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What to Think About the State of Things

by Abby Kelly  
11/04/2014 / World Affairs

I wonder how you feel about the state of the union? No, not the annual presidential address, but the actual state of our economy, international affairs, unemployment, political scandals, your religious freedom. I'll be honest, I'm feeling kind of dismal. America doesn't reflect the biblical values she was founded upon. It's tempting as a Christian to circle the wagons and whisper among ourselves that the world is going to hell in a hand-basket. But this morning I was reading a familiar story in Numbers, and I wonder if there's a better way.

Twelve spies came tromping back through the wilderness, a heavy branch slung between two the broad backs. One stumbled; someone took his place. Finally, with a dramatic groan, they dropped the vine at Moses' feet. The entire camp of Israel stared, mouths agape.

Who had ever seen such grapes? Was it true? Had God really brought them a land flowing with milk and honey? But something was wrong, the spies weren't grinning ear to ear, their faces belied the treasure they had just delivered.

One man spoke for them all, "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height.And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them." (Numbers 13:32b-33)

The women let out a collective wail. Suddenly, the marvelous fruit was forgotten and despair clouded the air. Then one spy, a bear of a man named Caleb, stepped forward. Joshua, well-known as Moses' protege, moved along side him. Caleb's posture bespoke anger and frustration. Clearly, these two had a different opinion.

"'Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.'" Then the men who had gone up with him said, 'We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.'" (Numbers 13:30b-31)

You probably know the rest of the story. The people chose to believe the majority of the returning spies and ignored Caleb and Joshua's good report. The complained against Moses, questioned God and succumbed to hopelessness. Finally, furious at their faithlessness, God declared: "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you [Moses] a nation greater and mightier than they." (Numbers 14:11b-12)

Moses pleaded on behalf of the people and God relented. But, His holiness refused to allow the faithless ones to enter the Promise Land. Instead, the whole camp wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, until the doubting generation had diedall except for Caleb and Joshua.

So, I'll pose the question again: How do you feel about the state of the unionor the world?

I ask in light of another verse: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

The majority of the spies were not wrong. In fact, they brought a more factual report that Caleb and Joshua, but it was not more truthful. In fact, the situation looked grim. They were terribly out numbered, they were facing giants, there was no way their humble army could winbut God.

Listen to the balance of Caleb's argument: "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)

Caleb and Joshua brought a good report. Their faith in God's power and promise informed their view of the circumstances. It wasn't that they did not see the size of their enemy; they weren't ignoring the facts of their plight. But the facts, in this case were not the truth. In the end, God did bring Israel into the Promised Land, minus the entire generation who had disbelieved. And when they finally conquered the land, it was not that they had grown in numbers or power, but the God Caleb and Joshua trusted from the beginning delivered the enemies into their hands.

Looking at the modern world, Christians can analyze the facts that the sanctity of life is ignored, poverty is rampant, evil often wins out, addictions are everywhere, politics are corrupt, Islam is expanding and the Bible is getting dusty.

But, Biblical Christians, Christ-following Christians must believe and declare the good report. We must martial the troops, encourage the weary and remind the faithless that the battle is not ours, but the Lord's.

No, that doesn't mean that if we just believe enough the world will come around. Joshua and Caleb did believe the truth, but for a time, they lost the battle. They too waded through the wilderness among the faithless for 40 years. Also, they did not simply believe the good report, but they were ready and willing to go battle, move into action based upon the truth of that good report.

We can do no less. In spite of the dreary facts, the good report is that Christ has won, our eternity is secure, God loves us, He desires that none should perish, He works all things for our good, He never leaves us and every promise He made is sure.

Learn more about me on my website: http://predatory-lies.com/about-me/

Please find my book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Predatory-Lies-Anorexia-Kelly-ebook/dp/B00HFGMBJA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389645006&sr=8-1&keywords=predatory+lies

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