If God Is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesBefore God gave Moses instructions concerning the sending of men to spy out Canaan, He had reaffirmed His promise to give this great land to the children of Israel (Numbers 13:17-20; Numbers 13:2).
Then in Numbers 14, we see God’s people coming to the threshold of the promised land. Would we not expect great rejoicing on this occasion? Instead, we hear weeping (Numbers 14:1). Why? Did they suffer defeat at the hands of their enemies? Did the Lord chastise them or forsake them? No, none of these. They have just heard the negative report from the spies returning from Canaan, but ignore the encouraging report from Caleb, and they become worried when they hear what the fearful spies have to say about the enemy (Numbers 13:25-33). There’s no question that it was a sad time for God’s people. But they were sad for the wrong reasons. Their weeping should have been over their own wretched condition and lack of faith.
It is indeed a sad time when the people of God lose their faith — when they no longer put their trust the Lord. It’s also a sad time when men place more confidence in what men say than what God says. The Hebrew writer records: “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:19).
Brethren, what kept these Israelites out of the promised land can keep us out as well! (cf. Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 4:9-11). Incredible as it may seem, many today still do not believe what God says about many things such as marriage and divorce, baptism, God-directed worship, the church, and hell. It is truly a time for weeping when God’s people seemingly do not care what He says, trust Him or obey His will.
It’s also a sad time when God’s people despise faithful brethren. As they had done before, the Israelites began to murmur against Aaron and Moses (Numbers 14:2). When Joshua and Caleb sought to admonish their brethren, the were threatened with stoning (Numbers 14:10). They learned what Moses already knew — that those who turn their backs on God may have little regard for those who will not. How deceitful sin is when the sinner only despises those who want to help.
Paul evidently recognizes this disposition when he asks, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16). It is indeed a time for weeping when false teachers are honored and faithful preachers resented. We need to know what can keep us out of the promised land and we need to appreciate faithful men who will tell us about our sins.
It is a sad time when God’s people are overcome with discouragement. In hearing of the enemy as being greater and taller and having walled cities, the Israelites confessed, “Our brethren have discouraged our hearts” (Deuteronomy 1:28). They had what some have called a “grasshopper” complex. Like their modern counterparts, they concluded, “We can’t succeed” — “We can’t do it — not even with God on our side.”
Brethren, in many ways, we stand where they stood. We cannot be more than a few steps from the promised land. Let us not be discouraged and turn back now!
Remember the encouraging words of faithful Paul?
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31; cf. Numbers 14:9).