Faith or Fear: Lessons from Numbers Chapter 13

Faith or fear – it is our choice! Numbers chapter 13 shares a lot about choosing faith over fear.

I am reading the book of Numbers right now. You wouldn’t think there would be many lessons for us in that Old Testament book, but there are!

Story Recap

The Lord used Moses and Aaron to miraculously lead the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. They were going to the land that the Lord had promised to give them, the Promised Land.

When they got to the land, Moses sent 12 men to scout out the land and bring back some of the fruit of the land. This was an exploratory mission, not a mission to see whether or not they should go into the land.

However, if you know the story, the majority lacked faith and did not want to take what the Lord had already given them. They were fearful and gave a bad report of the land.

Numbers 13:4-16

Are you familiar with any of the 12 names of the spies listed below – besides Caleb and Joshua? Just give the list a quick glance.

^{4 “}These were their names:
Shammua son of Zaccur from the tribe of Reuben;
⁵ Shaphat son of Hori from the tribe of Simeon;
⁶ Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;
⁷ Igal son of Joseph from the tribe of Issachar;
⁸ Hoshea son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim;
⁹ Palti son of Raphu from the tribe of Benjamin;
¹⁰ Gaddiel son of Sodi from the tribe of Zebulun;
¹¹ Gaddi son of Susi from the tribe of Manasseh (from the tribe of Joseph);
¹² Ammiel son of Gemalli from the tribe of Dan;
¹³ Sethur son of Michael from the tribe of Asher;
¹⁴ Nahbi son of Vophsi from the tribe of Naphtali;
¹⁵ Geuel son of Machi from the tribe of Gad.
¹⁶ These were the names of the men Moses sent to scout out the land, and Moses renamed Hoshea son of Nun, Joshua.“
Numbers 13:4-16

It is interesting that out of the 12 men who scouted out the land, the only two that we are familiar with are Caleb and Joshua. These are the two who had great trust in the Lord and His promises.

People with a strong faith can make a lasting impression.

Faith or Fear in Numbers 13:30-33

^{30 “}Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, ‘Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!’

³¹ But the men who had gone up with him responded, ‘We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!’ ³² So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: ‘The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. ³³ We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.’” Numbers 13:30-33

• The Lord had already promised to give them the land.
• The negative men were fear mongers among the whole Israelite community.
• These negative thoughts and words were not facts – they were just thoughts in their heads.
• Did you catch the phrase in the last sentence? “…must have seemed…” Don’t let assumptions, fear, and lack of self-worth keep you from the Lord’s promises!

The Truth of the Matter

Here is the truth: This is what the Bible said 40 years later when they went back to Jericho to spy on the land again.

This is the account of the spies speaking to Rahab while they were on that mission:

“Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof and said to them, ‘I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan.'” 
Joshua 2:8-10

• The people of Jericho were terrified of them because they knew what God had done for them. They knew that He was still with them.
• They did not see the Israelites as grasshoppers like the fear mongers said.
• They had given up 40 years of blessings because of fearful thoughts and negative reports. 
• That generation did not get to experience God’s promise.

Applying The Lessons

• Don’t believe the negative thoughts the enemy puts in your head. He does that to keep you from taking possession of what the Lord has already promised you.
• Ask yourself what fearful thoughts may be stopping you from doing what the Lord has called you to do.
• What lies have you believed?
• What blessings are you missing out on?
• How does your fear affect others? 

Join Me

What Do We Do Now?

It is easy to see a story about someone else and their lack of faith, but it is another to apply the principle to our own lives. 

• What has the Lord asked you to do that you haven’t done because of fear?
• Seek Him in prayer and Bible reading and ask for boldness, strength, and courage to follow through.
• Step out in faith, and go do it!

I know exactly what I have been holding back on due to fear. I even know that my answer is on the other side of it all. Fear (even irrational fear) is real!

I don’t know if this devotional on faith or fear from Numbers 13 was for you at all. What I do know is that it was definitely for me! 

Who is with me? Let’s go do it – faith over fear!

Related Posts

What Have We to Fear?
What Do Roosters Have to Do with Anything?
Simple Bible Study Ideas for Spiritual Growth

Until next time,

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“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10