Holding God in contempt?

"...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.” (Numbers 14:9 NKJV)

When I read this bible passage I was floored. This statement was made by Joshua when he and the eleven chosen men went to spy the land of Canaan. Despite the giants in the land, the fortress of the city and the fear inspired report of the other ten men, he and Caleb were confident in the ability of God to help them. What faith!

As I progressed in my bible study goal this year, my spiritual eyes continued to be opened to awesome revelation of the depth of love God had for the people of Israel. As I follow their exodus from Egypt, I still could not comprehend why it was easy for the people to doubt God - He had promised to give them the land 'flowing with milk and honey', they were on the verge of possessing the land but fear and unbelief ensnared them. 

Who cares whether there were giants in the land…after all the miracles, signs and wonder that God wrought for them in the land of Egypt and since their journey started; 

• parting of the Red Sea - 'So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore’(Exodus 14:30 NKJV), 
• meat and bread - “..At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 16:12 NKJV), 
• water from the rock - "...Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink” (Exodus 17:6 NKJV),
• victory over the Amalekites in the wilderness of sin - “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” (Exodus 17:6, 14 NKJV).

The people saw all these with their eyes (as we say in my native language- korokoro eyes), they were not told stories but they were part of the experience, yet they still doubted the awesome power of the Almighty God.

Joshua, the son of Nun had the right attitude... Do not fear he said... this people are our bread. They are nothing....they have no protection.....the LORD is with us.

Having experience God first hand like this, one would expect all of them to have the same confidence like Joshua and Caleb but no- '......the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.’ (Numbers 14:1 NLT).

What can I learn from this? I got insight from God's response 'And the lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the LORD’s glory, 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. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will ever see it. But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land. (Numbers 14:1, 11, 21-24 NLT).

When we refuse to believe the word of God.. we are holding Him in contempt. Trusting in God is being loyal to Him and this brings His blessing and manifestation of His promises in our lives.

I pray that my challenges would not overwhelm me to the extent that I will treat my God with contempt through lack of trust and unbelief.

How about you? Do you still struggle with trusting God despite the number of times you have experienced His faithfulness in your life?

Prayer: Father, help me to be like Joshua and Caleb when I am faced with challenges that seems impossible. Let me trust in you and remember your help in ages past. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Shalom