Difficulties: When Trouble Strikes ...

     Yet, all their training and leadership experience did not prepare them for such an entirely new experience. Who had ever heard of a grape cluster so huge it had to be carried on a pole lifted by two men? And who could possibly be prepared for the sight of Canaanite men so massive they dwarfed the best of Israel's fighters? It's no wonder these spies felt a whirling mix of emotions as they headed back to their commander-in-chief to give a full report.

     You can almost imagine the scene. Moses and Aaron (Moses' brother) gathered the people to hear the news. The spies said: "'We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large... The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size'" (13:27-32).

   The people responded in an understandable way—they panicked and cried out to Moses. They had been through a lot since the dramatic days of their flight from Egypt. (Exodus 1-15) The Israelites, the spies included, did see a good land occupied by fierce men. Their report was accurate, but they did not give the rest of the story—that is, until Joshua and Caleb spoke up.

     These two men were distraught over their peers' appraisal. They tore their robes publicly as an act of sorrow and began to speak: "'The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey.

     "Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them'" (14:7-9).

     What do you think the people said? Do you think they listened to these devout voices of dedicated leadership? No. They were too filled with fear from the negative reports, and they wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb to death. Only Moses' intervention through prayer stopped them and brought a semblance of order.

     Isn't it amazing how these men looked at the same set of facts and came away with such vastly different impressions? The situation is not so bizarre when you look at the root cause of the "sight" problem—a lack of faith. The eleven spies were not incorrect in the literal sense. But by placing emphasis on the wrong part of the scene, they missed the picture of hope God had painted before them. They focused on the obstacle, not the opportunity.

     Before we are too hard on the Israelites and judge them hastily, we need to look at the reasons behind their disbelief. They were not people who woke up one morning and said deliberately with rebellion in their hearts, "We will choose to disbelieve God today." Instead, they were people like you and me, with hurts and desires and frustrated dreams and confusion when circumstances did not go their way. Focusing on the obstacles distorted their vision of reality and caused the problems to seem threatening and insurmountable.

     In your own life, the biggest obstacles to belief and enduring faith are not the giants that stand in your path, such as the loss of a job or a setback in a personal relationship or disappointment. The root obstacles are of a spiritual and emotional nature. Fear can paralyze the stoutest of hearts. Can you recall a situation when you felt afraid or emotionally challenged? More than likely, your pulse rate rose as your heart pounded in your chest. When we perceive a threat to our well-being, we often are afraid that the overall plan for our lives is jeopardized in some way. That's why remembering the promises of God is so important.

     The Israelites were led astray by the negative report because they forgot God's promise to give them the land of Canaan. The Lord told them He had a good inheritance waiting for them. All they had to do was trust Him. Sadly, an entire generation of God's people missed out on the realization of this promise when they ignored the reality of God's faithfulness. (14:28-35)

     In her book, Faith: The Substance Of Things Unseen, Penelope Stokes explains the necessity of stepping forward even when you cannot determine the path ahead. "If we intend to be spiritual explorers, to follow the unknown paths and journey into unmapped territory, we must learn to trust God. Like Christian in The Pilgrim's Progress, we must put our hands to our ears, shut out the voices that would call us back to safety and sameness...

     "Spiritual courage is a rare and precious commodity in our world. Few people have the fearlessness to ask the difficult questions, or to live without an answer. For too many years, we have put our minds on hold, avoided confrontation with our own souls... We need to confirm within our spirits the truth that bravery is a virtue, that God is big enough to handle our confusion and struggle, our anger and pain... that the One who calls out to us will be with us, even if we make some mistakes along the way."

     Spiritual fear often stems from an unwillingness to leave what many have labeled the "comfort zone." It is much easier to deal with the familiar than it is to take a risk. But often, that's what God calls you to do.

     The Israelites did not know where they were going when the journey began. They followed the presence of God in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. As strange as it may sound, their "comfort zone" was the land of Egypt. They were slaves treated with indignity who endured a harsh life, but that was the life they knew. God did much work in their lives as individuals and as a nation to break them out of that self-centered mindset.

     Believing God will direct your life according to His good purposes begins with a commitment to trust Him implicitly, without worrying about the consequences. (Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:6-7) Some believers fail to fully trust God out of confusion about how He directs them. God does not shroud Himself in confusion or darkness. He longs for you to know Him and His ways. He revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ so that you may have intimate fellowship that grows each day. If this is and has always been His goal, then it does not make sense to say He makes His plans incomprehensible.

     Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost For His Highest: "Having the reality of God's presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but is only dependent on our determination to keep the Lord before us continually. Our problems arise when we refuse to place our trust in the reality of His presence...

     "At critical moments in our lives it is necessary to ask God for guidance, but it should be unnecessary to constantly say, 'Oh, Lord, direct me in this, and in that.' Of course He will, and in fact, He is doing it already! If our everyday decisions are not according to His will, He will press through them, bringing restraint to our spirit. Then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence."

     What are you waiting for? Are you letting the giants in your path sway you from the journey? Joshua and Caleb lived to see the promised land, truly flowing with milk and honey, the new home for God's people. The blessings God has in store for you are just as rich! Never allow shortsighted vision to obstruct the far-reaching plan of the Lord. You do not need to turn back or look behind you at all the wrong turns and mistakes. Jesus puts them behind you with His love, and He makes the way straight before you once more.