A CHALLENGE TO THE COMFORTABLE

TEXT: Numbers 13:1-3

INTRODUCTION: Whoever created the "snooze button" should win a Nobel Prize! I love the "snooze button." I confess... I sometimes set my alarm and when it goes off, I reach over and hit the snooze alarm to get another few minutes of sleep. I love that luxurious feeling of semi-conscienceness when you snuggle back under the covers knowing you have at least another ten minutes of blissful comfort. The challenges and hardships of the day can wait another ten minutes.

The snooze button symbolizes the mentality of so many of us. We would rather stay in bed than get up and face the day. We would rather eat anything we want than watch our weight. We would rather spend our money foolishly than invest it wisely. We would rather sit on the sofa and watch TV than do all those much-needed chores around the house. We would rather sit in the pew than get involved in a ministry. We would rather use our finances selfishly than joyfully give to God's work. We would rather be comfortable than accept a challenge.

The problem is, God always challenges us. He can be compared to that alarm clock that buzzes in our ear. In the same way you make sure your children get up and meet the challenges that lay before them, God is ever poking, prodding and leading us from our comfortable slumber. Rom.13:11 says, "It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed."

God always challenges His people. As He challenged Moses and the people of Israel so many years ago. He challenges us today. As a church, God has set many great challenges before us. He is calling us to get up, to go to work... not to hit the snooze button.

From this account of God's dealings with Israel, we'll learn three truths about how God challenges His people to accomplish His will.

I.          OUR CHALLENGE DETERMINES OUR PROVISION (13:1-25)

In other words, God never challenges us to do what He will not enable us to do!

A.        God challenged Israel to spy out the Promised Land (vv.1-16).

1.      Through His leader, "Moses," God had brought 2 million Israelis out of slavery in Egypt to the edge of the land He had promised to give them.

2.      This was their ancestral home. The land God had promised to their patriarch Abraham would now belong to his descendants forever.

3.      At this time, the land was occupied by strange people known as Canaanites.

4.      God said that Moses was to "send men to spy out the land." Read v.2 again. Did you get a significant insight? Did you catch the most important word? It's right in the middle of the verse. God was "giving" to His people this land. He simply wanted them to see it first.

!!! 5.      Moses selected "heads" or leaders from each of the tribes of Israel. Their names are listed in vv.4-16. Among them were two notable figures, "Caleb" and "Oshea" or "Joshua" whose name means "Savior."

B.        The spies were on a fact-finding mission in the Promised Land (vv.17-20).

1.      In v.16, the phrase "spy out" comes from a Hebrew term that means "secretly search." They were on a top secret reconnaissance mission!

2.      They were to recon for specific information: the strength and population of the people, the quality of the land, the defenses of the cities, the quality of the resources, soil and timber (cf. vv.18-20a).

3.      They were also to "bring some of the fruit of the land" because it was the season of "the first ripe grapes."

C.        The spies found great abundance in the Promised Land (vv.21-25).

1.      V.25 tells us that they traveled on their data-gathering mission for "forty days." They traveled in each region, climbing the mountains, working their way through the valleys. They saw it all. They were definitely impressed! Later they would describe it as a land that "flows with milk and honey," a land of amazing abundance (v.27).

2.      As proof of their report, v.23 says they "cut down a branch with one [that's singular, just ONE cluster!] cluster of grapes, they carried it between two of them on a pole."

3.      They also took what must have been amazing "pomegranates and figs."

D.        When God gives us a challenge, He promises to help us meet that challenge!

1.      He will never challenge us to do something He will not enable us to do!

2.      Look back to v.2. They were to "send men to spy out the land of Canaan which I am... going to let you fight for? asking you to conquer on your own? asking you to purchase from its inhabitants?" NO! God told them to spy out the land that He was "GIVING to the children of Israel."

3.      Did God promise the challenge would be easy? No. Did He say the road would be smooth? No. His simple promise was, "Go take a look at what I am going to give to you."

4.      God's challenge was a test of their faith. He not only wanted them to have a desire for the land, but also a good look at their adversaries. He wanted them to turn to Him in faith in order to conquer these powerful people.

5.      God challenges us as individual believers. Maybe God has challenged you with a new ministry, but it seems impossible. Maybe God has challenged you to do something for your family but it seems impossible. Maybe God has challenged you to give money, time or resources you don't have. Rise to that challenge! God will provide.

6.      God challenges us as corporate believers, as a CHURCH. As a church, we believe that God has challenged us to ministries and building programs

II.       OUR FAITH DETERMINES OUR VISION (13:26-33).

A.        Together, the spies gave a report on the condition of the land (vv.26-27).

1.      All 12 spies "came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel" where they were camped at "Kadesh" in the "Wilderness of Paran."

2.      Imagine the anticipation of the people. In just a little while they would leave the dusty desert and enter into their homeland. No doubt they talked of the homes they would build, the fields they would farm, the businesses they would start. They wouldn't have to eat manna. They would have no Egyptian masters. Just wait till the spies get back to camp...

3.      Imagine the oos and ahs as the spies "showed them the fruit of the land." As they saw the giant cluster of grapes and the other produce, they could literally see themselves living in such a land forever.

4.      They all hushed when the spies said, "It truly flows with milk and honey and this is its fruit."

5.      The people no doubt roared their approval. Perhaps there was thunderous ovation, whistles and shouts of triumph. Their vision was complete. They said, "What are we waiting for... let's move in."

B.        Ten of the spies gave a fearful report of their enemies (vv.28-29).

1.      In the NKJV, the first word in v.28 is "Nevertheless." It could just as easily be translated, "but...." "It truly flows with milk and honey... but..." "It's a great place to live, but..."

2.      The "but" was "the people who dwell in the land are strong." They had a strong military force. "The cities are fortified and very large" In other words, they were pretty much impregnable. "We saw the descendants of Anak there." There is a race of giants in this country.

3.      These spies as much as said, "It's a great place to live, but we could never conquer it. We're too weak and they are too strong."

4.      These spies had a case of "sticker shock." Ever go new car shopping? You love the car but you just can't get around the price. Their fear clouded the vision. They forgot that God was "giving" them the land.

C.        Two of the spies gave a faithful report of their enemies (v.30).

1.      V.30 speaks specifically of "Caleb." We'll learn later that Joshua was on his side too.

2.      Caleb "quieted the people." That suggests that the people were loud. They were "murmuring." The crowd will always murmur at a challenge.

3.      Caleb remembered that this land was God's vision, that the Lord was on their side. He said, "Let us go up at once and take possession [Possess the Land!] for we are well able to overcome it!"

4.      Perhaps he tried to remind them of what God had done in the past... PROMISE TO ABRAHAM... FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY... RED SEA... FOOD IN THE DESERT... FOUGHT THEIR BATTLES...

5.      God's people need more men of faith like Caleb. The people should have shouted, "Amen! Let's go." Instead they responded in fear.

D.        The other ten even exaggerated the opposition (vv.32-33).

1.      Caleb's fellow spies turned on him. They said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are." In effect, "We are just a weak group of former slaves, we cant' do it. You are asking us to risk everything to achieve the impossible."

2.      In order to convince the people of their point of view, they gave a "bad report." In other words, they exaggerated the risk and spoke negatively. Faithless people always do that. I've found a lot of them in churches. No one likes to be afraid alone, that's why they always spread the fear.

3.      In v.32, they contradict themselves. Before they said it was a land that "flows with milk and honey." Here they say it is "a land that devours its inhabitants."

4.      They further exaggerate by saying "ALL [not just some] of the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature." This was a bold-faced lie! They say that they had seen "giants" so large that we were "like grasshoppers in our own sight." In other words, "Man, they were so big, we were like bugs under their feet!"

5.      These people forgot that our God is bigger than any giant! The problem was not the enemy was too large, but that their faith was too small!

E.        What we believe about God determines how we see the challenges before us.

1.      We have a choice. We can choose to be doubtful and negative, or we can go forth in faith and the strength of the Lord.

2.      What kind of vision to you have? Is it clear. Is you eye on the Lord? Is it clouded by doubt and fear. That's a contagious disease.

3.      When we face challenges, we can remember that God is on our side! The Bible affirms this truth.

a)      "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil.4:13).

b)      Psa.23:4 says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

!!!! c)      1 John 4:4 says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

d)      JEHOSHAPAT said to his people 2 Chr.20:17, "You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."

4.      Our own experiences remind us that the Lord is on our side.

a)      When I face a challenge, I have to stop and think about the fact that it was God who brought me this far. Every difficult situation I have faced has made me stronger. God has always been faithful to me.

b)      What challenge has God brought you through. Depend on Him again!

c)      What challenges has God brought this church through? Hasn't He always been here to meet our needs? Do we think we will please Him by convincing ourselves and others that the challenge is too big?

III.    OBEDIENCE DETERMINES OUR BLESSING (14:1-45).

A.        The people rebelled against the Lord (vv.1-4).

1.      The whole nation, some 2 million people "lifted up their voices and cried." The people also "wept that night."

2.      They "complained" against their leaders, Moses and Aaron. They said, "If only we had died in Egypt...[or] in this wilderness."

3.      They assumed that God had brought them to Canaan so that they might "fall by the sword" and said it would be better to "return to Egypt."

B.        The leaders pleaded with them for obedience (vv.5-10).

1.      Moses and Aaron "fell on their faces" before them. In agony and disgust at the lack of faith and disobedience, Joshua and Caleb "tore their clothes"

2.      They reaffirmed that Canaan was "an exceedingly good land."

3.      They reminded the people that the challenge before them was in God's hands, "If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land."

4.      They warned the people not to "rebel against the Lord" because if the Lord was with them their enemies were their "bread" and "their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them."

5.      Even with such impassioned speeches, "the congregation said to stone them with stones."

6.      About that time "the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle." God had come to talk with His people.

C.        God decided to judge this disobedient rebellious generation (vv.11-25).

1.      God was very angry with His people. He asks in v.11, "How long will these people reject [lit. despise] Me?"

2.      As God considers destroying the people, Moses pleads for mercy. Note his words in vv.19-20.

3.      God did forgive the people, but because of their disobedience, they would be denied the blessing of possessing the Promised Land (v.23)

4.      God was only impressed with Caleb "because he has a different spirit in him and has followed me fully."

D.        God proclaimed judgement on His people (vv.26-38,).

E.        God only gives one chance for obedience (vv.39-45).

1.      After they "mourned greatly" all nightlong. The people "rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain." They said, "Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised."

2.      After they rebelled, they were willing to take possession of the land. They pretended to be obedient after the fact. Obedience isn't real unless it is immediate. God is asking some of us to be obedient today!

3.      Moses told them that their plan would fail (vv.41-42) but they "presumed to go up" anyway. When they did, the Amalekites and Canaanites came down and drove them back into the wilderness.

F.         The principle is clear: If we are obedient when God gives us opportunity, we will be blessed. If we are disobedient, we will receive God's discipline.

1.      My dad used to say, "Don't let me have to tell you to do something twice."

2.      God's challenges are like windows of opportunity. He opens a door and tells us to walk through it. When we do, He blesses us beyond our wildest thoughts and dreams. When we disobey Him, that door often slams shut in our faces.

3.      God will open doors of opportunity for this church... to inhabit a new land...to reach the UNSAVED and UNCHURCHED, to stop being SATISFIED with status quo and really be used of God to make a difference, to quit PLAYING CHURCH and live like Christians.

4.      God is opening doors of opportunity for many individuals today... to be SAVED, to be BAPTIZED, to JOIN this church, to WITNESS to a friend, to GIVE unselfishly to God's work, to turn away from some DESTRUCTIVE SIN..

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CONCLUSION: Don't hit the SNOOZE BUTTON today. Get up and get to work for God!