you.  He loves you even more than them. 

 

Don’t overestimate your difficulties. 

 

But here’s a companion thought.  Many times we overestimate the difficulties because we

 

 

They said, "we seem like grasshoppers in our own eyes.  And we look the same to them."  You see they were looking at the giants from their perspective, not the perspective of God. 

 

Guess what?  You may look like a grasshopper to your enemies, but your enemies look like grasshoppers to God!

 

They were looking from man's perspective. 

 

Listen:  You have no problem that is any problem for God.  Your problem is not a giant to God. 

 

You know what I think happened with these psies?  I think they took the Israelites out of Egypt, but they hadn’t taken Egypt out of the Israelites.  Let me explain what I mean.  I think they were still thinking like poor little slaves.

They had been freed from the slavery of Egypt, but mentally they were still in Egypt, mentally they were still slaves. 

 

That happens to believers as well.  We have been freed from the power of sin; we have been freed from the bondage of sin; but mentally we are still a slave to Satan, we are still a slave to sin.  We are still a slave to the power of sin and one of the great powers that Satan has over us is the power of fear.

 

After all we’re just little nothing Christians.  We’re just sinners saved by grace.  Don’t underestimate the significance of what that means. 

 

Remember our theme verse is Romans 8:15. 

 

Don’t let the devil hold the power of fear over you. 

These people were kept from receiving the promise of God because they were enslaved to fear.  They were no longer slaves in Egypt.  But even though God had freed them from slavery, mentally they were still in chains. 

 

Even though they had been delivered from their taskmasters in Egypt, they still had a taskmaster named fear.   And even though God said the land is yours,; go claim it.  They said, “We can’t because the people who live there are stronger than we are.”

 

So who was right?  I would say both were.  The person who says, “I can” and the person who says “I can't” are both right.  If God tells you to do something and you look at the future through the eyes of fear and say I can't you are right, you can't.  And you will never be able to because you are a slave to fear. 

But to do that is to deny the power and the will of God.  And what you have forgotten is what God can do through you.

 

On the other hand, when you and I are obedient to God and at His word just do what He tells us to do, it doesn’t matter how impossible or how many doubters there are, it’s as good as done. 

 

I want you to see what fear brought to these people from the Scripture. 

 

Notice verse 32.

 

First of all, fear brought rebellion. They knew it was God's plan for them to take the land, but they found an excuse not to be what God wanted them to be and they rebelled against Him. 

 

The Bible says we are to be triumphant through the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Bible says we are to be people of faith.  The Bible says with God nothing shall be impossible.  It declares that we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us and gave Himself for us. 

 

And when we look through the telescope of fear, it is nothing less than rebellion against God.  When you say I can’t, it is high treason against a holy God. 

 

Did you ever notice how fear has a way of distorting the truth? 

 

Notice verse 32

 

 

 

All the people were giants?  No.  As a matter of fact, just a few of them were giants.  Most of the people were just like them. In fact, in the first report in verses 28-29 the giants are listed among several other people groups.  But now, they are all giants.

 

And they devour their enemies?  Oh really?  They witnessed that?  Again, in the first account there was no mention of anybody eating anybody, but now, they have so magnified the problem that it is completely out of proportion. 

 

That’s the way the devil always operates.  And most of the time, we don’t even need him to assist.  We do a good enough job of it ourselves.  And their fear brought rebellion.

 

Then fear brought regret.

 

Notice Numbers 14:1

 

Why are they crying?  They wanted to be back in Egypt.  They longed for the good old days, when the taskmasters beat their backs with a whip and when they were forced to work in the mud pits of Egypt.  And somebody told them when to get up and what to wear and when to go to bed and when to go to work. They were free.  Now they want to go back to Egypt so they wept aloud.  Oh God, if we were back in Egypt. 

 

Some people want the good old days.  Oh yea, I just long for the good old days, when I drove a Vega! Or maybe I could get me another diesel Cadillac!  Or maybe I could get me another one of those old wore-out 71 Chevy pickups like I had! 

 

I really miss not getting to crawl under it and hit the starter with a hammer!

 

Boy, I long for those days!  I hate that Mercedes I’m driving now.  Or maybe we could get rid of the air conditioning and the central heat and the pew cushions. 

 

And while we’re at it we should do away with the indoor plumbing!  And I think we ought to get rid of all the medicines and technology that make life easier.  And we sure don’t need those handicap toilets that are higher off the ground so it’s easier to get up!  Oh, I long for those good old days! 

 

Listen:  the greatest days that you have are right now!  Whether you are 15 or 50 or 70 or 90 instead of always pining for how things used to be you ought to just shut up your griping and thank God for what you have. 

 

I am of the firm opinion the future of God’s people is bright!  I believe the best is yet to come!  I think the best days of this church are ahead.  I know some of you think the glory days are over and God has written Ichabod on his church.  But God has great things in store for us. 

 

I know some folks who seem disappointed when something good happens because it messes with their doom and gloom predictions.  Things are bad and not getting any better as far as you are concerned, and like Jonah, when something good happens you get mad.  Well go get yourself a little vine and sit down and have a spell while God’s folks just keep marching to Zion!

 

I know sometimes the way gets hard and things are tough and we want to look back and think about what used to be, but I got news for you:  It wasn’t nearly as good as you thought it was! 

 

Don’t let your fear bring regret.

 

Fear also brings resistance.

 

Notice verse 2

 

You talk about resistance!  They wanted to be dead.  They wanted to feel the taskmaster's lash upon their back.

 

And then fear brought retreat. 

 

Numbers 14:3-4

 

It’s all the preacher’s fault!  Let’s just have a business meeting and let's get rid of Moses and Aaron and let's choose a new leader and get out of Dodge!    

 

Instead of occupying the Promised Land, the place they had longed for and anticipated since Abraham, they wanted to retreat. 

 

The devil always wants us to retreat.  Let's not be people of faith, let's not go forward, and let's go backwards.  Let's retreat.  Let's look backwards.

 

And notice the question they asked:  “Why is the Lord bringing us to this land?”  That is a great question, isn't it?  Why is the Lord bringing us to this place?  Why am I in the circumstance I am in?  Why am I in the mess I am in? 

Why am I here facing these giants?  Why am I facing this situation?  Why indeed?   Is it because God doesn't love me, because God doesn't care for me, because God isn't aware of my situation? 

 

Let me see if I can answer that question for you. 

 

Wherever you are as a child of God seeking to do His will, you are there because it is the plan of God.

 

God knows this is the only way He can grow me.  God cannot grow me if I never face any giants.  God cannot grow me if I don't have to bank on His promises.  God cannot grow me if I don't go up against the enemy, if I don't fight the good fight of faith, I will never learn to be what God wants me to be.  Therefore, as I live in obedience to Him, I am where I am because God loves me and has a wonderful plan for my life. 

 

Soon the one hand I can live my life like the spies.  I can view my future through the eyes of fear. But there is another way to live and that is to

 

II.  View Your Future through the Eyes of Faith

 

Notice the difference.  Faith brings God's perspective.  Now remember. There were 12 spies sent in to scout out the land.  There names are listed for us in Numbers 13:13-16

 

It’s interesting isn’t it, that the names of all twelve are listed but only two are remembered.  Why? 

 

Because ten lived by fear; two lived by faith. 

 

 

There names are Joshua and Caleb, and God wanted to make sure those names were remembered so much so that He included a clarification in verse 16 about Joshua’s name. 

 

And notice it is Caleb who steps forward to speak in verse 30

 

Yes, he saw the giants.  Yes, he saw the Canaanites and the Jebusites and the Amalekites and the Amorites.  IN fact, he saw everything the rest of them saw. 

 

He wasn't unrealistic. He wasn’t holier-than-thou.  He wasn’t head in the clouds denying reality.  He knew there was difficulty, but Caleb had faith.  And he whole-heartedly followed God.  He just took God at His word.

 

Do you know the difference between the Christian who is living victoriously and the one who is not living victoriously?   They have God’s perspective.

 

It is not your situation; it is how you respond to your situation. It’s not the circumstances; it is the response to the circumstances. 

 

Listen:  everybody faces difficulties.  You ain’t nothing special if you are having problems!  Everybody has problems.  Everybody has heartaches.  Everybody has sicknesses and family issues.  At issue is whether you will face them in fear or if you will have faith.  Joshua and Caleb had God’s perspective. 

 

 

 

Secondly if you look through the eyes of faith, you have God's protection.

 

Numbers 14:9

 

He said their protection is gone.  Do you know what they found out?  Forty years later the descendents of these Israelites came back to this same place to occupy this land. 

 

One of their first victories was at a place called Jericho.  Maybe you’ve heard of it.  Joshua fought a battle there.  Not really; God fought a battle there. 

 

Do you know what the inhabitants of Jericho said to Joshua?  We’ve heard of you!  That’s why we are sealed up in our homes behind the wall of our city.  We were scared because we know about your God. 

 

If only they would have taken God at His word forty years earlier they could have known the blessing of walking on Promised Land.  And what they lost sight of is they were not only moving at God’s Word, they were moving under God’s protection.  What heartache and disappoint and hardship they could have avoided if they had just trusted God. 

 

I wonder how much time God’s children have spent out wandering in the wilderness simply because they were too short-sighted to live by faith.  Many have never experienced the power and protection of God in their life simply because they don’t trust Him. 

 

God's Word says we have overcome, "greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world."  The Bible says the demons tremble at the name of Jesus." 

 

They are not afraid of us, but they have to bow at the name of Jesus.  If we confess sin and we are clean and filled with the Holy Spirit and we go forth with the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith, they have to bow in the name of Jesus.  We have God's protection.

 

And then faith brings God's power.

 

Numbers 13:30

 

“We are well-able to do it”.  We can “certainly” do it.

I like that.  Paul said, I can do all things through Christ.  We need more people who are convinced of that!  He said, we can certainly do it.  It brings God's power.

 

Why would God give His power to people who are not attempting anything?  Why would God grant His power to people who are not asking for anything?  What are you asking God to do?  What are you expecting God to do in your life?  What are you praying for God to do?  What promises are you claiming? 

 

If you are claiming the promises of God and asking for God to do something, God can do it, God will do it.  He will grant His power.  But the power of God is for those who step out and claim the promises of God.

 

And then faith brings God's prosperity. 

 

Notice what Joshua and Caleb say in Numbers 14:7-8 and then in verse 24

 

Faith brings God's prosperity.

And last of all faith brings God's pleasure. 

 

I want you to hear what God said to those who look through the eyes of fear. 

 

Numbers 14:26-30, 34-35

 

Did you know that Joshua and Caleb witnessed hundreds of funerals everyday for forty years in the desert? Day after day after day, people died in the desert.  All of these people, every single one of them except for Joshua and Caleb died in the wilderness.  Not a one of them ever stepped foot into the Promised Land after the return of the spies because of fear. 

 

Now you may be tempted to say, “Yea, but preacher that is Old Testament. That’s just one of those stories the kids read about in Sunday School.”

 

If that’s your attitude, let me just lay this verse on you:  Hebrews 11:6 says, "without faith it is impossible to please God." 

 

Now that shucks it down to the simplest of terms:  If you want to please God, you must live by faith. 

 

To do less is to displease God.  That means if you want to be blessed by God, if you want to overcome fear, if you want to withstand Satan, if you want your family protected and provided for by God, if you want God to bless your finances, if you will face the future with confidence, you must live by faith. 

 

Now listen very closely:  Your life of faith all begins with being born again. You must be born again by faith. 

If you’re going to trust God with everything in your life, you’ve got to begin here.  You may be saying, “I just don’t see how it can help or how I can believe”.  That’s why it’s called faith.  You must trust God. 

 

Let me show you an illustration of what I’m talking about:

 

Blind snow skiing

 

Listen: life for you and me as believers is exactly like that.  We are going through life blind.  We need a guide.  If we move we must move through the eyes of someone else.  Who will you follow?  Are you going to look through the eyes of fear or the eyes of faith? 

 

God has provided for you a guide.  When you choose to live by faith, the Holy Spirit will guide your life.  He tells us exactly what to do if we follow Him.  He tells us every move to make; when to turn; when to stop; when to go.  And if we follow Him, He will guide us safely home to the Promised Land. 

 

And you can face your future through the eyes of fear, or you can face it through the eyes of faith.

 

Let's bow together for prayer.