In life, we can go through circumstances and feel like we are seeing clearly, but in actuality we are incorrect in our assessment of the situation. The Bible says, “For as he thinks in his heart so is he,” (Proverbs 23:7 Amplified). This means that we can believe something to be true, even if it is not true and it can become a reality to us.

This happened to the Israelites when God asked them to possess the land of Canaan. God asked Moses to send 12 spies in to survey the land and bring back samples of the land’s fruit. Out of the 12 spies that entered the land, 10 of them brought back a negative report, while Caleb and Joshua brought back a positive report full of faith and trust in God to fight for them.

The Bible says this of the 10 spies:  “We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them,” (Numbers 13:33 NIV). The 10 spies did not remember all the great works that God did to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians, how God parted the Red Sea and how God would fight for them when going into the promise land. Instead, they saw nations that were strong and fortified between them and the land God swore to give them! They complained against Moses, Joshua and Caleb and refused to trust God.

The Bible says, “Not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have all seen My glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they have tested Me by refusing to listen to My Voice,” (Numbers 14:22).

The whole generation over 20 years of age would never enter the promised land because they did not trust God to defeat their enemies! They saw through eyes of physical limitations, not with eyes of faith. The Israelites thought they were as grasshoppers in their own eyes. It is interesting that after 40 years in the wilderness, God spoke to Joshua and asked him to take the younger generation into the promised land.

Joshua sent two spies into the land to scout out Jericho. Rehab, an inhabitant of Jericho, helped the spies hide from the king of Jericho and said this to the two Israelites: “I know the Lord has given you this land. We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below,'” (Joshua 2:9-11).

The nations living in the promised land were so scared of the Israelites because they had heard how the Living God fought for the Israelites and defeated their enemies. Remember how the older Israelites complained about how strong the nations were in the promised land, and in their own eyes they were as grasshoppers. They failed to trust God and see clearly from God’s perspective. If they had only trusted God they would have fulfilled their God given destiny! 

We are the same way today. We let fear and unbelief keep us from God’s very best and fail to enter our “Promised Land.” Has God asked you to take a step of faith and trust Him to do something great in life? Are you taking action or have you let fear creep in and cause your perspective to be altered?

Don’t miss out on all the good things God has for you. Let Him lead you and see with eyes of faith versus through your own human limitations. He is God and can do the impossible. You can overcome and fulfill your God-given destiny. Trust God and walk in obedience!