Where can you find hope for the hopeless? 00:00:03.20\00:00:07.87 Opportunity for transformation? 00:00:07.90\00:00:11.57 Peace amid life's storms? 00:00:11.61\00:00:15.48 Only in God's free gift of eternal life. 00:00:15.51\00:00:20.52 From New York, join us on the Pathway of Hope. 00:00:20.55\00:00:24.72 Spies are not so common among us today, 00:00:30.19\00:00:33.60 as they were in Bible times. 00:00:33.63\00:00:36.43 The Book of Numbers chronicles the account of Moses 00:00:36.46\00:00:40.34 sending out spies to view the land of Canaan. 00:00:40.37\00:00:44.31 The report that spies brought back is symbolic 00:00:44.34\00:00:47.44 of two classes of people, 00:00:47.48\00:00:49.74 the optimists and the pessimists. 00:00:49.78\00:00:52.65 The optimists sees things so near, 00:00:52.68\00:00:55.38 the pessimists sees things so far. 00:00:55.42\00:00:58.92 The optimists say, "Yes we can." 00:00:58.95\00:01:01.86 The pessimists say, "No we can't." 00:01:01.89\00:01:04.99 The optimists shows faith, 00:01:05.03\00:01:07.56 the pessimists shows doubt. 00:01:07.60\00:01:11.83 Dear friends, the choice is yours, 00:01:11.87\00:01:14.84 to be an optimist or a pessimist. 00:01:14.87\00:01:18.44 To think you can take the land 00:01:18.47\00:01:22.01 or to see giants in the land, 00:01:22.04\00:01:25.08 to move in faith or to stagnate in defeat, 00:01:25.11\00:01:30.35 to inject fear or to instill hope. 00:01:30.39\00:01:34.52 Dr. Abraham Jules will explore with you this Canaan episode 00:01:34.56\00:01:40.40 with his passionate plea, so near yet so far. 00:01:40.43\00:01:45.33 Lead me 00:02:06.76\00:02:12.26 Lead me 00:02:15.36\00:02:20.90 Savior, lead me 00:02:23.94\00:02:30.45 Lest I stray 00:02:30.48\00:02:36.58 Gently 00:02:41.42\00:02:45.76 Down the streams of time 00:02:45.79\00:02:52.67 Savior, lead me 00:02:57.17\00:03:02.24 Lest I stray 00:03:07.28\00:03:09.22 Lead me 00:03:19.86\00:03:21.60 Lead me 00:03:24.77\00:03:30.41 Savior, 00:03:33.54\00:03:38.01 Lead me lest I stray 00:03:38.05\00:03:43.85 Gently 00:03:51.03\00:03:55.43 Down the streams of time 00:03:55.46\00:04:02.04 Savior, lead me all 00:04:06.91\00:04:14.28 All the way 00:04:14.32\00:04:19.59 All the way 00:04:19.62\00:04:20.96 All the way 00:04:20.99\00:04:24.29 Savior, lead 00:04:24.33\00:04:26.46 Precious Lord, take my hand 00:04:26.49\00:04:29.40 Lead me on 00:04:29.43\00:04:30.90 Lead me on and help me 00:04:30.93\00:04:33.10 Savior 00:04:33.13\00:04:34.64 Lead me on 00:04:34.67\00:04:41.64 Savior, lead 00:04:41.68\00:04:43.98 Precious Lord, take my hand 00:04:44.01\00:04:46.95 Me on 00:04:46.98\00:04:48.38 Take my feet 00:04:48.42\00:04:50.42 Savior, lead 00:04:50.45\00:04:52.62 Precious Lord, take my hand 00:04:52.65\00:04:55.66 Me on 00:04:55.69\00:04:57.03 Take my feet 00:04:57.06\00:04:58.39 You're my crown 00:05:02.86\00:05:05.73 Thy my feet 00:05:05.77\00:05:07.24 Lest I fall 00:05:07.27\00:05:10.11 Lead me, 00:05:10.14\00:05:12.07 Savior, lead me 00:05:12.11\00:05:15.78 Savior, lead 00:05:15.81\00:05:21.68 Me on 00:05:21.72\00:05:24.39 Savior lead 00:05:24.42\00:05:27.39 Me on 00:05:30.43\00:05:31.96 You're my crown 00:05:37.77\00:05:40.54 Thy my feet 00:05:40.57\00:05:42.04 Lest I fall 00:05:42.07\00:05:44.84 Lead me, 00:05:44.87\00:05:46.91 Savior, lead me 00:05:46.94\00:05:50.65 Savior, 00:05:50.68\00:05:52.81 Lead me on 00:05:52.85\00:05:59.32 Savior, 00:05:59.35\00:06:01.62 Lead me on 00:06:01.66\00:06:08.60 Savior, 00:06:08.63\00:06:10.67 Lead me on 00:06:10.70\00:06:17.24 All the way 00:06:20.81\00:06:27.78 Let us pray. 00:06:55.61\00:06:58.81 Our Father, we are fully aware tonight 00:06:58.85\00:07:02.38 that Your desire for each of us 00:07:02.42\00:07:06.29 is that we be tenacious and faithful to the end. 00:07:06.32\00:07:11.89 We pray that that is this word is brought forth, 00:07:11.93\00:07:14.30 our hearts may be made glad. 00:07:14.33\00:07:18.83 And lessons may be gleaned out of this book 00:07:18.87\00:07:21.77 that will bless us in our daily living. 00:07:21.80\00:07:25.74 Remind us through this Word 00:07:25.77\00:07:27.11 that You're always with us and for us 00:07:27.14\00:07:32.68 that we do not journey alone. 00:07:32.71\00:07:35.88 That if God be for us, who can be against us. 00:07:35.92\00:07:39.95 Strengthen our faith 00:07:39.99\00:07:41.32 and increase our confidence in you 00:07:41.36\00:07:43.06 this day we pray, in Jesus' name, amen. 00:07:43.09\00:07:48.96 There's a word for us 00:07:49.00\00:07:50.33 that comes out of the Book of Numbers 00:07:50.37\00:07:53.74 in the Old Testament. 00:07:53.77\00:07:56.67 Numbers the 13th Chapter. 00:07:56.71\00:08:00.78 I'm going to read for you verses 31 00:08:00.81\00:08:07.42 to 33. 00:08:07.45\00:08:10.09 It reads, "But the men that went up with him said, 00:08:10.12\00:08:14.46 'We be not able to go up against the people, 00:08:14.49\00:08:19.09 for they are stronger than we.' 00:08:19.13\00:08:23.53 And they brought up an evil report of the land 00:08:23.57\00:08:26.47 which they had searched 00:08:26.50\00:08:28.54 unto the children of Israel saying, 00:08:28.57\00:08:31.94 'The land though which we have gone to search it, 00:08:31.97\00:08:36.54 is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof, 00:08:36.58\00:08:41.18 and all the people that we saw in it 00:08:41.22\00:08:43.65 are men of a great stature. 00:08:43.69\00:08:48.39 There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, 00:08:48.42\00:08:52.93 which come of the giants, 00:08:52.96\00:08:55.76 and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, 00:08:55.80\00:09:00.84 and so we were in their sight.'" 00:09:00.87\00:09:05.04 Today I want to talk to you about being so near, 00:09:05.07\00:09:09.58 yet so far away. 00:09:09.61\00:09:13.42 In Numbers 13:2, as a matter of fact, 00:09:13.45\00:09:16.25 all that I should say to you 00:09:16.28\00:09:19.12 comes out of these two chapters, 00:09:19.15\00:09:21.02 Chapter 13 and 14 of the Book of Numbers. 00:09:21.06\00:09:26.06 Numbers 13:2, Moses follows the divine command 00:09:26.09\00:09:31.70 to send the spies to search out the land of Canaan. 00:09:31.73\00:09:37.71 And these spies were leaders, verse 2 calls them rulers. 00:09:37.74\00:09:43.65 Verse 3 of Chapter 13 calls them heads of the people. 00:09:43.68\00:09:48.85 They were princes. 00:09:48.88\00:09:50.75 In fact, in verses 4 through 15 00:09:50.79\00:09:54.32 takes the pain to name each of the 12 men 00:09:54.36\00:09:58.19 chosen by the children of Israel 00:09:58.23\00:10:00.46 to spy out this land for them. 00:10:00.50\00:10:04.47 They were leaders 00:10:04.50\00:10:05.83 and this implies characteristics 00:10:05.87\00:10:08.40 such as being responsible, 00:10:08.44\00:10:11.27 reliable, dependable, and credible. 00:10:11.31\00:10:15.38 What they said was important. 00:10:15.41\00:10:18.75 What they reported would affect the future of all the people. 00:10:18.78\00:10:24.45 Remember that Israel is now camped 00:10:24.49\00:10:26.79 on the southern boundaries of the Promised Land. 00:10:26.82\00:10:31.39 They had experienced and witnessed the presence 00:10:31.43\00:10:33.73 and power of God in numerous and remarkable ways. 00:10:33.76\00:10:39.73 Liberation from chattel slavery in Egypt, 00:10:39.77\00:10:44.21 provision for their every need, 00:10:44.24\00:10:46.81 saved by day and heat by night. 00:10:46.84\00:10:50.55 Now the Bible says they were just 50 miles 00:10:50.58\00:10:53.92 from the southern border of the land 00:10:53.95\00:10:56.85 that their very feet longed to enter. 00:10:56.89\00:11:00.16 They would like to escape the choking dust 00:11:00.19\00:11:02.32 that stamping feet had raised 00:11:02.36\00:11:04.93 and enjoy some welcome rest and repose. 00:11:04.96\00:11:09.26 So the people were excited to know 00:11:09.30\00:11:11.90 that they were so near the end of their arduous journey. 00:11:11.93\00:11:16.24 So near. 00:11:16.27\00:11:18.51 Moses' commission to the spies had a threefold purpose, 00:11:18.54\00:11:23.58 to recognitive of the land, 00:11:23.61\00:11:25.11 to check out its cities and size up its people. 00:11:25.15\00:11:29.78 And just before they departed on this important mission, 00:11:29.82\00:11:34.46 Moses we are told encouraged them in verse 20, 00:11:34.49\00:11:38.79 "Be of good courage." 00:11:38.83\00:11:41.53 The hopes and expectations of Israel 00:11:41.56\00:11:45.13 were cut in the hands of these men. 00:11:45.17\00:11:48.94 Their dreams and fondest feelings 00:11:48.97\00:11:51.54 were in their hands, 00:11:51.57\00:11:53.94 and soon the dusty desert trek will be over 00:11:53.98\00:11:56.85 and they could feel a sense of subtleness and security. 00:11:56.88\00:12:02.18 As the spies disappeared in the distance, 00:12:02.22\00:12:04.92 the whole congregation held their breath 00:12:04.95\00:12:07.56 with blessed excitement. 00:12:07.59\00:12:10.73 But days later, a rush of excitement 00:12:10.76\00:12:14.20 serves like a groundswell through the camp. 00:12:14.23\00:12:17.73 The spies had returned. 00:12:17.77\00:12:20.90 The word passed from tent to tent 00:12:20.94\00:12:23.54 and tribe to tribe 00:12:23.57\00:12:25.27 and with bated breath 00:12:25.31\00:12:26.94 they stampeded to the place of meeting. 00:12:26.98\00:12:30.48 Everybody wanted to hear the report. 00:12:30.51\00:12:34.12 What is the land like? 00:12:34.15\00:12:36.82 What are the cities like? 00:12:36.85\00:12:39.25 What are the people like? 00:12:39.29\00:12:41.62 Moses commands a silence and hushes heavy 00:12:41.66\00:12:45.19 as the humidity on a hot summer day 00:12:45.23\00:12:47.90 flushes over the milling masses. 00:12:47.93\00:12:50.80 The report begins in a laudatory way, surely, 00:12:50.83\00:12:55.37 certainly, undoubtedly. 00:12:55.40\00:12:58.31 The land flows with milk and honey, verse 27. 00:12:58.34\00:13:03.85 Now this is an idiom, 00:13:03.88\00:13:06.01 a way of speaking about the richness 00:13:06.05\00:13:08.52 and wealth of the land. 00:13:08.55\00:13:10.39 In short, it is a fertile land, 00:13:10.42\00:13:13.12 and to prove the point they produced the fruit, 00:13:13.15\00:13:16.36 tongue titillating figs, 00:13:16.39\00:13:18.69 tantalizing mouthwatering pomegranates, 00:13:18.73\00:13:22.56 and wow, a single bunch of grapes 00:13:22.60\00:13:25.73 suspended on a beam borne by two men. 00:13:25.77\00:13:28.87 A resounding share booms through the desert air 00:13:28.90\00:13:32.21 indeed from lip to lip, 00:13:32.24\00:13:35.04 the words gust with excitement. 00:13:35.08\00:13:37.71 It is a good land, 00:13:37.75\00:13:39.65 a land that flows with milk and honey. 00:13:39.68\00:13:43.85 Now, if sacred history ended there 00:13:43.89\00:13:46.39 on those words of meritorious exclamation, 00:13:46.42\00:13:50.19 it would be all good. 00:13:50.23\00:13:52.13 Verse 23 however begins with a word of contrast. 00:13:52.16\00:13:57.73 It says "Nevertheless, in short, 00:13:57.77\00:14:01.80 but be careful little lips what you're saying." 00:14:01.84\00:14:06.84 At first there was excitement in the air, 00:14:06.88\00:14:08.94 but now the scene changes, why? 00:14:08.98\00:14:11.71 Because the word's change. 00:14:11.75\00:14:13.88 The laudatory is replaced by a litany of words 00:14:13.92\00:14:16.79 that condemn faith and success. 00:14:16.82\00:14:19.99 Worse with these words, despair shatters hope, 00:14:20.02\00:14:24.36 and all because of a few words. 00:14:24.39\00:14:28.06 Moreover they point to a mindset or attitude, 00:14:28.10\00:14:31.23 characterized by three distinct and disastrous factors. 00:14:31.27\00:14:35.74 The first is doubt, verses 28 and 29, 00:14:35.77\00:14:40.44 the report about walled cities 00:14:40.48\00:14:43.35 and the location of the various nations 00:14:43.38\00:14:45.71 who occupy the land. 00:14:45.75\00:14:47.52 You see, in ancient times 00:14:47.55\00:14:48.88 all major cities or commercial centers 00:14:48.92\00:14:51.82 were totally surrounded by imposing walls. 00:14:51.85\00:14:55.96 This was a protection and defense. 00:14:55.99\00:14:59.16 Some cities control the movement of goods 00:14:59.19\00:15:01.36 and people along the major routes 00:15:01.40\00:15:03.80 like the King's Highway, 00:15:03.83\00:15:05.43 which followed the Jordan River. 00:15:05.47\00:15:07.44 Such cities like Jericho had walls like bulwark 00:15:07.47\00:15:10.84 stretching up to 40-60 feet high, 00:15:10.87\00:15:15.18 and wide enough for chariots to ride side by side. 00:15:15.21\00:15:20.52 Entry and exit were limited to certain gates. 00:15:20.55\00:15:25.85 They were constantly guarded the houses within these walls 00:15:25.89\00:15:29.82 were constructed of huge black stones 00:15:29.86\00:15:32.86 of such stupendous size as to make the building 00:15:32.89\00:15:35.90 appear absolutely impregnable to any force. 00:15:35.93\00:15:39.90 The people that these undercover agents saw 00:15:39.93\00:15:43.47 were of various tribal alliances 00:15:43.51\00:15:45.57 and formed a long history 00:15:45.61\00:15:48.11 in that part of the then known world. 00:15:48.14\00:15:50.38 The Amalekites were nomadic tribes 00:15:50.41\00:15:53.35 who live mostly in the area south and east of the Dead Sea. 00:15:53.38\00:15:57.32 The Hittites were a powerful people 00:15:57.35\00:16:00.26 who were descendants from Seth, grandson of Ham. 00:16:00.29\00:16:05.19 They established an empire in Asia Minor 00:16:05.23\00:16:07.93 and were a dominant force in Canaan 00:16:07.96\00:16:10.80 from the time of Abraham until the 12th century BC. 00:16:10.83\00:16:14.80 The Jebusites ruled Jerusalem. 00:16:14.84\00:16:18.17 The Amorites lived in the hill country of Canaan. 00:16:18.21\00:16:22.38 The Canaanites were descendants of Noah's son, Ham 00:16:22.41\00:16:26.45 and lived in cities and villages 00:16:26.48\00:16:28.02 near the Jordan River, 00:16:28.05\00:16:29.52 and the Mediterranean Sea, northwest of Jerusalem. 00:16:29.55\00:16:33.19 Apparently, these groups were collectively called 00:16:33.22\00:16:36.66 the Anakim or descendents of Anak. 00:16:36.69\00:16:39.86 They were repeatedly and repeatedly 00:16:39.89\00:16:42.30 rather have great 00:16:42.33\00:16:43.67 and jaw dropping physical stature, 00:16:43.70\00:16:46.47 tall and stalwart, 00:16:46.50\00:16:47.97 strong and strapping and fierce, 00:16:48.00\00:16:50.64 brutal warriors. 00:16:50.67\00:16:52.01 In fact, verse 33 calls them giants. 00:16:52.04\00:16:56.75 Hebrew designation is Nephilim 00:16:56.78\00:16:59.31 which points back to Genesis 6:4, 00:16:59.35\00:17:01.78 a text which talks of the formed ones. 00:17:01.82\00:17:04.85 The reports of the spies compared the people of the land 00:17:04.89\00:17:08.22 to these legendary giants. 00:17:08.26\00:17:11.49 Hence, when the spies looked at the great walled cities 00:17:11.53\00:17:14.80 and the people of the land, 00:17:14.83\00:17:16.87 they doubted their ability to conquer the land. 00:17:16.90\00:17:21.37 This doubt is clearly brought to the fourth ground 00:17:21.40\00:17:25.01 by Caleb's intervention. 00:17:25.04\00:17:27.31 He said, "Let us go up immediately 00:17:27.34\00:17:30.51 and take the land, we are able to overcome it." 00:17:30.55\00:17:35.62 But he was shouted down 00:17:35.65\00:17:38.02 and the voice of faith was smothered 00:17:38.05\00:17:40.86 by the cries of doubt. 00:17:40.89\00:17:43.43 The problem was this. 00:17:43.46\00:17:45.69 The people focus only on the problem, 00:17:45.73\00:17:48.63 they never look to the solution. 00:17:48.66\00:17:50.97 They had ample evidence of God's power 00:17:51.00\00:17:53.13 and of God's ability as a problem solver. 00:17:53.17\00:17:56.60 All they had to do was to open the file cabinets 00:17:56.64\00:17:59.67 of their own history 00:17:59.71\00:18:01.04 and experience with God and peruse 00:18:01.08\00:18:03.04 the documents that gave lithic testimony 00:18:03.08\00:18:05.91 of their seven acts. 00:18:05.95\00:18:08.12 Let us remember that history. 00:18:08.15\00:18:10.39 When God saved them from Egyptian bondage, 00:18:10.42\00:18:13.92 He solved the problem of physical slavery. 00:18:13.96\00:18:17.83 When God saved them at the Red Sea, 00:18:17.86\00:18:20.46 He solved the problems of danger and death. 00:18:20.50\00:18:24.03 When God opened the Red Sea, 00:18:24.07\00:18:26.33 He solved the problem of blockage. 00:18:26.37\00:18:28.94 When God provided water, 00:18:28.97\00:18:30.74 He solved the problem of thirst. 00:18:30.77\00:18:33.01 When God provided manna, 00:18:33.04\00:18:34.84 He solved the problem of hunger. 00:18:34.88\00:18:37.05 When God manifested Himself as cloud by day, 00:18:37.08\00:18:40.48 He solved the problem, 00:18:40.52\00:18:42.22 solved the problem of raging desert heat. 00:18:42.25\00:18:45.35 When God manifested Himself as fire by night, 00:18:45.39\00:18:50.63 He solved the problem of freezing night temperatures, 00:18:50.66\00:18:54.23 but they did not choose to remember, 00:18:54.26\00:18:57.43 they forgot how God had led them in the recent past. 00:18:57.47\00:19:02.10 You see when doubt creeps into the heart, 00:19:02.14\00:19:05.77 people are willing to defend it even with bold faced deceit. 00:19:05.81\00:19:10.68 Ellen White comments with precise erudition, 00:19:10.71\00:19:13.82 she says, "When men yield their hearts to unbelief, 00:19:13.85\00:19:18.79 they placed themselves under the control of Satan. 00:19:18.82\00:19:21.99 And none can tell 00:19:22.02\00:19:23.56 to what lengths he will lead them." 00:19:23.59\00:19:26.83 Sobering thought, isn't it? 00:19:26.86\00:19:28.86 When you sing the stanzas of doubt and deceit, 00:19:28.90\00:19:32.03 they lead to a third factor, defeat. 00:19:32.07\00:19:36.54 Verses 33 and 31. 00:19:36.57\00:19:38.94 These verses in that order. 00:19:38.97\00:19:40.98 Verse 33 tells us points out three levels in their attitude 00:19:41.01\00:19:45.68 or mindset of defeatism. 00:19:45.71\00:19:48.55 Their ready acceptance or expectation of defeat. 00:19:48.58\00:19:52.85 First, they were self defeat. 00:19:52.89\00:19:55.39 When they compare themselves to the people of the land, 00:19:55.42\00:19:57.66 they concluded that they were only grasshoppers. 00:19:57.69\00:20:01.23 Moreover, they went further by claiming 00:20:01.26\00:20:03.26 that the people even regarded them as grasshoppers. 00:20:03.30\00:20:06.40 How did they know this? 00:20:06.43\00:20:07.90 There is no evidence to suggest 00:20:07.94\00:20:09.70 that the Canaanites called them grasshoppers. 00:20:09.74\00:20:12.51 The problem is that they were maligned 00:20:12.54\00:20:15.08 with a deadly and malicious disease, 00:20:15.11\00:20:18.01 the grasshopper mentality. 00:20:18.05\00:20:19.88 Two things characterize the grasshopper, first, 00:20:19.91\00:20:23.28 it is terrestrial or earthbound. 00:20:23.32\00:20:25.75 Second, it is a leaping insect, but it is still earthbound. 00:20:25.79\00:20:30.59 In other words, a grasshopper's short existence 00:20:30.63\00:20:33.96 is limited to hopping around unclogged on the ground. 00:20:34.00\00:20:38.63 In other words, 00:20:38.67\00:20:40.00 it is always earth bound and terrestrial. 00:20:40.04\00:20:42.54 It never soars, it never takes flight. 00:20:42.57\00:20:45.71 Be careful the way you see yourself. 00:20:45.74\00:20:50.41 Grasshopper mentality is always earthbound, 00:20:50.45\00:20:53.98 always limited, always pessimistic, 00:20:54.02\00:20:56.72 and always doom. 00:20:56.75\00:20:58.65 Grasshoppers can only hop. 00:20:58.69\00:21:00.69 Hop, hop. 00:21:00.72\00:21:02.22 The very name tells us 00:21:02.26\00:21:03.59 about the main characteristic of the creature. 00:21:03.63\00:21:06.39 It's a hopper. 00:21:06.43\00:21:07.83 When courage is defamed 00:21:07.86\00:21:09.96 in the face of doubt and deceit, 00:21:10.00\00:21:13.70 this yields the grasshopper mentality. 00:21:13.74\00:21:18.17 And this is a denigrating, derogatory, 00:21:18.21\00:21:21.38 disparaging deformation of the divine blessing. 00:21:21.41\00:21:24.91 When God says, "Let us make man in our own image," 00:21:24.95\00:21:28.45 He did not make us grasshoppers. 00:21:28.48\00:21:32.79 In short, the grasshopper mentality 00:21:32.82\00:21:35.72 defaces the image of God in us. 00:21:35.76\00:21:41.56 Then there's also corporate defeat. 00:21:41.60\00:21:44.73 The second level of this defeat is mentality 00:21:44.77\00:21:48.07 is that it envelops the whole congregation. 00:21:48.10\00:21:51.27 Verse 30 records Caleb's interjection of faith. 00:21:51.31\00:21:54.71 "Let us go up at once and possess the land." 00:21:54.74\00:21:58.81 But the men retorted, 00:21:58.85\00:22:00.18 "We are not able to go against these people 00:22:00.22\00:22:03.12 because they are stronger than we are," verse 31. 00:22:03.15\00:22:06.59 The defeat that these 10 men espoused, 00:22:06.62\00:22:10.43 they're now projected into the whole congregation. 00:22:10.46\00:22:14.23 We are not able, you see. 00:22:14.26\00:22:17.80 Ladies and gentlemen, 00:22:17.83\00:22:19.17 when the vision of the doubter is dim, 00:22:19.20\00:22:21.40 he thinks that the whole group cannot see. 00:22:21.44\00:22:24.71 When the expectation of the deceiver is low, 00:22:24.74\00:22:27.71 he thinks that any suggestion of bigness is wrong. 00:22:27.74\00:22:31.58 They project their own weakness and insecurity onto the group. 00:22:31.61\00:22:37.52 Then there is a problem with acceptance. 00:22:37.55\00:22:40.96 The third level in this defeatist mindset 00:22:40.99\00:22:44.26 is that defeat is simply accepted. 00:22:44.29\00:22:47.63 The 10 men were forceful and very emphatic. 00:22:47.66\00:22:53.00 We are not able to go against these people. 00:22:53.03\00:22:56.84 The people are stronger than we are. 00:22:56.87\00:23:00.14 How did they know this? 00:23:00.18\00:23:01.71 They did not battle with these people. 00:23:01.74\00:23:03.98 They did not test them. 00:23:04.01\00:23:05.68 They simply looked at the Canaanites 00:23:05.71\00:23:07.75 and their grasshopper minds and close them 00:23:07.78\00:23:10.19 in the land of doubt, deceit and defeat. 00:23:10.22\00:23:13.39 They came to a conclusion without criterion. 00:23:13.42\00:23:16.93 They were convicted without a crime. 00:23:16.96\00:23:19.83 They were conquered without a confrontation. 00:23:19.86\00:23:22.83 Oh, what a pity. 00:23:22.86\00:23:24.27 Right on the brink of the Promised Land so near. 00:23:24.30\00:23:30.24 And at the risk of curse, 00:23:30.27\00:23:31.84 they wish that they had died in the wilderness, 00:23:31.87\00:23:34.64 they suffered a breach of promise 00:23:34.68\00:23:37.05 and turn back into the wilderness 00:23:37.08\00:23:39.21 to wander for 40 years, 00:23:39.25\00:23:41.02 while death decimated the numbers of the unfaithful 00:23:41.05\00:23:45.45 in their haste to turn around, 00:23:45.49\00:23:47.19 the judgment they decided to go and fight for the land. 00:23:47.22\00:23:50.89 But it was a presumptuous move and God was not with them. 00:23:50.93\00:23:54.46 But despite Moses' counsel, 00:23:54.50\00:23:57.13 they still went ahead with their rebellious turnings 00:23:57.17\00:24:01.57 and suffered abject defeat at the hands of the Amalekites. 00:24:01.60\00:24:05.71 Generations later, 00:24:05.74\00:24:07.91 even after they had conquered the land under Joshua, 00:24:07.94\00:24:11.18 this conquest of the Amalekites 00:24:11.21\00:24:14.65 emboldened the Canaanites against Israel. 00:24:14.68\00:24:18.15 Just imagine that they were on the brink 00:24:18.19\00:24:19.95 of the Promised Land. 00:24:19.99\00:24:21.56 After long weary years of chattel slavery, 00:24:21.59\00:24:25.53 they were ready to enter the Promised Land. 00:24:25.56\00:24:28.10 But 10 men, 00:24:28.13\00:24:29.93 just 10 men changed the course of history. 00:24:29.96\00:24:34.30 Ten men, just 10 men caused millions to lose their way. 00:24:34.34\00:24:39.64 Ten men, just 10 men caused the masses to perish. 00:24:39.67\00:24:45.11 Ten men, just 10 men with their words of doubt, 00:24:45.15\00:24:48.98 deceit and defeat destroyed our people 00:24:49.02\00:24:51.69 who were so near. 00:24:51.72\00:24:53.96 Ten men where their words made the goal 00:24:53.99\00:24:58.03 and were so near become so far. 00:24:58.06\00:25:01.56 When I was a little boy we used to sing a chorus 00:25:01.60\00:25:03.90 it said, "Be careful little eyes what you see, 00:25:03.93\00:25:07.54 be careful little ears what you hear, 00:25:07.57\00:25:10.54 be careful little hands what you do, 00:25:10.57\00:25:12.84 be careful little feet where you go, 00:25:12.87\00:25:15.11 be careful little lips what you say." 00:25:15.14\00:25:17.78 As a story of the spies teach us, 00:25:17.81\00:25:20.65 be careful little lips what you say. 00:25:20.68\00:25:22.35 You see, your words can hurt or heal. 00:25:22.38\00:25:25.95 Put down or lift up, bleed or bring a balm. 00:25:25.99\00:25:29.49 Be careful little lips what you say, 00:25:29.52\00:25:31.39 because if you're negative, 00:25:31.43\00:25:33.03 you can defeat the dreams of a person. 00:25:33.06\00:25:35.43 You can block the vision of the future, 00:25:35.46\00:25:37.77 you can trap the hopes of a whole people. 00:25:37.80\00:25:40.24 You can make the goal which is so near become so far. 00:25:40.27\00:25:43.87 Be careful little lips what you say, 00:25:43.91\00:25:46.11 for if you are positive, 00:25:46.14\00:25:47.48 you can make real the dreams of a dreamer. 00:25:47.51\00:25:50.05 You can lift up the downtrodden and defeated. 00:25:50.08\00:25:52.95 You can encourage the discouraged. 00:25:52.98\00:25:55.18 You can march into the Promised Land. 00:25:55.22\00:25:58.22 Be careful of what comes out of your mouth. 00:25:58.25\00:26:03.73 God has promised 00:26:03.76\00:26:05.09 that if we would make him our Lord and King, 00:26:05.13\00:26:08.10 He will fight every battle for us. 00:26:08.13\00:26:11.33 And if God is in it, 00:26:11.37\00:26:13.40 we can see victory at the end of it. 00:26:13.44\00:26:18.61 Loving Lord, we thank You for this Word. 00:26:18.64\00:26:21.58 We pray, oh, God 00:26:21.61\00:26:22.94 that our words will be seasoned with Your love. 00:26:22.98\00:26:27.68 We pray, oh, God that You'll make us positive, 00:26:27.72\00:26:29.95 increase our faith. 00:26:29.98\00:26:32.39 Help us to see You in all of our struggles, 00:26:32.42\00:26:35.92 and never become defeated. 00:26:35.96\00:26:38.09 We thank You for the victory 00:26:38.13\00:26:39.46 that is ours in Christ Jesus tonight. 00:26:39.49\00:26:42.66 We thank You for the promises of Your Holy Word. 00:26:42.70\00:26:45.43 Over 7,000 promises 00:26:45.47\00:26:47.37 You have given to us in Your Word, 00:26:47.40\00:26:48.77 we claim every last one tonight 00:26:48.80\00:26:51.54 because we know that if You're for us, 00:26:51.57\00:26:53.68 who in the world can be against us. 00:26:53.71\00:26:56.34 Thank you for hearing our prayer this night. 00:26:56.38\00:26:58.78 In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, 00:26:58.81\00:27:01.78 amen. 00:27:01.82\00:27:05.15 Thanks for watching Pathway of Hope. 00:27:05.19\00:27:08.19 If you would like to be prayed for 00:27:08.22\00:27:10.53 or would like to learn more about God's Word, 00:27:10.56\00:27:13.63 please call 1 (877) 520-Hope 00:27:13.66\00:27:20.14 or 1 (877) 520 (4673). 00:27:20.17\00:27:27.31 You may also watch more of our programs online 00:27:27.34\00:27:30.45 at www.pathwayofhope.tv. 00:27:30.48\00:27:37.32 If you would like to make a tax deductable love gift, 00:27:37.35\00:27:41.09 please send your gifts to Pathway of Hope 00:27:41.12\00:27:44.59 at P.O. 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