Numbers 13:1-3; 17-33

I believe that the Spirit of the Lord would have me take a Historic Life Experience from the pages of the Old Testament and communicate a Spiritual Principle from the New Testament.  Hopefully, we can accomplish this with clarity and brevity. 

In Romans 15:4 we read, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction…”  Then in 1 Corinthians 10:6,11, we find, “These things happened to them as an example for us, and they were written for our instruction…”  They were stamped as a model or a scar permanently in them and God used them to transform the minds and helped them keep those things written in the forefront of their minds as a testimony and encouragement.  I am confident that the Holy Spirit will communicate this to you, so you will be enlightened and thereby drawn into that which the Spirit of God is Saying and Doing in this very hour.

As we examine the record, we find that in fulfilling His Covenant to Abraham God made some incredible promises.  In Genesis 12:7 He said, “to your descendants (seed) I will give this land.”  In Galatians 3:7 we discover, “They which are of faith, they are the children of Abraham.”  In verse 16 of that same chapter we read, “To Abraham and his seed were the promises made.” 

Seed, not seeds which point to Christ Jesus our Lord.  Then in verses 17-18, we are told, “The Covenant, which was confirmed before the Law, which was 430 years after cannot disannul, that it should make the Promise of none, effect.  For if the inheritance [be] of the Law, [it is] no more promise; but God gave it to Abraham by Promise.”  Then in verses 27-29, we find, “For as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you [be] Christ’s then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the Promise.”  That is incredible and in this, we discover God’s instructions to Moses for Possessing the Land or the Place of Promise.  In Numbers 13:1-2, God instructed Moses – “Go Get Information.”

I shared that once and had a person say, “That’s foolish and unnecessary because God already knows.”  But we discover that the order God used has been used by military strategists for generations.  Simply, Know the Enemy!  It is important that we Discern the Gates of the City in order to take the City.  Then in verse 3, we see Moses obeying the directive of God and sending out chosen men to spy out the land.  In verses, 17-20 Moses gave some specific and detailed instructions and there were four keys in his charge:  The Land, the People, the Cities, and the Fruit or Produce of the land.  I have learned in my years of service that God Never sends out an uninformed army.  He Always equips and prepares for battle, and we must never forget that His ways are not man’s ways. 

Moses sent them out and instructed them to bring back a Single Report (v. 25) with regard to the goodness and fruitfulness of the land.  However, as the record indicates they came back with two minds, not one.  One group (10) could only see the Natural.  Whereas the other group (2) could see into the Unseen!  They all agreed the Land (fruit) was good but the ten saw the inhabitants as impossible obstacles and the cities too fortified.  They were defeated in their minds and would have been defeated in battle.  The Bible continually teaches that this is exactly where the battle is waged and won or lost.  If we see with God’s eyes, we overcome but if we see with the eyes of flesh we are overcome.

I remind you of the account in 2 Kings 6where Elisha (the double portion prophet) thwarts the efforts of the entire Syrian Army by his ability to See and Hear in the Unseen Realm.  The Syrian Army came to Dothan to take Elisha captive.  His servant woke up, saw the massive army, and ran fearfully to the man of God crying, “WHAT DO WE DO?”  This was more than a question it was a plea of desperation and defeat.  He came to the prophet in despair. 

Elisha then prayed a powerful prayer that should be revelatory to each of us.  He prayed, “Lord, open his eyes that he may see.”  But Elisha couldn’t he see the Syrian Army?  Elisha was praying that God would open his servant’s eyes so that he could see into the realm of the Unseen.  The servant was not blind in the natural, but he could not see into the realm of the Supernatural.  Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17-18, “that you have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and the eyes of your understanding enlightened.” 

It is critical if we are going to Possess the Promise that we develop Eyes to see into the Unseen and Ears to hear beyond the natural.  I want to deal with this more deeply but will pause for now and pick up here next time.

God, bless you richly as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!