Leadership Qualities: Positive Attitude – The Ten Spies vs. the Two Spies (part 1 of 2)

Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; whether the land is rich or poor…
Numbers 13:17-20

As Israel approached the Jordan River, Moses sent out twelve spies to investigate the Promised Land. One spy from each of the twelve tribes of Israel entered Canaan, explored the land, and returned with a report. All twelve had the same external experience. They all had the following similarities: 1. All were leaders in their tribes. 2. All received the same promise. 3. All received the same opportunities.

But the conclusions of ten spies differed markedly from the other two. Joshua and Caleb were in the minority, but they happened to be right. What could account for the differing opinions? The majority said don’t go, they misunderstood their mission, and their view of God was tainted by outward circumstances (they limited Him). The minority said go, they understood the mission, and their view of God was independent of outward circumstances (no limitations).

After their return, the majority (ten) of the spies displayed a horrible attitude about the whole endeavor. It’s not hard to see why. You can’t find trust in God anywhere in their report; they don’t even mention His name. Their sour disposition, pessimistic perspective, and negative report spread like a plague throughout the Israelite camp. They prevailing attitude became focused on “there are giants in the land and there is no way we can enter and possess it.

Although Joshua and Caleb took the very same trip and saw the same things witnessed by the other ten spies, they returned with an enthusiastic, positive report. They never doubted the Israelites could take the land. They based their glowing report on God’s track record with their nation through the desert. They freely admitted the obstacles, but knew nothing could stand in the way of God. They came back saying, “Yes, there are giants in the land, but they’re midgets compared with our God. We can take them and the land – and the land is everything it was promised it would be.”

Do you have a tendency to limit God by focusing on the circumstances? Or do you see circumstances as things under the control of an Almighty God who can easily manipulate them to accomplish His plan?

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