This week I bought some grapes and they were HUGE! I have never seen grapes quite so big. I brought them home and was washing them when I was reminded of the spies sent into the promised land.
Numbers 13:23-24 “Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes), and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two of them, with some of pomegranates and the figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes) because of the cluster of grapes which the sons of Israel cut down there.”
They must’ve been huge if a SINGLE cluster of grapes needed to be carried on a pole between TWO people!
In this, I believe God is reminding us that he has “given unto us exceeding great and precious promises...”
2 Peter 1:4 "By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire."
When the 12 spies came back, they gave the report of what they saw.
Numbers 13:27-29 "They gave Moses this account: 'We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.'”
They all saw the same thing but responded differently.
Numbers 13:31-33 "But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.' And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, 'The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we looked the same to them.'”
Ten of the spies responded with fear. Even going as far as to wish they would have gone back to Egypt where they were living as slaves! (Numbers 14)
Caleb and Joshua had a different view.
Numbers 13:30 "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.'”
Numbers 14:6-9 "Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, 'The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.'”
HOW WE SEE MATTERS!
It is so interesting to me “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes” and “so we looked the same to them” when we focus on ourselves and our own abilities it is easy to become crippled with fear. How we see affects how we walk and we are instructed to walk by faith. It is not a faith in ourselves but a faith in Him. Joshua and Caleb knew it wasn’t them but the Lord who would give them the victory. They believed what He said!
I don’t know about you but I want to be excited about the promises of God and walk in a Holy confidence that He will do what He said He would do! I am excited to eat the grapes!
There are big grapes ahead for us personally and I believe that there are big grapes ahead for MALTA! Let's take the land!
Tori
“Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes), and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two of them, with some of pomegranates and the figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes) because of the cluster of grapes which the sons of Israel cut down there.”
Numbers 13:23-24
UPDATES:
- Wednesday's walk in hours: Wednesday's continue to be busy with many people requesting help for various things.
- We will continue to stop at Stop and Shop weekly.
- The warming center is officially closed and many people have gone outside. We have connected with a New London outreach worker who will begin coming out with MALTA on Friday nights and taking us to different sites with people living outside so we can minister to them and provide for some of their immediate needs.
- Craft Fair April 7th Supporting MALTA!
VOLUNTEERS:
- SHOUT OUT to our ladies in the kitchen! We get compliments on the soup every week and come back empty handed every Friday night because it's so yummy and there are so many who are in need of it!
- We are looking for kitchen volunteers for Wednesday mornings. (Once a month, or more if you like) Please let me know if you are interested!
NEEDS:
- Nonperishable or frozen items to restock our food pantry
- Shaving Cream
- Deodorant
- Backpacks
- Ongoing Financial support
- Dish Detergent
- Individually wrapped toilet paper
For more updates, changing often, look around this website in the Latest News section and our Facebook page for photos and more regarding God at work through our involvement with the community and: Covenant Shelter, New London Homeless Hospitality Center (shelter) and Warming Center, Noank Youth Shelter, St. Vincent DePaul Place, Fellowship House, Safe Futures and more.