Pick Your Battles Wisely

Scripture:
Numbers 13:32 — So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.
 
Observation:
The Israelites have reached a great moment of truth. It is time to enter the land they have longed for, the land of Canaan. They will have to fight for this new home God is giving them, so they send twelve spies into the land to scout out the situation. However, ten of the spies come back from the mission so scared that they begin spreading exaggerations about the enemy, they say they are big and tough and well fortified. This is going to win over the hearts of the Israelites — being in God’s Army means engaging in battle and now they don’t want any part of it. Oh, the Promised Land sounded so good when they were back in Egypt, being abused as Pharaoh’s slaves. And God’s power was great to have when He sent the plagues to get them released, and when they crossed the sea, and when they ate and drank in the wilderness. They have entered into a covenant at Mount Sinai and have seen God’s presence at the tabernacle. But now, their visible enemies seems greater to them than God and they decide to fight against God’s plan instead. This is a bad decision and the Israelites will pay a high price for it.
 
Application:
It is easier for me to fear what I can see than what I can’t see. In other words, it is not so easy sometimes to fear God more than things that are visible and tangible. When I think about it, I know that God has saved me for a purpose, His purpose, and now I belong to Him. He has plans for me and His Word has specific commands I am to follow. Why is it that I so often choose to fight against God’s plan? Do I not fear God like I should? Sometimes it seems that I am so prepared to consider God’s grace that I become desensitized to consequences for disobedience. Yes, I want to follow God out of love for Him, but I think it is healthy for me to maintain an appropriate fear of Him also. Whenever I wholeheartedly follow God, I have to make choices. There will certainly be things that I can not do because I have spent my time and resources to follow God. Let’s face it, following God makes me vulnerable and dependent upon Him, and that has a strong element of fear attached to it. However, not following God has serious consequences also. I need to pick my battles wisely. Will I fight in God’s Army for His purposes, or will I crater to my own fears and my own agenda? Think about the Israelites, it is never a wise decision to battle God.
 
Prayer:
God, I am in. I belong to you and I want to fight in your Army, for your purposes, your battles. But please have mercy on me Lord. I am weak, I need your strength; I am discouraged, I need your support; I am confused, I need your clarity; I am foolish, I need your wisdom; I am scared, I need your assurance; I am short-sighted, I need more faith; I am forgetful of you, please walk beside me. I can only go into battle if you are with me, but I will engage Lord because I love you.

— Chuck Newton, missions mobilization pastor