That Double Checking Doubt

Don't worry- you aren't in this alone. But if you send in spies to double check the land God has promised you, you might be a doubter.

In Deuteronomy, Moses talked to his people about claiming the Promised Land, and I can't help picking up on the sarcasm. I picture him side glancing like Jim Halpert from The Office. He points out what should have taken 11 days to cross has taken them 40 years. That's a heck of a traffic jam.

"Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don't be afraid! Don't be discouraged!" Deut. 1:21

Now that's a rally speech!!

Do you feel it coming? The awkwardness. The elephant in the room. 

Because then Moses says crazy stuff that goes against his own dang encouragement!  And he blames the Israelites, which is cool because who doesn't love a good scapegoat? 

" But you all came to me and said, "First…" 

hold up. Stop right there. 

"Just as the Lord our God commanded us" and then you say "First let's ______" fill in our own agenda. 

In this case the people said "let's send out scouts to explore the land for us because what if God has a really crappy plan for us and we need to take matters into our own hands?!" 

Ok it doesn't say that, but I'm taking an awkward side glance and noticing that seems to be the #faketruth so many of us are living. 

God speaks to them. Tells them exactly what to do. Tells them GO! Take it. It's yours. And they say, "how about, instead of believing God and obeying him with crazy faith, we send out our people. Our plan. To juuuust take a quick double check just in case. It just makes sense, am I right??" (In this situation, their actions seemed to convey this message rather than their words). 

And Moses, with all the wisdom of a speck of sawdust says, "that seems like a good idea". 

So. Out they went. 12 scouts to check on God's gift and promise. To double check that we can trust if God is really a stand up guy. 

And thank goodness they did. Because do you know what they found? 

"The land the Lord our God has given us is indeed a good land." 

So. What's your fill in the blank agenda? 

Have you said "I hear you God. But first let's…"

Pray about it more?

Ask all my friends?

Seek a pastor? 

Write a pro and con list?

Is there a promise God is handing you that leaves you sending in the scouts to double check God's goodness? 

A call to be a writer?

A mom?

Financial freedom?

A job you love?

Acceptance to that one university?

Adoption?

Take it back. Skip those forty years and jump right to the end so you go from "Take this land which I promise you" to "the land the Lord our God has given us is indeed a good land."

~ Nonsense

 You're my favorite when you share. Its WJWD.