Articles
Be Confident Because God is Able
When I was very young I was pretty scared of the dark. However, I was generally unafraid if I was next to someone. Growing up as a twin and younger brother, I was never alone because my best friends were always within arm’s length. In my house, there was also always a trusted adult to run to if anything became too scary. Thinking back, the dark probably scared me a lot because it felt alienating. Even as adults, the world will try to scare us into feeling like lonely and powerless young children. When the Israelites felt alone and scared, God was with them, just as He is for us!
The first time the Israelites neared the land of Canan they sent a scout from each tribe to explore the area for forty days. The scouts reported saying, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.” (Numbers 13:27-28) After hearing this, the vast majority of the congregation became scared, but two of the spies spoke up to encourage everyone.
Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh tore their clothes and said, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:7-9) However, the fear of the congregation of Israel was too great. They petitioned to stone Joshua and Caleb and they also desired to go back to Egypt.
Since the ten other spies incited fear and rebellion against the Lord’s commands in the congregation of Israel, He struck them down. After hearing of their demise, the congregation fearfully changed their minds and decided to meet their enemies in battle as the Lord originally commanded. Moses warned them saying, “Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies...Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” The people decided to ignore Moses. They ended up dying in battle because they went without Moses, the ark, and God.
The generation of Israelites that were afraid to enter the promised land never got to live there. As punishment for their consistent grumbling, falling away, and rebellion, God had them walk in the desert till they all passed away. However, Psalm 145:17-18 reads, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Joshua got to lead the nation into the Land of Canaan and the Israelites conquered the inhabitants of the land because they all kept the commandments of the Lord. (Joshua 1)
The Lord is the God of light. If you are baptized and are an obedient child of His, the you will never be alone. No matter the darkness you are facing, God will get you through it and guide you to a better land! Hebrews 10:19-23 reads, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
