Chris Webb
08/11/16
Someone once said, “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” Attitude is everything. It is, “a manner of thinking, feeling, or behaving that reflects a state of mind or disposition” (American Heritage Dictionary). No doubt, our manner of thinking affects the way we react to situations and live our lives. But sometimes it’ll affect others as well and have grave consequences.
When 12 spies are sent into the land of Canaan, they’re sent with specific instructions on how to observe the land. Notice the neutrality of Moses’ commands: “and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many” (Numbers 13:18). Moses doesn’t instruct them to be all doom and gloom nor all milk and honey in their report; instead, he seeks an unbiased observation. Alas, upon their return, 10 out of the 12 spies give a bad report and, “all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night” (Numbers 14:1). Seeing how the spies each were “a chief among them,” it is easy to see how their attitude warps the rest of the congregation into fear and doubt.
Why don’t 10 spies remain neutral? How could all the spies see the exact same thing and return with completely different reports? The answer is attitude. Some see roses among thorns while others see only thorns. We need to remember that our outlook and demeanor are often contagious. A sickly person can easily make an entire roomful of healthy people sick, and so it is with our attitude. Also, if we aren’t careful to see the good that God shows us in His promises, we, too, will betray God crying, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt” (Numbers 14:4). It is because of the Israelites’ disposition against God and the lack of faith in Him that He commands them to wander the wilderness until the rebellious generation dies. The people have a terrible price to pay for their attitude.
The most pressing thought from this story is that there will come a time when it’s too late to change and that we need an attitude of urgency. In one of the most tragic and heart-wrenching scenes in the Bible, the Israelites try to undo their mistake after God’s judgment. Moses records, “And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, ‘Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned’” (Numbers 14:40). Now a repenting people are ready to fight just as God wanted them to—their strength and hope mustered up, the Promised Land ripe before them.
But, “Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah” (Numbers 14:45). The people know, “neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp,” so why would they fight? (Numbers 14:44). The people desperately want to change God’s mind and show how they are ready to take the land. God answers them with their defeat. Though the words aren’t uttered, we clearly see that it is too late for Israel.
This humbling moment in Israel’s history should humble us all. If we’re presumptuous enough to think God will always wait for us or we’ll change whenever we feel like it, we’ll die here in the wilderness and never enter the Promised Land. Even after they acknowledge their sin, Israel is unable to go into Canaan, and the same is for us, if we don’t have the right attitude.
To be called a child of God, we must believe in God and trust that His promises will irresistibly come to fruition. We’ll have an attitude of urgency and heed the apostle Paul’s warning, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). Repentance here means to “change one’s mind,” so shall we change our attitude to trust and obey God before it’s too late.
In our narrative, 40 years have passed, and Israel’s conquest continues in Joshua 6. Once again, the people of Israel stand before the Promised Land, now even stronger and more courageous, and there’s something else to be noted. As far as we know, nothing about the land changes during Israel’s wandering. Nothing about the inhabitants changes: Not their fortified cities or their ability to fight. God doesn’t change, either; He is still with His people as before.
The only notable difference is in the people of Israel. Indeed, it is more than having a new generation or a new leader; it is about the change in attitude. The people’s attitude toward God and their faith in Him is the only change necessary, even toward their salvation.
The same is for us. As we sojourn in this wilderness, we’re likely to be faced with many thorn and rose bushes. Sometimes the only difference between the two is how we choose to see them. Sometimes the only change necessary is in ourselves. As with Israel, with a better attitude, we’ll be more prepared and useful to God. May we strive to think and live in a way that exemplifies our faith in God and one day be ready to enter the Promised Land.