We Must Fight to Possess the Land

Many times, we Christians believe that simply because God has told us that He is going to give us this or that, we can sit back and wait until what He promised comes to us passively. I believe we have to make an effort; we have to do our part as well.

Verse 17 of Numbers 13 says concerning the Hebrews in the wilderness: “So Moses sent them to explore the land of Canaan, saying to them, ‘Go up from here to the Negev and then up into the hill country. And observe what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or numerous. See what the inhabited land is like, whether it is good or bad, and what the cities they live in are like, whether they are camps or fortified places, and what the soil is like: whether it is fertile or barren, and whether there are trees in it or not.’”

In other words, God is saying to the Israelites: “Go and explore that land that I have told you is yours. See what it is like. Examine the tribes that are there and come back with a report on what weapons they have, whether they are strong, whether they are tall, whether they are numerous, and whether they have large armies. Examine the condition of the land: whether there are good trees and whether there are good prospects for cultivation.” In other words, a complete reconnaissance of the land had to be carried out.

And then Moses tells them, “Come back to us with that report.”

I see something very important here. One might ask, why was that necessary? God had already said that they were going to enter the land, and God had already declared that the land belonged to them. Why did they have to conduct such a detailed, precise reconnaissance of the land?

First of all, I believe that God wants us to be orderly people, people who take time to analyze His promises, to analyze what God has declared over our lives. I believe that faith does not deny intelligence. There is no conflict between faith and making a sound exploration of God’s promises, learning what God has said, and studying the Bible. It is very beneficial to analyze our surroundings from time to time, to examine ourselves in light of the Word of God, and to determine what our flaws and virtues are. We must use our minds to better understand the things of the Spirit.

God’s promises do not nullify the believer’s responsibility. Before Jesus fed an entire multitude, He sent His disciples to inquire among the people and see what they had to eat. Only when they brought Him five loaves and two fish did the miracle of multiplication take place.

God wanted these men to enter the land and possess it. God had told them, “That land is yours.” He was committed to them. But when they entered, enemy tribes would be there waiting for them. There would be wars; there would be struggles, and God wanted them to be prepared.

Before God’s promises are fulfilled, we will have to overcome opposition. Our efforts of faith, grounded in God’s promises, honor the Lord, for they demonstrate trust in Him and in His promises. God is pleased when He sees us striving and developing the character of a spiritual warrior, someone who skillfully handles the concepts and promises of the Word of God.

God respects us too much to do everything for us. He created us with free will. He instilled His excellent Spirit in us. He has left us magnificent promises so that through them we may attain great victories. Let us not waste the opportunity to grow and mature spiritually by being diligent in putting into practice the beautiful challenges His Word sets before us.