Fear Spread and Israel Rejected God's Promise
Daily Scripture
Numbers 14:1-11
1 The entire community raised their voice and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites criticized Moses and Aaron. The entire community said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt or if only we had died in this desert! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our children will be taken by force. Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to each other, “Let’s pick a leader and let’s go back to Egypt.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the assembled Israelite community. 6 But Joshua, Nun’s son, and Caleb, Jephunneh’s son, from those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite community, “The land we crossed through to explore is an exceptionally good land. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he’ll bring us into this land and give it to us. It’s a land that’s full of milk and honey. 9 Only don’t rebel against the LORD and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are our prey. Their defense has deserted them, but the LORD is with us. So don’t be afraid of them.” 10 But the entire community intended to stone them.
Then the LORD’s glory appeared in the meeting tent to all the Israelites. 11 The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people disrespect me? And how long will they doubt me after all the signs that I performed among them?
Daily Reflection & Prayer
The Israelites, panicked by the negative report of the ten scouts, mutinied. Caleb and Joshua begged Israel to trust God and enter the Promised Land. But the people were ready to stone them—until God’s glory intervened. God honored their fearful choice: except for Caleb and Joshua, Israel would wander the wilderness for 40 years, the likely lifespan of those who had refused to trust.
- This story shows two things about fear. First, it’s contagious—the ten scouts’ fear spread to most of the people. Second, it clouds thinking—once afraid, the people thought irrationally: “Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” (Where they’d been slaves!) Can you think of times when fear magnified a challenge you faced or led you to a retreat to what was familiar, even if bad? How can you avoid being a source of contagious fear for others?
- Read verses 6-9 again (aloud if you can). Feel Caleb and Joshua’s anguish as they pleaded with the people. Imagine their feelings as they moved not toward the “good land” they’d seen, but into the barren Sinai. God offers you a very good life—full of purpose, challenge, and meaning, leading to eternity in a world made new. How can you set your course firmly toward God’s promise and not let fear make you turn away?
Prayer
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to turn my fears into prayers. I lay before you all the things that worry me today, and I open my heart to your gifts of peace and contentment. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lauren Cook
Lauren Cook, who serves as Director of Online Engagement & Entry Points at Resurrection, wrote today’s Insight. She is a self-proclaimed foodie, a bookworm, and is always planning her next trip. She has the sweetest (and sassiest) daughter, Carolina Rae, a rockstar husband, Austin, and a cutie pup named Thunder. She loves connecting with others so let her know the best place you've ever eaten, best book you've ever read, or best place you've ever been!
Did you know that our brains have two “systems” or ways that they think and operate? Daniel Kahneman has completed significant research on what he calls “System 1” and “System 2” thinking.
System 1 thinking can be most easily thought of as our automatic response. You’re using System 1 thinking when you tie your shoes without thinking or sidestep a puddle on the sidewalk without breaking stride. System 1 thinking is what our brain prefers to use because it’s the least mentally taxing. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t just want the easy route when possible?
Here’s the fun fact: Our System 1 thinking is what prefers (and needs) certainty in our lives. System 1 thinking only works with certainty.
This is why we as humans so innately crave certainty and recoil visibly from the unknown, uncertain, scary.
But what happens when the easy route leads us away from the right things? When our System 1 thinking inadvertently fails us? What happens when we know God is calling us somewhere and our very being is screaming no, but our heart is whispering yes?
One of the best visual depictions I’ve ever seen of what fear and anxiety feels like is in Inside Out 2. If you’ve never seen it, take five minutes to view this clip.
What often starts out small can so quickly turn into a frenetic, frantic tornado of fear and anxiety. Yet, Jesus is just like Joy. Jesus steps right into the eye of the storm alongside us and says, “You don’t get to choose who Lauren is.” You don’t get to choose what Lauren does. You don’t call Lauren forward, I do.
You were created with a complex, incredible brain that was built to help you, protect you, guide you. But sometimes, the voices inside the brain that want the best for you get off course, a little twisted. In trying to keep you safe, they create narratives of fear that can grow larger and larger with every breath. If you feel like you’re in the middle of that tornado today, allow Jesus to meet you there and softly remind you, “Fear, you don’t get to choose who ___________ is. You don’t get to choose what __________ does. You don’t call __________ forward, I do.”
Don’t let fear and anxiety lead you astray from the most beautiful, life-giving, empowering things that God has in store for you.
