I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:
TO DO EXCEEDINGLY GOOD
NUMBERS 14:7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
“EXCEEDING GOOD LAND”
That is what God has for us if we will just follow Him by faith. Whatever God does and wherever God leads is “exceeding good”. This chapter tells a common story when it comes to the tendencies of God’s children. Notice the description:
1. THEY DOUBTED GOD’S PROVISION
Verse 2 ) And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
They began to forget how bad things were before God freed them. They also began to doubt that God could take care of them. Unfortunately, we do that sometimes.
2. THEY DOUBTED GOD’S PROTECTION
Verse 3) And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey?
God had just saved their lives and miraculously protected them through the Red Sea and yet apparently that was not enough for them to trust His protection now. In fact, they would wander in the barren wilderness for years because they just did not trust in God’s protection.
3. THEY DOUBTED GOD’S PLAN
Verse 3-4) And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, ………were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Can you believe they said, “let us return into Egypt”? Have you ever doubted God’s plan? Have you ever thought things were better before God seemingly got involved?
So here are the lessons for us to learn in this passage:
* GOD’S WAY IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT IT IS ALWAYS BEST (7)
This land had more potential than they realized. This land has blessings that they could not see yet. Yes, it won’t be easy, and yes there are giants, and obstacles, but it’s worth it.
* GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE OFTEN DETERMINED BY OUR CONDUCT (8)
“If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us”. Remember that David said, “Delight thyself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” God delights in us when we delight in Him.
* GOD ALWAYS PERFORMS WHAT HE PROMISES (8)
It should be a great comfort to know that the giants, walled cities, the rough terrain, the grasshoppers, and everything else is up to God to worry about. “He will bring us into this land”. Trust me, God is able to keep His promises, or He would have never made them.