"Don't be a but"

They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”  Numbers 13:27-28 & 30

Coaches are all guilty of stealing each others information and using it as their own. It is okay because the guy you are stealing it from, also stole it from someone else. While attending an athletic directors conference a while ago, I had the privilege of hearing a nationally known speaker. I enjoyed hearing this speaker and he used an old coaches story to make a point. A coach will say to his team, “Are you an And or a But”. The point is, can I, as your coach describe you as a young man who is a great player and a great leader? Are you a player I would describe as a hard worker and a great student? Or, would I describe him by saying, “He is a great athlete, but he has a terrible attitude”. Maybe he would be described by saying, “He is a great player, but he does not do his school work”.

In the story from Numbers 13, God speaks to Moses and tells him to, “Send some men to the land of Canaan, which I am giving the Israelites”. Moses chooses the twelve leaders and sends them to investigate the land with specific instructions. As the men explore the land, they find it “flowing with milk and honey” and return some of the fruit of the land to Moses. As they give their report to Moses, they describe the beauty of the land and finish their report with, “But the people who live there are powerful and the cities are strong and fortified”. When the people heard the news of the challenges they forgot all that God had done for them and all He had promised. Caleb silenced the crowd and assured the people they could claim what God had promised to them. But the people doubted and feared all the more and began searching for a leader to return them to Egypt to live again as slaves.

The Israelites had been lead all these years by God and He delivered them to the land He had promised. But, when they faced the last challenge, they doubted and lost the land they had been promised. Only Caleb and Joshua reaped the benefits of God’s reward for their faithfulness. I forget sometimes what He has done for me in the past when I am faced with a challenge in my future. I know He has lead me each day and will never leave me. But, when the fears arise I forget He has proven himself to me over and over. I want to remember that He is a loving and faithful God.

Chad