Some Things the Lord Expects From Us Numbers 13-14

1. God Expects Us To Believe What He Says The spies were to survey the land and bring back a report (Num. 13:17-20). The condition of the land. The people: whether strong or weak, few or many. The cities: like camps or strongholds. In all this, they were told to “be of good courage” (v. 20).

1. God Expects Us To Believe What He Says They returned with their report (vs. 26-33). The land was good, but… The people are strong and their cities are large and fortified. The land devours its inhabitants. There are giants in the land. We were like grasshoppers in their sight. “We are not able to go up against them” (v. 31).

1. God Expects Us To Believe What He Says They missed the significance of what God had said at the beginning of this task: “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel” (v 2). God has made promises to us. Tests of faith are going to come. Will we pass these tests or fail? Matt. 6:25-34; Heb. 13:5-6; Titus 1:2

2. God Expects Us To Listen To Voices Of Faith “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13:30). The reply was the bad report: “we are not able.” The people listened to the voices of fear instead of the voices of faith (Num. 14:1-4). We must be very careful when choosing what voices we are going to listen to (Prov. 13:20).

3. God Expects Us To Be Faithful, Not Fearful and Rebellious Caleb and Joshua challenged the people with words of faith and confidence in God (vs. 6-10). God asked questions which justified Israel’s punishment (v. 11). God punished their unbelief (vs. 20-23). God rewarded the faithful (vs. 24, 30).

What God Expects From Us We are to believe what God says. We are to listen to voices of faith. We are to remain faithful to the Lord.