This week's scriptures: Numbers 13:1-15:41; Joshua 2:1-24; Hebrews 3:7-4:1

Let's admit it, we would all be fearful if we had to face up to a giant in our own strength. Thinking of some contemporary examples, who would have wanted to face up to Muhammad Ali in the boxing ring, or be in the front row of a rugby scrum against the New Zealand All Blacks without some very special preparation?

And these are quite moderate challenges compared with the Anakim or the Babylonians of biblical days. So let's not be too quick to judge the Israelite spies who feared what they saw in the Promised Land.

Yes, they had seen God defeat Pharaoh in Egypt and deliver them from the pursuing chariots as they crossed the Red Sea. But now it was a personal challenge.

Of course, they should have remembered God's promises of a land flowing with milk and honey, especially when they saw the size of those bunches of grapes, the pomegranates and the figs, the potential of lush vegetation to feed their sheep and goats to provide that milk, and the nectar-bearing flowers abuzz with bees to produce that honey. But, humanly, it was all too easy to also see the potential of those ruthless, demonically-led Anakim to thwart all those good promises, and to sink back in fear.

Fear the Enemy of Faith

Fear is the enemy of faith, and fear must be overcome by faith. Some Israelites were fearful, but there were also those who were faithful – Joshua and Caleb. The contrast is there to be considered by us and to challenge our own fears.

Faith is something that must grow in us, just as it did in Abraham. We too will have our tests and in overcoming we will grow.

Recognising Giants

Giants come in many forms. The physical ones are easiest to see, but there are spiritual enemies who work in the unseen to sow seeds of doubt in all of us as we face up to our next big challenge – and we all meet these challenges at a personal level.

The decision that has faced everyone regarding the EU Referendum has been a challenging one, on personal as well as national levels. "What is the risk for me as I face the future?" is the question that has been weighing on the hearts of many around the country.

Pivotal though this has been, there are still many 'giants' ahead to overcome on both our personal and corporate walk of faith into the future. The ultimate outworking of all that is in the Book of Revelation, which will be fulfilled before the Kingdom of God comes fully in.

Examples and Warnings

Is the account of the conquest of Canaan in the early books of the Bible simply an account of ancient history, or is it relevant today? Paul, when writing to the Corinthians, made the relevance clear:

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. (1 Cor 10:11) [emphasis added]

The writer to the Hebrews also makes it clear that the experiences of Israel are for our instruction, and Joshua is seen as a forerunner of Jesus. For us it is not a physical land before us. Not even the establishing of the UK as 'a nation under God' is the end-point, though many battles are to be fought in and for our nation in this phase of history. It is eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven that is at stake.

Be Strong and Courageous

Thank God for Joshua who, through faith, led the Israelites eventually to the Promised Land. Thank God for the teaching this brings us. Thank God infinitely more for Jesus who, through his sacrificial death, enables those who will follow him in faith to enter into the eternal Kingdom.

Faith is the key to the future. We will all face our personal giants who try to build fear and uncertainty and, if it were possible, cause us to turn back, falter or give up. But this week, read both the Torah portion and the exhortation concerning its greater fulfilment in the Book of Hebrews. Let the Holy Spirit stir you afresh to rise up in faith and move forward into the future.

It is God who will give us the strength to overcome the giants. We are not left alone to face them. Accept all this by faith, move on to maturity, and our personal eternal future is secure.

Author: Dr Clifford Denton