~ by Terry Walters
Numbers 13:1-2, 17-33
I remember a church vote when I was
an older teenager. All but two
of us voted to build a new sanctuary.
I just did not believe we had a need
for one. It's been more than 50 years and
they still haven't built or needed a new sanctuary!
How could the majority be wrong?
There could be lots of reasons -
undue influence, unclear rationale, popularity,
fear, or a “just-go-along” attitude -
just to name a few. The point being
that just because people vote one way
doesn't necessarily mean they personally
believe it is the best thing nor
does it mean they are right.
In fact, the culture at any given time
is wrong by God's standards,
even if they are the majority!
Ten of twelve spies said they should
abandon God's plan for the Israelites to
go into the Promise Land and conquer it!
It eventually led to those 10 and
every adult over 20 at the time,
except the other two spies, to wander
until death without ever reaching the
Promise Land or having a real home of their own!
When God makes a promise, we should
trust Him and prove that by following
Him, no matter what the circumstances
look like nor how many “vote” against Him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for all the precious
promises You have given us in Your Word.
Help us to trust You all the way,
regardless of what our circumstances
appear to be. We should know
by now that your way is always best.
P.S. Sometimes the consequences of going
along with the majority can be drastic.
Even though the names of the spies
were not in today's reading,
they are there in the chapter.
I doubt if anyone reading this devotion
could name any of the 10 spies who
said not to go into the Promise Land,
but that many of you know one or
both of the names of the two
spies who said, “Yes, let's go in!”
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