July, 1998

A DIFFERENT SPIRIT
by Marilyn Conrad

In Numbers 13:1 & 2 the Lord spoke to Moses saying, "Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel…" God's promise was given. The land was theirs. He was giving it to them. The only condition was to first spy out the land.

GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS

Joshua and Caleb were among the men chosen to spy out the land. In verses 18 to 20 Moses tells the men what to look for in Canaan. "And see what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many. And how is the land in which they live, is it good or bad? And how are the cities in which they live, are the like open camps or fortifications? And how is the land, if it fat or lean? Are there trees in it or not? Make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land…."

Forty days later the men returned from spying out the land and gave their report to Moses and the congregation. Verses 27 & 28 say, "…We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit (they brought a cluster of grapes so large that it had to be carried on a pole between two men). Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there." Another translation says, "the people were giants and we were like grasshoppers."

The decision of the spies was, "We are not able to go up against the people for they are too strong for us."

However, Joshua and Caleb disagreed with the bad report and said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of it for we shall surely overcome it." They took God at His word when He told them the land was theirs. They knew they could possess it.

In chapter fourteen the people grumbled against Moses and even wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb. Their murmuring and grumbling almost caused God to destroy them, but Moses intervened for the people.

A SPIRIT OF FAITH

In chapter fourteen, verse twenty-four we find what pleases God… a spirit of faith. God said Joshua had a different spirit. A spirit of faith.

As covenant keepers we too, have a different spirit. Many in the church say marriages can't be healed because the circumstances (giants) look so overwhelming. Those of us with a spirit of faith wee our giants too. However, do not deny reality. Circumstances are real. Romans 4:17 says, "We speak of things that be not as though they were." However, we do not deny what is! We deal with the circumstances of separation, adultery, divorce, etc. We pray and do the necessary intercession and then while continuing to pray, we speak of things that are not as though they were, knowing God's word is true and that the circumstances must line up with His word.

UNBELIEF MURMURS AGAINST GOD

Like Joshua and Caleb we know there are giants in the land but we don't grumble and complain against God. God judged the children of Israel for their unbelief. They had to wander in the wilderness for forty years and were not allowed to enter into the promised land. Only Joshua and Caleb were permitted to enter Canaan, along with the next generation. As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land."

However, the next generation grew up hearing grumbling and unbelief instead of faith and trust in Jehovah Jireh. Is this what we desire for our children? Or do we want them to learn from us how the spirit of faith operates?

We must teach them first of all, to hear from God. We go to His word and see what His promises are. Once we have heard from God we must then walk it out, even though we know we will encounter some giants along the way. We know that, "We shall surely overcome this." So, like Joshua and Caleb, we always give the good report.

Yes, we do have a different spirit, a spirit of faith,,, faith in God and His ability to perform His word! <b>"Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6

REWARD OF FAITH

Faith always has its rewards. Joshua and Caleb's reward of faith was that they were allowed to enter Canaan when all the others could not. We read further in Joshua 14:7-14 that forty-five years later, when Caleb was eighty five years old he was as strong as he was at forty years of age. He reminded Joshua of Moses' promise, "Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God fully." Caleb continued, "I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day." So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb for an inheritance.

Our reward of faith is to see our marriages restored and our families blessed and serving the Lord.