What Was the Ten Spies’ Sin?
There is so much false prophetic flying around connected to the stronghold of fear that is dominating society right now. Well meaning, godly, humble people are seeing devastating futures and the fear in the Body of Christ rivals or is more than what is generally in society. This is unfortunately nothing new, as for some time we have tended more towards bad news than encouraging news. So, in the midst of this pandemic of fear, let me just ask the important question related to the 12 spies who Moses sent to report on the Promised Land. What was the 10 spies’ sin?
Two Tragic Consequences
Now before you answer, remember that it ultimately led to two tragic consequences. One, it caused Israel to go tone-deaf to Caleb’s true prophetic report on both the land and the possibilities of victory. Because of that they aborted destiny and delayed another generation in entering their Promised Land. Two, the 10 spies were struck dead by a plague and died. Quite tragic. So again— What was the 10 spies’ sin?
It wasn’t a lack of humility. It wasn’t arrogance. It wasn’t a sexual sin. It wasn’t wrong motivation. It wasn’t even that they lied. Their sin was actually for telling exactly what they saw. They shared their “revelation" of a huge enemy and challenge that was unbeatable— in their view. That even sounds “humble” to acknowledge how outmatched they were. “We were as grasshoppers”! Doesn’t that sound humble? How do humble princes of their respective tribes do so much damage and then get struck dead? It is as relevant today as it was then.
Forgetting/Unaware of What God HAS Been Saying
The big sin was that they had somehow forgotten that previous prophetic words had said that this was land God was giving to Israel. The un-anointed seers (spies) trusted what THEY were seeing at the moment and ignored previous prophetic revelation. They were only sent in to see if the land was as the Lord said it was. They took it upon themselves to consider it helpful to the people if they gave them the “reality check" of the challenges they would face. They just wanted to keep it real. Boy, did they do that! The whole nation believed them!! Unanimously they embraced the un-anointed but factual report. Caleb tried to overturn the “doom and gloom” perspective but to no avail. There was some kind of “anointing” on the 10 spies. They got all the Likes and Shares and that was that. I mean, Caleb sounded like some kinda Pollyanna, only-want-to-prophesy-good, false prophet. I mean Caleb said “the giants will be bread for us.” What kind of level-headed prophet doesn’t even properly acknowledge the challenges?
Seeing What He Sees
Caleb made it into the Promised Land because he knew God’s narrative and because he was a “treasure hunter.” He saw a land that flowed with milk and honey and he saw huge grapes. The “milk and honey” was symbolic and the grapes were much, much smaller than the giants the other seers saw. But God said praisingly of Caleb— “He is a man of a different spirit. He sees what I see.”
Friends, this is a critical time to guard your hearts and minds from un-anointed seeing. Correct observation of the enemy cost the original un-anointed 10 seers everything, as well as everyone who believed them. True humility is to not dare be faithless, unbelieving, and discouraging to others. Doubt always masquerades as humility. “I’m just telling what I saw” is dangerous. If you can’t see through HIS eyes DON’T PASS IT ON. Especially if you are any kind of leader. Consequences are high. This is the year of the mouth (PEY)— and life and death is the power in it. Soon I will be telling you of a recent “Pollyanna" perspective I was just shown by the Lord that greatly under-appreciates future challenges. I hope to find enough faith out there to get maybe one-tenth of the Likes of somebody else’s disaster dream or vision. I believe it can happen. I see hope arising.