Facing Reality

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Holy God, it is good to bless Your name: to remember Your mercies every morning and Your loving-kindness every night.

Read Deuteronomy 1:19-40

^[19] Then, as the LORD our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites through all that vast and dreadful wilderness that you have seen, and so we reached Kadesh Barnea. ^[20] Then I said to you, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. ^[21] See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” ^[22] Then all of you came to me and said, “Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.” ^[23] The idea seemed good to me; so I selected twelve of you, one man from each tribe. ^[24] They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshkol and explored it. ^[25] Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, “It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.” ^[26] But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. ^[27] You grumbled in your tents and said, “The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. ^[28] Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.'” ^[29] Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. ^[30] The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, ^[31] and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” ^[32] In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God, ^[33] who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go. ^[34] When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: ^[35] “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, ^[36] except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.” ^[37] Because of you the LORD became angry with me also and said, “You shall not enter it, either. ^[38] But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it. ^[39] And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad-they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it. ^[40] But as for you, turn around and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.”

Meditate

Pray with Paul “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know. . . his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Eph. 1:18-19).

Think Further

“Let’s be realistic”–words that dampen plans and expectations deemed “unrealistic”! But what facts are taken into account as “real”?

To the Israelites poised to enter Canaan, Moses recounts the previous generation’s experience when they (“you,” “us,” see yesterday’s notes) were similarly situated. The account commences positively (19-25). What could possibly outweigh God’s command and promise, with a report of “a good land that the Lord our God is giving us”? The people saw other facts, however: “The people are stronger and taller than we are” (28)! This so dominated their thought that they saw a plot by God who “hates us” (27). Even Moses’ reminder of the Exodus and wilderness provisions made no difference (30-33). Words of motion occur in key verses (19,24,26,40): “Obedience is matched by progress; disobedience by retreat and failure” (J. G. McConville). How will “you” respond this time? Will “you” learn from past experiences, both of God’s deliverance and provision and of the consequences of lack of trust?

Being “realistic” often implies considering predominantly what is in front of one’s eyes, likely resources at hand and external obstacles–and experience of what works. Such details are relevant, for faith is not blind, but the central reality is God’s commands, with promises, calling us to move forward. Together the community, in honest prayer, discerns where God is leading and then follows, trusting. In both the local church and elsewhere, I have recently been involved in planning decisions. It has been exciting to hear, “Vision drives budget, not vice versa,” and then to look expectantly at how God provides and overcomes obstacles. His command and promise is a key part of reality!

Apply

Recall instances where you or your local church has known God’s provision as you have stepped forward in trust. Share your story with others to encourage them.

Closing prayer

“Lord, what You give me the vision to conceive, and the power to believe, I completely trust You to help me achieve” (Lloyd John Ogilvie).

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

Yesterday’s reading

View all readings

Tomorrow’s reading