A."For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” (Heb. 3:16-19)
B.In this lesson, let us consider the example of Israel and the twelve spies to demonstrate the effect of fear and the truth of the words spoken by Joshua and Caleb, "The Lord is with us; do not fear” (Num. 14:9).
II.TWO SOURCES OF FEAR
A.When Moses sent spies to scout the land of Canaan, ten of the spies gave a bad report, while two gave a good report (Num. 13:25-14:9).
1.The ten spies said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us…The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (vv. 31-33)
2.However, Joshua and Caleb said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it…The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us – a land which flows with milk and honey.Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” (vv. 30, 7-9)
B.The two reports by the Israelite spies demonstrate two opposing sources of fear – God and man.
1.Christ gave the proper perspective on these two sources of fear in Matthew 10:28 – "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (See also Luke 12:4-5)
2.The fear of God overcomes the fear of man, which, at its worst, is the fear of physical death.
a.David feared God and was therefore able to say, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4).
b.Through the God whom we fear and His Son Christ, Christians are now set free from the fear of death and the devil.Notice Hebrews 2:14-15 – "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
3.Joshua’s own advice to Israel was later repeated to him by God (Josh. 1:1-9), and now that same advice is passed on to Christians.
a.God’s words to Joshua are quoted to us in Hebrews 13:5 – "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” (See Josh. 1:5)
b.As a result, we may share the words of the fearless psalmist, who said, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.What will man do to me?” (Heb. 13:6; see Ps. 118:6).Of course, men may kill us, but we are not afraid of death (Rev. 2:10).
III.THE OUTCOME FEARING OF MAN
A.Because the people of Israel believed the bad report of the ten spies and feared the inhabitants of Canaan, they were condemned by God to wander in the wilderness for forty years (Num. 14).
1.Israel’s response to the reports was to fear the Canaanites, and that led them to sin against God.
a.The sons of Israel failed to trust in God, and they feared that they would fall by the sword and that their wives and children would become plunder (v. 3).
b.Israel was guilty of many sins in this event: grumbling against Moses, Aaron, and God (vv. 2, 27), attempting to return to Egypt (v. 4), rebellion against the Lord (v. 9), attempting to stone Joshua and Caleb (v. 10), and disbelieving God (v. 11; Heb. 3:19).
2.God would have destroyed Israel, but Moses interceded for them (vv. 11-21).
3.However, Israel was to be severely punished by wandering in the wilderness for forty years until all those twenty years old and older who had grumbled against God died.The exodus generation of Israel would never receive the promised land (vv. 22-35).
4.As for the ten spies who gave the bad report, they died by a plague (vv. 36-37).
B.Just as the faithless Israelites were paralyzed in fear, so also we will fail to act as needed when the fear of man is our motivation.
1.The fear of man can cause us to make foolish and faithless decisions.
a.The army of Israel cowered before the Philistines because they feared Goliath until the brave and faithful David took up the challenge and slew him. (1Sam. 17).
b.Some of the rulers among the Jews did not confess their Messiah Jesus because they were afraid of the Pharisees (John 12:42-43).
c.Peter denied the Lord three times when Christ was on trial before the Jews because he feared them (Matt. 26:69-75).Later, he overcame that fear and stood trial before them himself (Acts 4:1-22; 5:17-42).
2.The fear of man can also be used as an excuse for shirking responsibility.
a.The Proverbs speak of a sluggard who refuses to go to work for fear of a lion in the streets (22:13; 26:13).While such a man may truly be afraid, his fear becomes a convenient excuse for neglecting his duty.
b.In both the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) and the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11-27), the servants who failed to profit with their masters’ assets used fear as their excuse.One was called a "wicked, lazy slave” (Matt. 25:26), and the other was called a "worthless slave” (Luke 19:22).Both were severely punished.
C.Ultimately, those who fear man and are unfaithful to God will be punished in the likeness of Israel as they will be condemned and denied entrance into the promised land of heaven.
1.This fate is pronounced in Revelation 21:8 – "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
2.This punishment may seem harsh to us, but it is justly due to those who do not have enough faith in Christ to overcome their fear of men.
IV.THE REWARD OF FEARING GOD
A.Joshua and Caleb were rewarded for their faithfulness to God.
1.When the other ten spies died by a plague, Joshua and Caleb were spared (Num. 14:38).
2.Likewise, while the rest of their generation died in the wilderness, Joshua and Caleb were allowed to go into Canaan and take possession of it (Num. 14:24, 30).
B.For us, the fear of God has immediate benefits in the forms of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that will guide us in life and preserve us in this world.
1.Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,” and Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”(See also Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:29; 2:5; 15:33)
2.Such wisdom through the fear of God gives us life.Notice these verses from the Proverbs:
a."The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.” (14:27)
b."The fear of the LORD prolongs life…” (10:27)
c."The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor, and life.” (22:4)
3.The fear of God also keeps us from the trouble of evil and sins.Consider these Proverbs:
a."The fear of the LORD is to hate evil…” (8:13)
b."By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.” (16:6)
c."By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.” (19:23)
C.Best of all, the lasting reward of fearing God will be salvation and eternal life.
1.In contrast to the cowardly unbelievers who will perish in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8), Christ promises many rich, eternal blessings to those who overcome (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21).
2.Christians have been told to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13).
3.Furthermore, Jesus says, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10).
