What good is our faith when we find ourselves in the midst of a desert, hungry and tired? Will our faith feed us? Can faith cool our over-heated bodies, wash the sticky desert sand from our face and necks, will it quench parched throats?
Numbers 14:1-2 (NIV)
“That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!”
Is there is no pleasing the Israelites? How many times does God have to show up for them to have a little faith? Their lives would have been so different had they walked the desert sands in faith and faithfulness. Remember when Moses sent a leader from each of the twelve tribes to scout the land and report their findings? Ten of these leaders gave a poor report for when they saw extraordinarily large and tall men inhabiting the land, they reported the land was filled with giants. For that is what their hearts saw.
Numbers 14:6-8 (NIV)
“Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.”
Joshua and Caleb reported quite a different story. Why the discrepancy? Did these two men see something different from the other ten leaders? The fact is all twelve saw the same land and the same inhabitants, only Joshua and Caleb saw things through the eyes of faith. They didn’t see the over-sized population as an obstacle but an opportunity for God to bless them.
Still today, we mimic our brothers’ behaviors. One tough day and we will erase from our minds all the blessed days prior. One situation of seemingly hopeless tomorrows, and we cast aside the thought of praying with the assurance that will God hear and respond.
God never loses faith in us, but can we say the same? Our desert experiences are meant to construct our character and fortify our faith. God has big plans for us, if we will just believe.
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