Stay Fearless in Your Obedience
Numbers 13:26-28, 31; 14:6-9, 17-23
Fear is one of our greatest enemies. It can derail us, deter us, delay us and defeat us. I can hardly believe my own experience. When I was first inspired to propose Say Something Nice Sunday to our congregation, the old enemy reared its ugly head. I could imagine the derision. “Aren’t church people supposed to be nice? Don’t you think we are nice? That’s a silly idea.” Fear almost won, but then I talked with our pastor. He was enthusiastic about the idea and the congregation supported it. The monster returned when I rose to present the idea at a meeting of the Charleston Baptist Association. The group was mainly composed of pastors. To my surprise, the reception was enthusiastic. A good idea was almost lost, not from the opposition of others, but because of my own fear of being ridiculed.
Caleb and Joshua are two of my favorite characters. I have used their example of faith many times when speaking to organizations for people with disabilities and/or their parents. As the CEO of a community speech and hearing center, I enjoyed many such occasions. Their story is a great example of accepting a great challenge in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
God had given Moses instructions about sending leaders to spy out the Promised Land. Moses chose a leader from each of the 12 tribes. All of the spies brought back glowing accounts of the land of milk and honey, but 10 of them were overcome with their fears. “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are” (NIV), they whined. Caleb and Joshua declared that God would give them the victory and the land that he had promised.”
“We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to them” (NIV). Fear won the day. The Israelites bought into the negative arguments. Those who refused to act on God’s promise would never enter the Promised Land. They would die in the wilderness, but Caleb and Joshua would experience God’s promise fulfilled. Fear exacted a heavy price from those who refused to follow God’s plans.
The Israelites had kept up a steady stream of complaints since leaving Egypt. They were even ready to stone their leaders and return to Egypt. Moses had interceded with God on their behalf over and over again. Now they were given the opportunity to possess the land God had promised, but they chose to remain in their present condition because of fear and a lack of faith. God had demonstrated his power to them over and over again, but their fear doomed them.
The story of the Israelites is our story. We are paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. We have often forgotten God’s promise to be with us. Staying faithful is the real test. There are many examples in the Bible and in modern society of those who start well, but lose courage along the way. God expects us to finish well.
Carnell– Lessons in the ETB series for the winter quarter are being written by Mitch Carnell, member of First Baptist Church, Charleston.