Numbers 13 and 14

Had traveled in the wilderness from SinaiOn Southern edge of the Promised land

Sent 12 spies to look over the land

After 40 days they returned and gave a report

The 12 Spies Sent OutNumbers 13

"We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.” Numbers 13:27

“Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.” Numbers 13:28

“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30

Ten Spies

Caleb & Joshua

Ten Spies

Land could not be conquered“is a land that devours its inhabitants”“We are not able to go up against the people”“We are like grasshoppers”

“So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out,” Numbers 13:32 ESV

Caleb & Joshua

“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.” Num. 13:30

Stilled the people Go up at once Well able

Caleb & Joshua Ten Spies

Pessimists = discouragers

Spread gloomy tidings

Blind to the power of God

10 people caused over 1 million people to give up and lose faith

Optimists = encouragers

Full of good cheer

Men of Courage

With God they knew that nothing was impossible

Caleb & Joshua Ten Spies

Physically Israel seemed like grasshoppers to the giants

Men of doubt

Spiritually Israel was the giant and Canaan was like the grasshoppers

Men of Faith

Caleb & Joshua Ten Spies

Trusted in themselvesBelieved man must deliver selfOpposed God’s willMurmured and denied God and wanted to kill Joshua and Caleb

Trusted GodGod was their deliverWilling to let God use themRejoiced in what God was to give them

Eye of Faith

Eye of Doubt

Nothing is possibleNothing is impossible

Mission

ImpossibleMissionPossible

Numbers 14:1 ¶ And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

“Happiness is in the head, not the wallet.”

Eye of Faith

God knew everything - He could have told Moses

Test the attitude of his people - bring to maturity !

God allows us to go through trials and troubles.

We are being tested - let us not fail the test

Be like Caleb and Joshua not the ten spies

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

evanscoc@bellsouth.netevanscoc@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Morning October 9, 2011