Waiting

O. T. #326  "Waiting"
July 22, 2014
Numbers 13-Part 2
And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.  Numbers 13:25

LET IT GLOW


Our two children and their families decided to vacation together this summer. They met about half way between them and spent a week in the Smokey Mountains in a lodge. They had a blast hiking,  enjoying God's creation, and being together. I am glad that their family ties remain strong in spite of the distance between them. While this was going on, Mom and Dad were home, doing chores, working, and holding down the fort, so to speak. (They had done the same for us, twice, this summer.) We were waiting for word that they safely returned  home.  And they did, to our relief. I can relate to the Israelites in camp, waiting on the spies to return.

Meanwhile, back at camp, the Israelites awaited the return of the spies. They waited and waited. Forty days they waited, then finally they returned. Twelve men returned from their forty days of camping, exploring, and spying out the Promised Land. That is over a month. Did they go in for 20 days and come out for 20 days?

Forty, in the Bible, is a number associated with testing. (Falwell)

What did these spies bring back to Kadesh with them?

• Word, which means a matter as spoken; a report.
• Fruit of the land for everyone to see.
• The people are strong, the cities are walled, and the land is flowing with milk and honey (fertile land).
• The Amalekites dwell in the land south; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and the coast of Jordan.

These Israelite scouts who were born and raised in Egyptian captivity, had never seen a walled city. It must have been an unnerving sight, to say the least.

What are you waiting for-a test result, an interview result, resolved differences, things to work out?
Are you trusting God while you wait?

LET IT GROW

Caleb spoke up and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

NIV says, for we can certainly do it.
NLT states it, We can certainly conquer it!

Isn't that a good report? Encouraging words? Relief?

Romans 8:37 states, In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
In that verse, conquerors means superiority, in the Greek.

Is there something in your life that is trying to conquer you? Are you letting it or are you going to conquer it through God's help?
Is there a task which the Lord has for you to do as a conqueror? Do you have faith in the Jesus that He will strengthen and give you wisdom accomplishing it?


LET IT GO

Be humble before God and seek His leading in my life.

Wait patiently for answers.

Trust God and be faithful to Him while trusting.

Obey and conquer when He leads.

Give God the glory for the results.