Price
of Disagreement
Miriam’s
Rebellion
The importance
of agreement in underscored in how God deals with
disagreement and discord.
In the Old Testament God certainly expresses displeasure
for those who encourage disagreement
with His plans and principles.
In
Numbers 12: 1-16 Miriam,
Moses’ sister, is being the contentious sibling.
Basically, she is saying, “Hey, Bro, we hear God,
too. What makes you the top dog around here?”
Had this dissention, disagreement been allowed to spread
through the Israelite camp, it is doubtful they could have
survived the wilderness….much less move on in to the
land of milk and honey: Canaan. High price to pay for such
dissention!
God nips it in the bud, stops it at the front gate! Miriam
is stricken white with leprosy.
Moses intercedes in prayer for her. Miriam is
healed…but God has made His point: disagreement can
be killer stuff….especially when disagreeing with
God.
God made it clear to everyone that He spoke face to face
with Moses. He spoke to Moses in a way that He spoke to no
one else.
(“Miriam, he’s not on the same par with
you.”) End of discussion!
The Ten Spies’ Bad Report
After such a
clear message as Miriam’s leprosy, you would expect
every Israelite to have lined up squarely with God’s
plan. But, in the very next chapter of Numbers we can see
that God’s lesson on agreement didn’t take.
At the Lord’s direction, twelve spies, leader from
the twelve tribes, are sent into Canaan to do
reconnaissance prior to taking the land.
After a forty-day journey of canvassing this land of milk
and honey, ten of the spies report that the land is
impossible to take. “There are giants in the
land!”
Agree with God!
Caleb and
Joshua are the only two who Caleb addresses the disquieted
congregation with
“Let us go up at once and take possession, go we
are well able to overcome it.” (Num
13:30) He is saying we
have the capacity to prevail, to succeed.
Joshua adds,
Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people
of the land for they are our bread; their protection has
departed from them and the Lord is with us. Do not fear
them.” (Num 14:9)
Caleb and Joshua are in agreement with the Lord and His
plan. They are speaking words of agreement regarding what
God would do. He would cause them to succeed in taking the
Promised Land.
And remember the words that Jesus spoke about agreement:
If
two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they
ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For
where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am
there in the midst of them. (Matt.
18:19-20
Caleb
and Joshua are on the money!
Price
of Not Agreeing
Unfortunately,
the rest of the encampment of Israel came into agreement
with the other ten spies. “This assignment was too
difficult to undertake.”
By agreeing with the bad report…..by disagreeing
with God’s report…the Israelites of that
generation now live consistent with that report. Too big a
job…don’t go. Instead they wander in the
desert for forty years until all of that generation
dies….
except for Joshua and Caleb: the two believing spies.
Power of Agreement Will Prevail
These two men
were blessed to lead the next generation into the land of
milk and honey. God’s plan and God’s power,
which Joshua and Caleb proclaimed – prevailed. It
took forty years, but the power of agreement and the force
of faith triumphed.
This is our opportunity and privilege:
To
walk in agreement with the Lord and His Word, which makes
our path steady and certain.
To leave a wholesome, prosperous path for the next
generation to follow.
So be encouraged because we do hear God in scripture as we
pray and we know His voice.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me: and I give them eternal life; and they shall
never perish. (Jn 10:27-28)
Even when disagreement enters through a side door, the
power of agreement with God will always prevail!