Are You With The Ten or Two?

 Everyone has an opinion about something. Sometimes, many people share the same opinion. Other times, it may be a few or the one who has the opinion. Either way, an opinion is how one feels about a particular topic or task. Isn't it interesting how we can eat at the same restaurant, watch the same game, hear the same music and be at the same service, yet still walk away with a different opinion?! Today, I want to focus on a story in the Bible where some people saw the exact same land, but had different opinions about what they saw. God had promised His people, the Israelites, the land of Canaan. In Numbers 13, God gave instructions to their leader Moses about checking out the land. Moses was to send one leader from each tribe. Since there were 12 tribes, there would be 12 leaders to go (v.2). When the 12 men went, they were to check out everything- what the land looked like, the cites, how many people lived there and how the people were. They even had to bring back some from fruit from the land (v.18-20). Among all the instructions they were given, I notice tucked in verse 20 is the phrase, "Be courageous." Moses knew it could be scary to go somewhere new, so he encouraged them to be brave. I love that! I have read that Scripture several times and have never really noticed that phrase until now. That part could get overlooked if you read it fast, but it is an important reminder. So the men went to explore the land. Now this was not a quick trip to be done in a few days. It tells us in verse 25, they returned from scouting out the land at the end of 40 days. That was a little over a month! That shows they had to examine the land carefully and no quick scan could be done there. After the 40 days were over, they came back and reported on what they had seen. One group (the 10) said the land was nice, but the people that lived there were big and strong (v.27, 32).  They gave a negative report (v.32). They even took it a step further and said they saw themselves as grasshoppers. A grasshopper is a small animal. In other words, they saw themselves as small and less than those who already lived there. They already talked themselves out of going before they even started!! Does that sound familiar?! They assumed the people saw them as grasshoppers also (v.33). However, not everyone agreed with that opinion. A different opinion rose up from two men by the name of Joshua and Caleb. They were trying to encourage the others that the land was good and that they didn't have to be afraid of the people that lived there. They said that God would be with them and protect the Israelites (Numbers 14:7-9). Joshua and Caleb gave a positive report. Remember, all 12 men saw the same land, same people, same cities, same fruit, but had 2 different opinions. Would you be with the ten that had the negative report or would you be with the two that had the positive report? I would love to say that my response is always like the 2, but I can't always say that. I'm working on it! There are times (lots actually!) that a situation or challenge looked bigger than me and I got afraid that I wouldn't conquer it. In those moments, I forget and needed to remind myself that God was bigger and He was with me, like Joshua and Caleb reminded the people. I definitely am striving to be more like the 2 and not let what I see with my physical eyes keep me from possessing what God has for me. We can't let what we see intimidate where we could be. Let's make sure we have "Joshua" and "Caleb" in our circles. I am thankful for those I can call Joshua and Caleb in my circle- I appreciate you all so much!! We all need people who will encourage us when we get discouraged, have uncertainty and want to give up.  Not only that, but let's strive to be like Joshua and Caleb with the attitude that we can conquer and overcome anything. So are you with the ten or two? Remember the choice is yours!