0598. 585. Notable Commands

585. Notable Commands

Num_13:1-3, Num_13:17-33

There are certain words and expressions which we may take as hubs around which the spokes of thought are found. The—

1. “Get You Up” of Commission (Num_13:17). Moses bids the spies go search the land and see what kind it was, and as to the inhabitants that dwelt in it. It is well to know the strength and character of the enemy we have to conquer. As with Israel, so with us, when the Lord bids us to go in a given direction, it matters not how great the difficulties, or how formidable the foe, we shall have grace to surmount the one and to overcome the other. With every “Go” of command He gives us the “Lo” of His presence—Mat_28:19, Mat_28:20.

2. “Be of Good Courage” of Fortitude (Num_13:20). True courage is the outcome of the fear of God. He who fears God need fear no foe. He who has looked into the face of God can look in the face of any man. True courage has consistency as its forerunner—Jos_1:6, Jos_1:7.

3. “Nevertheless” of Unbelief (Num_13:28). Unbelief always magnifies difficulties and makes them far larger than they are. “There is always a ‘nevertheless’ where man is concerned, and when unbelief is at work. The unbelieving spies saw the difficulties—great cities, high walls, tall giants. All these things they saw; but they did not see Jehovah at all. They looked at the things that were seen, rather than at the things which were unseen. Their eye was not fixed upon Him who is invisible. Doubtless the cities were great; but God was greater; the walls were high, but God was higher; the giants were strong, but God was stronger.”

4. “Well Able” of Faith (Num_13:30). The man of faith who looks to God, and remembers what He is able to do, exclaims, “We are well able to overcome.” “Faith looks the difficulties straight in the face. It is not ignorant—not indifferent—not reckless; but—what? It brings in the living God. It looks to Him; it leans on Him; it draws from Him. Here lies the grand secret of its power.”

5. “Not Able” of Despair (Num_13:31). What a contrast this to the “Well able” of Caleb! “Stronger than we” is the exclamation of despair as the enemy is compared with the self-occupied ones; but surely the foe is not stronger than He! Ah! it makes all the difference whether it be “He” or “We.” If the warfare depends upon us there will be defeat, but since it depends upon the Lord there must be victory, if we trust Him. Despair is born of self-occupation and through viewing self’s resources. There is only one way to get rid of self, and that is to put Him in front of it; then self reads Himself.

6. “Evil Report” of Half-Heartedness (Num_13:32). Half-heartedness is a worm that will kill any plant of grace. The reason why so many fail is because there is a lack of thoroughness. Half-heartedness is the forerunner of defeat. Half-heartedness magnifies difficulties, hesitates in danger, discourages timid ones, breeds unbelief, lacks backbone, cripples devotion, and thinks much of itself.

7. “We Saw” of Short-Sightedness (Num_13:33). The evil-reporters saw the great ones of the earth, but they did not see the Great One of Heaven. If they had looked at the great ones from God’s point of view they would have seen that they were but as “grasshoppers” in His sight—Isa_40:22. Instead of this, the spies say they are “as grasshoppers.” If we look at difficulties and dangers through the medium of earth’s spectacles we shall be discouraged, and a discouraged man is a defeated one; but if we stand on the mountain-top of fellowship with God, earth’s great ones will be pygmies.

By: DR. F. E. MARSH