The Sinister Strategy

Numbers 13:30 (NKJV)

30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

When people yield to depression, don't pet them.  Who is in control of what you think?  You are. Pouting doesn't please God.  It provokes Him.

Numbers 14:2 (NKJV)

2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!

Pouting and depression must be resisted.  In Jesus name, fear leave me!  Get!  Get mad at it before God gets mad at you.

They were in worst shape the next morning after depression had set in.  They murmured at the two men, Moses and Aaron, who had delivered them from slavery and despised them.

God was hearing what everyone was saying.  The whole congregation had yielded to the enemy. 

We must watch what we say.  The enemy is tempting you to say things to provoke God against you. 

Deuteronomy 1:27  (NKJV)

27 and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the Lord hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

Satan had convinced the people that God hated them even after God's many acts of love.  How many miracles is it going to take before you start believing?

Romans 1:21 (NKJV)

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Unthankfulness darkens your understanding. If you fixate on one area of lack, you forget the magnitude of all that God has done.

  

The more unthankful you are the less aware of God you are.  The more thankful you are.  It leads you into more light.  The more you see God. 

Don't talk about what you don't know.  Don't have.  Don't understand.  Talk about what you do have.  What you do know.  What you do understand.

Psalm 103:1-2  (NKJV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits: 

Would you like to know how to increase your capacity to receive from God?  Cultivate a lifestyle of thankfulness.

Numbers 14:2-4 (NKJV)

2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 

3 Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 

4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”

The people through this night of yielding to Satan in depression fell into unbelief and rebellion against God.  It was like when Satan led 1/3 of the angels to rebel against God.

Numbers 14:5-6 (NKJV)

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb sensed the impending wrath of God, and they were interceding with the the people to repent.

Numbers 14:7 (NKJV)

Joshua and Caleb: and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.

Romans 2:4 (NKJV)

Paul the Apostle: do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

God uses His goodness to reach us.  Repent means a change of heart and direction.


  

Numbers 14:8  (NKJV)

Joshua and Caleb:If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’

 

What kept them out?  They choose to believe an evil report of the 10 spies, and to believe that God could not be trusted.  They turned their backs on God.  

Numbers 14:9  (NKJV)

Joshua and Caleb: Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”

 

God had already placed 10 plagues upon the Egyptians to gain their freedom.  He had even opened the Red Sea for the people to walk across.  Still they didn't trust Him. 

   

They still had no faith in the ability of their God to save them. That really upset God. 

They had a great fear and belief in their enemy's ability to harm them.  The object of our affections is who we truly believe in.  

Matthew 12:35-37  (NKJV)

Jesus speaking: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

We must watch what we believe and say.  The enemy is tempting you to say things that will provoke God to resist you. 

James 4:6 (NKJV)

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Keith Moore, Faith Life Church