For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed Bible trivia. I have spent a portion of nearly every day of my life from childhood immersed in its pages, soaking in God's wisdom, and delighting in the truth God reveals. Because of my own dullness sometimes I read without much effect, but there is nothing on this planet so powerful, inspired, and brilliant as the revelation of God through His Word. It is like an old friend who manages to continually surprise and impress. People of the Book such as myself recognise the scripture is simple enough for a layman to comprehend, yet has a depth of meaning and application which will not be fully appreciated for eternity.
Here is an opportunity to test your vast Bible knowledge and flex those memory muscles! Can you tell me the significance of this list of names - and here is a hint - from the book of Numbers? The names are: Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, and Geuel. If I had been asked the same question yesterday, I would have no idea. And to be perfectly honest, if you told me to list these names by memory tomorrow I could not do it. After reading through the corresponding passage last night, I have termed them "The Nevertheless Men." Alright, here's the answer: these 10 men are the heads of tribes who were sent to spy out the Promised Land. Everyone knows about Joshua and Caleb, two spies and the only two people to enter into Canaan from the first generation who came out of Egypt. If you recognised these men I congratulate you, because these aren't men often talked about.
We all like a winner, the one who does well. Many sermons have been graced with the bold and valiant words of Joshua and Caleb, but these fearful nevertheless men are largely unknown and forgotten. It is a sobering thought that notable, called, and chosen men of God could have such a promising beginning and a tragic end. Numbers 13:1-2 says, "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them." God promised to give His people a rich land which flowed with milk and honey. After 40 days in the land, 10 of the men brought back figs, pomegranates, a massive cluster of grapes, and provided this report in Numbers 13:27-28: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there."
They affirmed the land was exactly as God had said. But then they uttered a word so steeped in doubt and unbelief it cast fear into the hearts of the congregation: nevertheless. In spite of what God promised, there were seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Yes, God promised to give them a rich land and so it was. Nevertheless there seemed to be strong opposition - and they were no match for the land's inhabitants. Had they only trusted the promise of God more than trusting their eyes and looking to themselves! They weighed the promise of God against the fortifications and the giants who inhabited the land and foolishly shrank from God's promise. Numbers 13:30-31 says, "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." Caleb trusted God and His Word, yet these 10 "nevertheless" men were disarmed of their courage and strength by lack of faith in God and what He had said.
These men were punished according to their deeds, for they gave a bad report to the people. What God did in the sight of the congregation clearly showed the consequences of the grave sin of unbelief. Numbers 14:36-37 says, "Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, 37 those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD." That was the end of those "nevertheless" men: they doubted in spite of God's character and promise, and thus did not receive it. Consider how these 10 out of the 12 leaders called and chosen by God fell short of entering into the promise through refusing to trust God. They expected to fall at the hands of their enemies, so what is so different about falling by the hands of the God made your enemy by unbelief?
God has offered His people rest through faith in Jesus Christ. "Jesus Christ is wonderful," you might say, "but the world is in a terrible state. My personal debts, chronic pain, and family troubles coupled with global issues like stateless refugees and climate change are too much to bear,. There is no rest for me." Dear ones, should we fall into the same trap as the "nevertheless" men? God has offered rest, but perhaps you believe the obstacles insurmountable. Tell me: if you will not willingly enter into the rest you can through faith now despite obstacles, what makes you think you can find rest in Christ for eternity? There is a rest we can enter into now, not because of our might or ability compared to that of our enemies, but according to God's promise. The One who brought us out of bondage can surely bring us into His rest. We can be as Nehemiah, who when faced with opposition from sinister enemies chose to trust God and pray. He saw the opposition, nevertheless chose the path of faith - not the other way around. He wrote bravely in Nehemiah 4:8-9, "...All of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night."
Wavering heart, consider fully this passage and find rest for your soul in Christ. Hebrews 4:11-16 reads, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
What sort of "nevertheless" man or woman are you? One who sees the opposition and chooses to trust God's Word like Joshua, Caleb, or Nehemiah? Or are you like the 10 spies, who knew the promise of God but in spite of it gave place to fear and unbelief?
Here is an opportunity to test your vast Bible knowledge and flex those memory muscles! Can you tell me the significance of this list of names - and here is a hint - from the book of Numbers? The names are: Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, and Geuel. If I had been asked the same question yesterday, I would have no idea. And to be perfectly honest, if you told me to list these names by memory tomorrow I could not do it. After reading through the corresponding passage last night, I have termed them "The Nevertheless Men." Alright, here's the answer: these 10 men are the heads of tribes who were sent to spy out the Promised Land. Everyone knows about Joshua and Caleb, two spies and the only two people to enter into Canaan from the first generation who came out of Egypt. If you recognised these men I congratulate you, because these aren't men often talked about.
We all like a winner, the one who does well. Many sermons have been graced with the bold and valiant words of Joshua and Caleb, but these fearful nevertheless men are largely unknown and forgotten. It is a sobering thought that notable, called, and chosen men of God could have such a promising beginning and a tragic end. Numbers 13:1-2 says, "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them." God promised to give His people a rich land which flowed with milk and honey. After 40 days in the land, 10 of the men brought back figs, pomegranates, a massive cluster of grapes, and provided this report in Numbers 13:27-28: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there."
They affirmed the land was exactly as God had said. But then they uttered a word so steeped in doubt and unbelief it cast fear into the hearts of the congregation: nevertheless. In spite of what God promised, there were seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Yes, God promised to give them a rich land and so it was. Nevertheless there seemed to be strong opposition - and they were no match for the land's inhabitants. Had they only trusted the promise of God more than trusting their eyes and looking to themselves! They weighed the promise of God against the fortifications and the giants who inhabited the land and foolishly shrank from God's promise. Numbers 13:30-31 says, "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." Caleb trusted God and His Word, yet these 10 "nevertheless" men were disarmed of their courage and strength by lack of faith in God and what He had said.
These men were punished according to their deeds, for they gave a bad report to the people. What God did in the sight of the congregation clearly showed the consequences of the grave sin of unbelief. Numbers 14:36-37 says, "Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, 37 those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD." That was the end of those "nevertheless" men: they doubted in spite of God's character and promise, and thus did not receive it. Consider how these 10 out of the 12 leaders called and chosen by God fell short of entering into the promise through refusing to trust God. They expected to fall at the hands of their enemies, so what is so different about falling by the hands of the God made your enemy by unbelief?
God has offered His people rest through faith in Jesus Christ. "Jesus Christ is wonderful," you might say, "but the world is in a terrible state. My personal debts, chronic pain, and family troubles coupled with global issues like stateless refugees and climate change are too much to bear,. There is no rest for me." Dear ones, should we fall into the same trap as the "nevertheless" men? God has offered rest, but perhaps you believe the obstacles insurmountable. Tell me: if you will not willingly enter into the rest you can through faith now despite obstacles, what makes you think you can find rest in Christ for eternity? There is a rest we can enter into now, not because of our might or ability compared to that of our enemies, but according to God's promise. The One who brought us out of bondage can surely bring us into His rest. We can be as Nehemiah, who when faced with opposition from sinister enemies chose to trust God and pray. He saw the opposition, nevertheless chose the path of faith - not the other way around. He wrote bravely in Nehemiah 4:8-9, "...All of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night."
Wavering heart, consider fully this passage and find rest for your soul in Christ. Hebrews 4:11-16 reads, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
What sort of "nevertheless" man or woman are you? One who sees the opposition and chooses to trust God's Word like Joshua, Caleb, or Nehemiah? Or are you like the 10 spies, who knew the promise of God but in spite of it gave place to fear and unbelief?
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