Negativity Comes Naturally. Positivity Comes Supernaturally

What is it about us? Why are we so prone to negative thinking?

Numbers 13:1–3 (ESV) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel.

Moses sends the leaders of the tribal families of Israel into the promised land. This land that was promised according to the covenant God made with Abraham back in Genesis 15. It's already been agreed upon. There's no doubt, according to God, Israel will possess this land. 

But even the spying out of the land was a step in the wrong direction. Numbers 13 makes it sound like spying was God's idea. But all Numbers 13 is doing is picking up a conversation recorded in Deuteronomy between Moses and the people. 

Deuteronomy 1:22–25 (ESV) Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’ 23 The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe. 24 And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out. 25 And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, ‘It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.’

The people wanted to spy out the land. They wanted to see if the land God said was good was good. Notice their feigned inquisition. "We want to see which way to go!" No they didn't. They wanted to see if it was indeed good. Notice their report upon return is not a "strategy", it's a report on the condition of the land! 

Isn't that just like the human nature! We are constantly doubting that what God says is good is good. Moses' mistake? Letting the doubts of the people "seem good" to him instead of solidifying in his heart and mind that what God said was good would be good. 

We know this story. The spies go out in Numbers 13 and within 40 days have had enough of a view to determine it can't be done. While the land is wonderful, it's impossible. There are too many enemies. 

There is one who steps up FIRST to counter the negativity. His name is Caleb. 

Numbers 13:30 (ESV) But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Caleb will be know for his "Spirit." In fact, at the end of this narrative, the reason for Caleb's allowance into the promised land was because he had a "different spirit."

Numbers 14:23–24 (ESV) shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

It's incredible to think. The last time "spirit" was mentioned in Numbers was 2 chapters earlier when God put the Spirit upon Moses on the 72 others. If only they had stood up with Caleb. But this verse is loaded with the fruits of the Spirit. 

First, Caleb is termed by God as "my servant." He knew his job was to serve the purpose of God. 

Second, Caleb is described as someone who follows God fully. 

Third, Caleb is set opposite from those who "despised" God.

I can only think that Caleb represents the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The Holy Spirit serves the purposes of the Father. He follows the will of God fully and loves God. He is also the only true and positive Person you can have in your life. He will NEVER lead you in a way that God has not ordained. 

Be filled with the Spirit, Paul says. It's good for your future!