“The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land. They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey, and here is some of its fruit. However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified.

...So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: ‘The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. ...To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.’” (Numbers 13:26-28, 32-33)

To me, this is one of the most heartbreaking moments in the Bible. It is evidence of the most tragic of truths: it is possible to taste the fruit of the Promised Land, and still turn back. It sounds impossible, but this is the power of fear and unbelief that can rob us of the greatest of gifts God offers us.

I don't know what your promised land is right now, what good God is leading you towards. But I know this: God has something in mind for you, some specific plan designed for you  Maybe you are on the edge of that promised land, for the first or final time. Maybe you are in the desert. Maybe you turned back. Or maybe it was the other ten who did. Wherever you are in your journey, listen to the lessons calling to you through this story.

1. Let go of dead weight

“How long?” It is the question that usually rises to the top as we wander in the desert. But to answer that, we first have to ask: what is the purpose of the desert? The purpose is death. You will wander in the desert until the unbelief that kept you from entering the Promised Land is dead. Don’t worry; this doesn’t mean you need to be perfect. The Israelites were far from even being good when they finally did cross the Jordan and conquered Jericho. But they placed their weak trust in his strong hands and followed him into the land flowing with milk and honey. 

Everyone twenty years old and over who had turned back at the first crossing had died in the 40 years of wandering in the desert. As a nation, that part that had rejected God’s plan for them had to die so that faith could be given a second chance. The same is true for us. Thank God, though, that we have Jesus who has taken all our deaths upon himself. In him, we can die and yet live. We can bury all that separates us from him in death. We can let go of the part of us that said no to his plan and let it die in the desert. Then we can rise again and move forward with Jesus towards the Promised Land again.

There is one more thing to consider about the desert. As we saw in this story, it is possible for you to be faithful to God’s plan (like Joshua and Caleb) and yet have others reject it. The somewhat terrifying reality of the free will God has given each of us is this: God’s promises and plans for you can sometimes be interrupted by the choices of other people. But remember this: the Promised Land is still there, and God will bring you to it again. Hang on to him, even through the disappointment and heartbreak along the way.  

If it is others in your life who turned away from God’s plan, one of two things will happen. They will either let their fear and unbelief die in the desert and choose trust, or they will choose the desert. And if they choose the desert, it is ok for you to let go, to shake the dust from your feet, and move on. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should treat anyone unkindly or judge them or conclude anything about where they are in their own journey. Nor should you come to this decision lightly or without much prayer and consideration. But it is ok - even good and necessary sometimes - for you, as a follower of God’s plan for you, to let the dead bury their own dead. You don’t have to yoke yourself to those who choose fear. You don’t have to choose those who choose the desert.

2. Find your Caleb

Which brings me to the next point. While there are people who will choose fear and unbelief in God’s promises, there are also those who will choose faith. Of the twelve spies, only Joshua and Caleb believed in God’s promises. Only these two survived the desert and took possession of the Promised Land 40 years later. I imagine during all those years of wandering, Caleb became very important to Joshua, especially as he began to be prepared for his leadership role. I imagine these two encouraged each other often, reminding each other that though God’s promises were delayed, they would not fail, and would certainly be fulfilled one day.

In a world of fear and unbelief, you need a Caleb. You need someone in your life who will be there, who will remind you that what God has promised is true, that the land he is leading you towards is good beyond imagination, and that God’s plans for you will come to fruition. Because there will be difficult times in the desert. There will be times of doubt. And a friend like Caleb who will stand by your side no matter what and help you keep your focus on Jesus is worth more than all the riches in the world.

3. Choose trust, not fear

This is the final and most important truth of this story. Because this is really what it all came down to for the twelve spies in the Promised Land. They looked at all the good and all the obstacles, and they were all faced with fear. The story doesn’t say that two saw only the good and ten saw only the bad. All twelve saw both the blessings and the obstacles. All faced fear, but ten chose that fear based on what they could see, while Joshua and Caleb chose to trust in what God could see and do.

Wherever you are in your journey, I am pleading with you: don’t turn back. I can guarantee you two things. First, there will be obstacles, because there always are along the path to good. But in God’s eyes, there are no obstacles he can’t overcome. There are giants, but do not fear the giants. God has a reputation for slaying giants. And the second thing I can guarantee: the plans God has for you are good. So good. Don’t be afraid. Have courage and take heart. God will not fail you.

Don't turn back. You are so close. And more importantly, God is close to you and he will not give up on you. Hold on to the good God has for you now and the great good he has in store for you in eternity. God is faithful. He will fulfill everything he has promised. Not one word will fail. God is faithful. Trust him.

“Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite community: “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!’” (Numbers 14:6-9)