Numbers 13:33 – And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Thoreau said, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” The ten spies came back discouraged because of what they saw. Physically they saw everything Joshua and Caleb saw, but spiritually they thought the opposition was too strong and the obstacles were too great. The problem was that their outlook was too narrow. They could see the giants, but couldn’t see God. They would perish because they had no vision. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”
This lack of vision was manifested by what they said (vss. 31-33). They spewed out words of defeat (“We be not able to go up against the people”) and discouragement (“The land…is a land that eateth up the inhabitants”). Distraction comes by looking around. Defeat often comes by looking back. Discouragement comes by looking down, but deliverance comes by looking up! They should have been looking to the Lord!
Back during WWI there was soldier that deserted. He left the battlefield on a dark night and was trying to find his way to the coast so he could try to board a ship for England. In that black night he stumbled into a road sign. He climbed the sign so he might be able to see what it said. When he got to the crossbeam he lit a match and found himself staring directly into the face of Jesus Christ. He had climbed an outdoor crucifix! He was looking into the face of One who never quit even though all hell was unleashed on Him! The next day the soldier went back to the trenches to fight another day.
Keep your eyes on “the author and finisher of our faith.” The giants may be big, don’t look at them. God is bigger!
