POSTED 23 JULY, 2009

Rebellious Fear or Faithful Trust?

by Mark Huey
mark@outreachisrael.net

reproduced from the McHuey Blog

The Biblical account of the twelve spies, and their conflicting reports to the fledgling nation of Ancient Israel, has some parallels that are applicable today to those who call upon the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. During the wilderness sojourn, two disparate approaches to living life are contrasted and exemplified by the ten with a bad report—versus the two with a good report. The frightened ten were provoked by a spirit of fear—while the confident two exuded the challenge to walk by faith. Of course, that was some 3,300 years ago. Nevertheless, these two opposing mindsets to living life still remain. Today, as the world continues to devolve as the End of the Age appears forthcoming, Messianic Believers have to make a choice whether fear or faith will dominate their thoughts, decisions, and most especially, their actions.

There is no doubt that the technologically shrinking world is dramatically increasing insecurity with a multitude of complex problems that are unsettling. The availability of discomforting information from the 24/7 news cycle on television or radio, or the access to knowledge from search engines on computers—and now smartphones—potentially enhances the anxiety. Of course, being well-informed about what is going on in the world or one’s local community is prudent and highly recommended. But if that information and knowledge is coming from political and/or spiritual sources motivated by a spirit of fear, the conclusions can and often do generate debilitating results. Remember how a crisis, or even a perceived crisis, creates opportunities to manipulate frightened masses.

Believers need to always recognize that there are evil spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12) constantly seeking to thwart God’s plans for His people and His world. Understand that these spirits do not just operate in people opposed to God’s will, but also infiltrate into the hearts and minds of those that call themselves “Israel,” just like in the days of the Exodus. In fact, the parallel indicates that a great majority of “Israel”—ten versus two—will either ignorantly, or knowingly, actually propagate the bad report and suffer the consequences of unbelief.

I think that this is a serious problem for the Messianic community of faith today. After years of dispelling false prophecies about the End of the Age or the beginning of the Great Tribulation, it appears that a revival in dispensing fear to the Messianic movement is once again on the rise. Certain self-proclaimed prophets and their zealous repeaters are once again exploiting the combination of the information explosion—in conjunction with a relative lack of Scriptural knowledge by their followers—to incite fear. A fear-induced reaction should not be the predicament for those who claim to be mature, redeemed children of God.

Instead, let us take inspiration from the two spies, who saw the same obstacles in the Promised Land as the ten doubters—but rather than cowering in fear, they placed their trust and faith in the promises made by the Almighty to give Israel what He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Both Joshua and Caleb peered beyond the tangible facts, knowing by faith that with the Holy One on their side, they would surely achieve His objectives.

Today, more than ever, we as a people of faith need to emulate the conviction of the two who trusted God, rather than succumb to the flesh-driven survival tendencies of the ten who were afraid. If you take the time to read the account of the spies’ action and report in Numbers 13-14, you see that the debate boils down to either trusting in the Lord or rebelling against Him:

“Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, ‘The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us– a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them” (Numbers 14:6-9).

Joshua and Caleb were very concerned about the people of Israel rebelling against the Lord. At the time they were pleading with them to trust in the Lord, they did not know that the rebellion of the ten spies against the word of the Almighty would result in the death of their entire generation with the exception of themselves. It is not until later in the forty-year journey that Moses gives some very specific instructions about people who incite rebellion in the children of God:

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you” (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).

Note that God allows false prophets and dreamers to give signs and wonders, in order to test His people. Apparently, He is very concerned that His people properly obey Him, serve Him, and cling to Him—rather than rebel against Him. God is very interested that people of faith actually exhibit such faith by not listening to or fearing the words of those who promote fear and rebellion.

Today, when you hear those inciting fear by their prognostications, please note that they may very well be generating rebellion in your heart. Remember that you can either follow the example of Joshua and Caleb, or the pattern of the ten who were responsible for the premature deaths of an entire generation of Israelites.

We each have a choice. Guard your hearts. Do not listen! Above all, do not fear!

We need to remember that the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He has told us unequivocally that He will never leave or forsake us:

“‘Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.’ Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed’” (Deuteronomy 31:6-8).

So what do you do when you hear someone giving you a bad report that is ushering in a sense of great fear? Ignore what is said, and counsel others to trust in the Lord. Hold fast to how without faith it is impossible to please Him:

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Faithful trusting in the Eternal has its rewards. Rebellious fear generates serious consequences. The choice is yours. Choose wisely!

Mark Huey (B.A., Vanderbilt University in History and Graduate Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) is the Director of Outreach Israel Ministries (www.outreachisrael.net). He is the author of several books, including: TorahScope, Volumes I & II, and Counting the Omer: A Daily Devotional Toward Shavuot. He is also co-author of Hebraic Roots: An Introductory Study.