Transcript
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Well, the children of Israel had been made ready to enter their promised land and take
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possession of it.
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But something went terribly wrong.
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They went in to take a quick look around to spy out the land and they came back in unbelief.
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They were afraid of the people.
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God saw their unbelief as rejection of Him and as a result, they would not enter the
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promised land. Only Joshua and Caleb, men of faith, would realize God's promises.
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So welcome to this week's Shabbat Shalom devotional when I seek to share a little inspiration
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and bring a little peace to the close of your very busy week.
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So this week's Torah portion comes from Numbers chapters 13 through 15.
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Now everything we've been reading in Numbers up to this point is in anticipation of entering
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the promised land and taking possession of it.
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The children of Israel had been counted.
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They'd been organized in tribes.
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They'd been placed around the tabernacle.
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The tabernacle had been dedicated.
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They had made their offerings and observed the Passover.
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They're now ready and they learned how to follow the cloud and follow the pillar of fire
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so that God could lead them.
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So they're now ready.
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They're ready to enter the land.
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And in chapter 13, God tells Moses to send twelve spies, one from each tribe, into to
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spy out the land.
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Take a look around.
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Well, when Moses gives his instructions to the people though, he went beyond God's instructions.
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He told them not just to go in and look at the land, but to analyze the people.
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Make a military assessment.
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That was the downfall of the whole enterprise because they came back and ten out of the
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twelve spies were afraid of the people.
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And their military assessment was, we can't do it.
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But it was Joshua that spoke in faith.
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And he said in verse eight here, if the Lord delights in us, then he will bring us into
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this land and give it to us a land which flows with milk and honey.
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So Joshua knew that God was more than able to do it and that it is God who would do it.
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It wasn't up to their natural strength, their numbers, their heights, their military prowess,
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nothing.
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It was up to God.
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But the people wanted to stone Joshua.
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They rejected what he said and they refused to enter the land.
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So let's see how God views this situation.
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In Numbers 14, verse 11, it says, then the Lord said to Moses, how long will these people
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reject me and how long will they not believe me with all the signs which I have performed
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among them?
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So my friend, God sees your lack of faith and refuses to follow him and take possession
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of your own promised land as a rejection of him that you are in fact saying he is not
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able to deliver you.
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He is not able to protect you.
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He is not able to provide for you.
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So whatever situation you may face, never underestimate the power of God to turn it around.
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Face your faith that with him you can do it and then step out in faith and watch him act.
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And with that, I wish you Shabbat Shalom.