Following Instructions!

Perhaps you are familiar with a list of instructions presented merely for the purpose of seeing how well instructions are followed. The first on the list is the instruction: "Read all instructions before doing anything." Number two is: "Write name at the top of the paper." About halfway down the list is found the instruction: "Whistle if you are the first to reach this point." The person who whistles will certainly gain some attention. However, the very last instruction on the list reads: "Do not do anything on this list except number two." The person who ultimately follows the instructions will simply write their name at the top of the paper.

Being careful to following instructions is important. In a list of instructions it is possible to follow all but one, only to find out it was the one instruction that would have made ALL THE DIFFERENCE! How embarrassing for the one who whistled or did anything else on the list that immediately drew attention to themselves and ultimately revealed they had quickly disregarded instruction number one telling them to read everything before doing anything.

When Moses sent the twelve spies into the land of Canaan, they were given several specific instructions. ( Numbers 13:17-20)
1. Go.
2. See what the land is.
3. See if the people are strong or weak.
4. See if the people are few or many.
5. See if the land is good or bad
6. See if the cities are camps or strongholds.
7. See if the land is rich or poor.
8. See if there are trees or not.
9. Be of good courage.
10. Bring some of the fruit of the land.

In the verses following we read they did go (vs.21) and did bring back some of the fruit of the land (vs.23-24). They also reported how good the land was (vs.27) and that the cities were large and fortified. (vs.28) "However"! That is how verse 28 begins in the ESV which ultimately leads us to the following that separated the focus of ten of the spies from the perspective of Caleb and Joshua.

We read. . .
"(31) Then 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 ARE.' (32) So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, 'The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and ALL THE PEOPLE that we saw in it ARE OF GREAT HEIGHT. (33) And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and WE SEEMED TO OURSELVES LIKE GRASSHOPPERS, AND SO WE SEEMED TO THEM.'" ( Numbers 13:31-33 ESV)

What instruction had they forgotten that MADE A DIFFERENCE for Caleb and Joshua and would have for them as well? Number nine: "Be of good courage." That was the one instruction they forgot and therefore discouraged the people, leading to another forty years -- one year for each day the spies had been in the land ( Numbers 14:34) -- of wandering in the wilderness.

The ten spies who disregarded instruction number nine viewed those in the land in comparison with themselves and lost courage. Caleb and Joshua viewed those in the land in comparison with God ( Numbers 14:9) and took courage. When listening to God's instructions, we too should "be of good courage" as we remember He is able to make His Will work out for us. Such a focus will make ALL THE DIFFERENCE in how we go about our day-to-day lives and thus open the door for entrance into the blessings God ultimately desires to bring.

Have a great day ACCEPTING THE ENCOURAGEMENT GOD PROVIDES!
Carl

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