Spiritual Wisdom

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Numbers 13:30-31 (KJV)

The men and women who came to the border of Canaan had seen the mighty hand of God move on their behalf. His providence was evident every morning of their lives. Manna from God fed them and water flowed from rocks to quench their thirst. They had crossed the Red Sea when God parted the waters. They had heard the voice of God and watched the mountain tremble at His presence. Imagine their excitement as they waited for the twelve spies to return and share what they had seen in the land that God had promised them. When the first cry was heard and they ran to greet them, imagine the astonishment at seeing grape clusters so big it took two men to carry them. What joy! Spontaneous celebration must have broken out in the camp.

The first words spoken by the twelve spies were such that a roar must have swept through the multitude.

“We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.” Numbers 13:27 (KJV)

If only they had stopped there! But we know the rest of the story. Ten of the spies began to speak of the problems that they would face.

“The people that live there are strong.”

“They live in walled cities.”

“There are giants in the land.”

Caleb rose up and tried to still the people with positive words by saying they were more than able to overcome but his ten companions weren’t finished.

“We aren’t able!”

“They are stronger than us!”

“We are like grasshoppers in their sight.”

“This land will eat us up!”

The people of God who had been eating at God’s table, telling stories of His great deliverance from the Egyptians, and remembering how God had spoken to them at Mount Sinai were soon infected with these negative words. Like a virus it spread through the camp until everyone was infected and their rejoicing turned to complaining, their hope turned to despair, their victory turned to defeat.

This is perhaps one of the best examples in the Bible of the transference of spirits and it didn’t stop there. We are susceptible to this attack of the enemy today. Listening to the negative reports and rubbing shoulders with those that are overwhelmed by the sight of the enemy will destroy our faith.

These men must have been friends and brothers of the Israelites. When they were picked to go and spy out the land these men were akin to the deacons in our church, trusted, faithful leaders who were well liked and respected. What went wrong? These men began to look through natural eyes at the problems they faced. They spent too much time “spying” on the enemy and not enough time humbling themselves before God. Too often we are guilty of trying to understand this world and its problems when we should be standing on the promises of God.

In the natural these men might have been perfect for the job of facing the enemy and spying out the land but spiritually they were poorly trained and ill equipped. This is why the Scripture warns us not to put a novice in charge. Worldly wisdom is not Spiritual wisdom, human strength is not divine strength, and our intellect is a poor substitute for the Word of God. Instead of choosing the best warrior the Israelites would have been wise to choose men full of God that had learned to rely on Him.

It might have started with just one of the spies who noticed the stature of the inhabitants of the land. They were huge! Comparisons were made and then the walled cities were found and the strength of the enemy was magnified. Soon more of the spies were overwhelmed by the task at hand and begin to complain. By the time they returned to give their report ten out of twelve were convinced they couldn’t do what God had told them to do. Then those ten transferred their doubts and fears upon the multitude until they were ready to give it all up and go back to Egypt.

The promise of God was not enough! God’s people were overcome and ended up dying in the wilderness because of their unbelief until a new generation came forth to take God at His Word. When we allow people to speak into our lives who are filled with this world’s wisdom and knowledge we are opening ourselves to the faulty reasoning that breeds doubt and fear. Like a virus these things can spread through the body and bring sickness and death.

The teachers we listen to and the friends we choose will make a difference in our lives. What if the Israelites had chosen to sit at the feet of Joshua and Caleb, men of God, men of wisdom, men of honor and integrity, who trusted God.

“The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.” Numbers 14:7-9 (KJV)

All twelve men had entered the land and saw the same exact thing but these two men were full of faith and trusted God for the victory. It really is important that we open our hearts and lives to the right people. In this world that we live there are multitudes of words being spoken all around us. Radio, Television, The Internet, Social Media, Home Groups, even at the water cooler there is someone who is going to speak into your life today. Choose wisely.