CHOICES FOR IMPACT (2)

“Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are WELL ABLE to overcome it”– Numbers 13:30b

ATTITUDE of Faith is fundamental to making appropriate CHOICES for IMPACT: “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” (Num.13:30). Today’s meditation text narrates the story of the spies sent out to scout the land of Canaan. It highlights the choices they made and their impact on the people of Israel. Ten of the spies, despite seeing and confirming the land’s fertility, focused on the perceived strength of the inhabitants and their own inferiority, leading to a prevalent negative impact on the people’s faith and obedience.

The Lord had promised the Israelites the land of Canaan if they were faithful to Him. What He demanded was their Faith. However, the spies, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, reported the land as abundant in resources but dreaded the inhabitants, many of whom were like giants in stature, suggesting that they couldn’t conquer it, contrary to God’s Word. The negative report instilled fear and doubt in the people, leading to their refusal to enter the promised land, causing 40 years of wilderness wandering! Their negative attitude adversely affected their confessions: “Then we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (v.33).

The spies’ negative choices significantly impacted the future of the nation. In contrast, Joshua and Caleb chose to focus on the promises of God and His Strength, demonstrating Faith and Obedience. Overall, the passage emphasizes the Power of Choices and the Impact they have on us and those around us. Even when faced with challenges and difficult circumstances, we can choose to focus on the positives – Hope and Faith, as Joshua and Caleb did, or succumb to negative emotions such as fear and doubt, as the other spies did. Are we trusting in God’s promises or allowing fear to drown our thoughts and actions?

God wants us to cultivate attitudes that always focus on the positive, choosing to see the good in situations, even when faced with challenges: “Finally my brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there I anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Phi.4:8). We must trust in God’s promises, remembering that He is faithful. For the people of Israel, the difference between Victory and Defeat derived from one word, “WELL able” and “NOT able” (vv.30-31).

LIFE is a collection of CHOICES. Destiny is a succession of Decisions. Success in life is more by choice than by chance – choices of life partner, course of study, career pursuit, business investment, home location, and church membership. God is deeply committed to guiding us to make positively impactful choices!