The Battle of the Buts

Introduction

In 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés arrived on the shores of Mexico with a small army. They were outnumbered, outmatched, and facing an unknown land filled with danger. His men were terrified. They begged him to turn back. They said things like:

But the enemy is too strong…”

But we don’t know what’s ahead…”

But we might die out here…”

Cortés did something shocking. He gave one command: “Burn the ships.” “Historians tell us Cortés didn’t literally burn the ships — he sank them. But the message was the same: no turning back.”

The men watched their only way back go up in flames.

No more retreat.

No more excuses.

No more “buts.”

From that moment on, their mindset changed. They stopped looking back and started moving forward. They stopped focusing on the obstacles and started focusing on the mission. They realized: the only direction left was forward. And that’s exactly where Israel stood in Numbers 13. God had brought them to the edge of the promise. The land was in front of them. The fruit was in their hands.

But instead of burning their ships, they built excuses.

But the people are powerful…

But the cities are fortified…”

“But the giants are there…”

Same giants.

Same cities.

Same land.

Different spirit.

Some said, “But the giants…”

But Caleb said, “But the Lord is with

Numbers 13 opens with a declaration of God’s intention:

Numbers 13:1–2 NIV

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”

Before the people ever saw the land, God had already spoken a promise over it.

But a promise must be received, believed, and acted on.

Proverbs 29:18 reminds us:

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

Without revelation—without a God-given vision—people drift, lose discipline, and lose hope.

But when God reveals His direction, His people can walk with clarity, purpose, and confidence.

1. Receive the Revelation

God didn’t send the spies to decide whether the land was good.

He sent them to see what He had already promised.

Numbers 13:20 “20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)”

includes Moses’ instructions to examine the land—its soil, its fruit, its trees.

This wasn’t doubt; it was preparation.

God gives revelation so His people can walk wisely, not blindly.

Proverbs 29:18 teaches that revelation anchors us.

It keeps us from wandering into fear, compromise, or confusion.

When God gives vision, He also gives the grace to walk it out.

A promise without revelation becomes a burden.

A promise with revelation becomes a roadmap.

2. Focus on the Promise, Not the Obstacles

Numbers 13:26–29 “26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.””

shows the spies returning with evidence of God’s goodness.

They held the fruit in their hands.

They saw the land flowing with milk and honey.

But then came the word that has killed more promises than the devil ever has:

“But…”

“But the people are powerful…”

“But the cities are fortified…”

“But the giants are there…”

The promise was real.

The fruit was real.

But their focus shifted from what God said to what they saw.

You will always magnify whatever you meditate on.

3. Place Faith Over Fear

Look at how many times fear used the word “but” to cancel out God’s promise:

• “But the people are powerful…” (13:28)

• “But we can’t attack those people…” (13:31)

• “But the land devours those living in it…” (13:32)

• “But we seemed like grasshoppers…” (13:33)

• “But wouldn’t it be better to go back to Egypt…” (14:3)

• “But the whole assembly talked about stoning them…” (14:10)

• “I want to step into ministry… but I don’t feel qualified.”

• “I know God can restore my family… but you don’t know what they did.”

• “I want to give generously… but my finances are tight.”

• “I know God said He’d provide… but I don’t see how.”

• “I want to forgive… but the hurt is too deep.”

• “I want to break this habit… but I’ve failed too many times.”

• “I know God has a plan… but I’m scared of the unknown.”

• “I want to trust God… but I need to stay in control.”

• “I know God opens doors… but what if it doesn’t work out?”

Every “but” is a barrier.

Every “but” is an excuse.

Every “but” but is a reason to stay stuck.

Fear uses “but” to build walls.

Faith uses “but God” to tear them down.

“The problem isn’t that we don’t have a promise — it’s that we keep putting a ‘but’ in front of it. But when we replace our ‘but’ with ‘But God,’ everything shifts.”

4. Replace “But…” With “But God”

Numbers 14:9 gives us the turning point:

“Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Same giants.

Same cities.

Same land.

The difference wasn’t the situation—it was the spirit.

The ten spies said, “But the giants…”

Joshua and Caleb said, “But God…”

Your promise changes the moment your language changes.

“Same giants. Same cities. Same land.

But when you change your ‘but,’ you change your future.

So let’s turn our excuses into declarations.”

1. “I’m not ready… BUT GOD will equip me.”

2. “I’m afraid of failing… BUT GOD goes before me.”

3. “I don’t feel qualified… BUT GOD is my confidence.”

4. “My past is too messy… BUT GOD redeems and restores.”

5. “My finances are tight… BUT GOD is my provider.”

6. “I’ve been disappointed before… BUT GOD never fails.”

7. “The hurt is too deep… BUT GOD heals the brokenhearted.”

8. “I don’t see how this can work… BUT GOD makes a way.”

9. “I feel too weak… BUT GOD is strong in my weakness.”

10. “I don’t know what’s ahead… BUT GOD holds my future.”

11. “The battle looks too big… BUT GOD is bigger.”

12. “The giants look overwhelming… BUT GOD is with me.”

5. Change Your Doubt Into Confidence

How do we do that?

A. Recognize God’s Direction

Numbers 13:17 shows Moses sending them with purpose.

God never calls us into confusion—He leads with clarity.

B. Recognize We Need His Glory, Not Just His Promise

The people wanted the land but resisted the presence.

The promise is the destination, but His glory is the power to get there.

C. Recognize God Requires Obedience

Numbers 14:24 highlights Caleb:

“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly…”

Caleb didn’t just believe the promise—he obeyed the God who gave it.

A different spirit leads to a different outcome.

Conclusion

The land was promised.

The fruit was real.

The giants were present.

But the deciding factor wasn’t the land, the fruit, or the giants.

It was the “but.”

Fear says, “But the giants…”

Faith says, “But God…”

This year of promise will be shaped by which “but” you choose.

Let’s be a Caleb church.

Let’s have a different spirit.

Let’s follow wholeheartedly.

Let’s say, “But God is with us.”

Say this with me this morning:

“I had a ‘but’…

BUT GOD has the final word.

BUT GOD is with me.

BUT GOD is for me.

BUT GOD keeps His promise.”