FAITH QUANTIFIED QUESTIONS GOD
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“For I say, through the grace
given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he
ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of
faith.”—Romans 12:3
In Numbers chapter thirteen, we find the account of the
Hebrew spies sent into the land of Canaan.
The Lord instructed Moses to send out a man from each of the twelve
tribes to spy out the Promised Land. Moses chose the twelve men and instructed
them where to go and what to look for in the land. They were to determine what the land was like,
how many people were there, if the cities were build like strongholds, could
the people fight, if the land was good for planting and supporting herds of
animals, and if there were any forest. The
men returned to Moses and brought an example of the fruit growing in the land
and gave a report to the whole congregation of Israel (Numbers 13:1-26).
Then they told him [Moses], and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittities, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan." 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." But 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." And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight" (Numbers 13:27-33).
Notice that the ten spies were concerned with the quantity of their faith. They described the people as being bigger and
stronger. Their self images were
reflected in their statement when they said, “We were like grasshoppers in our
own sight.” When you quantify your faith you not only
question yourself, but God.
Joshua and Caleb’s faith was very different than the 10
spies. They were not concerned with how
much faith they had (the quantity); moreover their faith rested in the Promise
Maker and that He would keep His word. “Only
do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are
our bread, their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with
us. Do not fear them” (Numbers
14:9). God did keep His promise; Joshua
and Caleb were used mightily of the Lord to bring the people into the Promised
Land.
Personal faith based in the human will and accomplishments
will most certainly lead to failure and disappointments. Put your faith in God and His promises and
you will never fail, or be disappointed.
Prayer—Father I thank
you that because my faith rest in you I will never fail or be disappointed, in
Jesus Name. Amen.
