God told Moses to send spies to the land of Canaan. In obedience, Moses sent the following 12 spies: Shammua, Shaphat, Caleb, Igal, Hoshea, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi and Geuel. (Numbers 13:1-15)
When they returned after their mission, they gave the following different reports:
The Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Hoshea, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi and Geuel Report
The land flows with milk and honey and we brought fruit from it. However the people who live there are strong, their cities are fortified and very large and we even saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amakelites live to the south, the Hittites, the Jebusites and the Amorites in the mountains, the Canaanites by the sea and the banks of the River Jordan. (Numbers 13:27-29) We are not able to fight those people because they are stronger than us. (Numbers 13:31)
That land devours its inhabitants and the people we saw there are very big. We even saw giants and we were like grasshoppers in our own eyes and in their eyes. (Numbers 13:32-33)
The Caleb Report
Let us go at once and possess it for we are well able to conquer it. (Numbers 13:30)The land we spied is an exceedingly good land. If God delights in us, He will bring us into the land and give it to us, this land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord or fear the people because they are our bread and their protection has departed from them and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. (Numbers 14:7-9)
Who Should You Listen To?
Are you in a situation where you have to make an important decision and you are receiving two different reports?Are the reports from people who are equally qualified the way all the 12 spies were all leaders on their tribes in Israel? (Numbers 13:2)
Have the reports been prepared by people who have done adequate research the way all the 12 spies spent time in the land of Canaan?
If you are wondering whose report you should believe, chose the report that is agreement with what God has told you.
Therefore first pray and know God's will for you and then chose the report that is in agreement with His Word and ignore the report that contradicts what He has told you.
Listening to the right people, the right advisers and the right preachers is very important because the words you hear sink into your heart.
Once they enter your heart they make you feel, think and act in certain ways.
Listening to the right people and allowing the right words to sink into our hearts, will therefore make you think and act in a way that helps you fulfill the purposes of God for your life.
Listening to the wrong people and allowing their words to sink into your hearts, will make you think and act in a manner that will keep you from fulfilling your life's purpose.
We can see this from the Israelites who chose to listen to the wrong people - the 10 spies - because their bad report make them:
a. feel bad and they cried loudly that night. (Numbers 14:1)
b. talk badly for they complained about Moses and Aaron and spoke negatively about God saying, 'Why has God brought us here to die by the sword?' and said 'Let us chose a leader and return to Egypt.' (Numbers 14:2-4)
Their bad reaction made God say, "They shall certainly not see the land which I swore to their forefathers that I would give them." (Numbers 14:23)
If these Israelites had chosen to believe what God had told their forefathers and also told them when He was freeing them from slavery in Egypt they would have chosen to listen to Caleb's report since it was in alignment with what God had already told them.
Choosing Caleb's report would have enabled them to be established in their land of Canaan since they would have received the same reward God gave him for He said, I will bring Caleb into the land where he went and his descendants shall inherit it. (Numbers 14:23)
Therefore always listen to people and preachers whose words are in alignment with what God has already told you about your situation.
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