For some Christians, people’s voices carry more weight than God’s word. We clearly hear what God is saying and we prepare to obey. But then someone points out how much it will cost, or how inadequate we are, or how difficult it will be to implement, and we shrug our shoulders and remain where we are. We have the audacity to allow one naysayer to cancel a divine command.
The Israelites knew clearly what God intended for them. God had already proven His ability to provide for their need and to fight on their behalf. Not once had God’s word proven unreliable. Yet with the negative word of ten men, an entire nation was prepared to defy a divine command. These men were respected in their tribes. They had influence. But they could not compare to God.
The sad truth was that the people were more wiling to listen to people than they were prepared to heed the voice of God. In reality, the ten men’s opinion was incorrect. It was possible to conquer the land. Their enemies would have crumbled before them. However, the consequence of listening to people was that the Israelites spent forty unnecessary years wandering aimlessly in the desert rather than enjoying God’s promise. Who are you currently listening to: God or people? Who is it you want to base your life upon?