Pastor RAUL GRANILLO“It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent.” –Jeremy Taylor
God had rescued the Israelites from Egypt. To do this, He inflicted plagues upon Egypt, He had parted the sea for the Israelites to pass through, He provided manna in the morning and quail in the evening for them to eat, and He brought water out of the rock for them to drink. God had saved the people and become their provider; and He did this in order to take them into a land that was “flowing with milk and honey.”
The land of Canaan was the land God planned to give the Israelites, so that they could establish a nation of people who were holy to God and would introduce His plan of salvation into the world (Genesis 12:1-3).
After two years of freedom from Egypt, during which they learned what God required of them, the Israelites prepared for their final trek into the land of Canaan. The book of Numbers tells us that when the Israelites finally reached the Jordon River—the final crossing into Canaan—they sent spies ahead of them to investigate before completing their journey into the land that God had promised them. The goal was right there in front of them. I wonder how many never really expected God would bring them this far. I wonder how many began to feel anxious about whatever lay ahead of them.
When the spies came back, they reported that it was indeed the land God had promised, the land “flowing with milk and honey”. But there was a problem; there were many strong enemies living there. And the Israelites began to panic. They began to reconsider whether this was really what God wanted for them. Finally, Caleb, one of the spies, “silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it’” (Numbers 13:30 NIV). Caleb knew God’s call and trusted Him to have prepared the way for victory even when it seemed unlikely.
It is often easy for us to start on a mission and even be excited about what God is going to do. However, many get on board with the vision that God has given their church only to wince when the rubber hits the road. Many of us feel God calling us to a certain place, or wanting us to take a certain action, but we get scared when we consider what it would mean for us if we fail. For these reasons, and so many more, “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?’ And they said to each other, ‘We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt’” (14:2-4)
The Israelites decided they would rather return to a life of slavery than to go forward with the great task God had called them to. How many of us feel that way today? Like a life of slavery to sin at least offers a chance to survive? Or that staying right where we are as Christians is sufficient and there is no need to seek personal growth at the risk of giving up our comfortable place in the church?
The Israelite’s doubt of God’s power and plan caused their fears to dictate their actions; and the Israelites who wanted to go back to Egypt missed their opportunity to be a part of something greater than they could ever have imagined. Because of their unwillingness to follow through with God’s call, the Israelites would spend the next 38 years wandering around in the wilderness wondering what it would have been like to have trusted God and crossed the Jordon.
God has a call for every person. We are all distinct in our talents and gifts; we are all distinct in our experiences and desires; but we are all called to be the people who reflect God’s image back into creation. And while saving the world may sound noble, too often when we get to the river we need to cross, we will face a fear we never imagined before. It is then that we need to rest in His strength and go forward to complete the race He has called us to. If we hesitate, we may find ourselves wandering aimlessly for the rest of our lives; but if we answer His call…
The choice is yours.
To find out more about La Vista Church, or to hear this and other messages, visit our website at www.lavistanaz.org or email me at raul@lavistanaz.org. Follow Pastor Raul on Twitter @RaulGranillo007
Please come join us as we fix our eyes on Jesus. We meet Sundays at 9 a.m. for Sunday school and 10 a.m. for worship. Everyone is welcome!