The "Nevertheless" Men

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?

The Bountiful Refuge

Few people have ever been the focus of a nation-wide manhunt, but David was such a one.  King Saul, infuriated over David's popularity with the people, his suspicion stoked with pride, sought to hunt David down and kill him.  Though David had also been anointed king of Israel, he refused to wage a smear campaign or command his men to retaliate against the LORD's anointed, King Saul.  He left the comforts of home and family and fled into the wilderness.  Many times David sought refuge in a cave, and the heading in my Bible says Psalm 142 was written during one of these occasions.

He wrote Psalm 142:1-6:  "I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. ² I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. ³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. ⁴ Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. ⁵ I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. ⁶ Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I."  David sought refuge in a cave, but it only could provide temporary and feeble protection for his body.  As he held his breath in the deep, dark recesses of the cave, he knew the cave could also be his tomb.  In the musty blackness he knew a bright light would betray his presence to his perusing enemy.

But in the darkness David discovered the peace and presence of God, the One who was a refuge for his soul.  God knew exactly where David was, how unjustly and wickedly he had been treated, and the greatness of his need.  David sought refuge in a cave, but the cave was not David's refuge:  God was!  When David was overwhelmed, he cried out to God and was heard.  In God was a sure hope no damp cavity of earth can provide.  He concluded his song in Psalm 142:7:  "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."  Through God those who trust Him have abundant salvation and deliverance.  Have you made God your refuge in faith?  Jesus has come to set the captives free and proclaim liberty to those in bondage.  There is no substitute for the refuge provided in Christ alone.

On His Shoulders

Carts make heavy lifting lighter work.  When I used to work in the shipyard, having a motorised cart for hauling tools and materials over long distances was critical for efficiency.  Carts are also useful when moving multiple books, totes, or packages at once.  One cart greatly reduces the amount of trips necessary to move items from one location to another.  People might say the use of a cart is working smarter, not harder.  This is usually true - but not always.  God wisely directs us in what must be done and how to do it.  Sometimes the way that seems easier and more efficient isn't the right way.

After the tabernacle was built, anointed, and sanctified by Moses, the princes of the people brought an offering of six carts and 12 oxen.  Numbers 7:4-9 reads, "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ⁵ "Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service." ⁶ So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. ⁷ Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; ⁸ and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. ⁹ But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders."  Moses distributed the oxen and carts to the Levites to help them in their service unto the LORD.  Though true Levites, the sons of Kohath were not given carts.  Their role was to carry the holy things of God upon their own shoulders.

The special role of the Kohathites is explained in detail in Numbers 4:1-20.  Their privileged responsibility was to carry the most holy articles in the tabernacle when it was moved.  The high priests and his sons were to cover the ark of the Covenant, table of showbread, lampstand, altar of incense, and all the instruments used in the service of God.  The coverings of skin and cloth was for their protection.  Things they were not permitted even to look upon they could carry when properly prepared.  Once covered, the sons of Kohath were tasked to carry these items directed by the high priest as commanded in Numbers 4:15:  "And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation."  They were not to place any of the most holy things on a cart but to be carried on their shoulders.  The most holy things were not to be treated as bricks, lumber, grain, or goods for trade:  they were specially designed and made for use in the worship of God and should be treated as ordained by God.

What I find particularly special is the connection between the duties of the Kohathites and that of the high priest.  Though the high priest was granted carts to be used by his authority, he was called to bear the names of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders before the LORD.  Exodus 28:12 states, "And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial."  Even the Messiah revealed as Jesus Christ, both King and High Priest, would bear the government on His shoulders.  It was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  There are some burdens and responsibilities God has ordained men to carry in a particular manner, and this is even true concerning the Messiah.

A personal application for bearing burdens ordained by God is found in Galatians 6:2-5:  "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load."  In ministering unto the LORD, we find ourselves with a weight of responsibility.  We can succumb to the temptation of putting the ark of God on a cart as a common thing, to try to lighten our load in ways contrary to God's plan.  We are called as one body to bear one another's burdens, but we are also called to carry our own load.  Fatigue and burnout comes from the neglect of our responsibility before God to carry our divinely prescribed burden or trying to carry things for ourselves or others in a way God has not permitted.  We are not to look at other people using "carts" and wish we might have a reprieve from our responsibilities before God, but to examine our own work.  Ask yourself:  am I faithfully carrying the thing God has called me to do?  Am I taking shortcuts or shifting my duty onto the shoulders of others?  Am I doing the right thing in the right way?

God did not load the Kohathites with unnecessary burdens, nor give them an impossible task.  They were to submit to the guidance of the high priest and do as they were told.  It is the same with every Christian, for Jesus is our High Priest.  He has provided us wisdom and guidance through His Word and the Holy Spirit.  We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.  Ensure every burden you carry has been first covered by Jesus and divinely distributed for you to shoulder in obedience.  We will find ourselves strangely, amazingly helped and able to endure.  Let us rejoice in the privileged duties with which God has tasked us, for even as we bear burdens on our shoulders our King and High Priest bears us upon His.

Meeting God's Conditions

"If I keep drinking, I'm going to die."  The wide eyes of the heavily tattooed man stared unflinching into mine.  "I have to get clean.  I'll do anything."  This man had walked into the church minutes before, asking to speak with a pastor.  That's one thing about serving the LORD:  you never know who He will bring across your path or what unexpected thing He might call you to do.

"If you're serious, I know of a place which can help you get clean," I told him.  "Let me warn you though:  it is a very intensive program which requires total commitment.  It is a free program, but you have to commit to a year of staying clean, working your way towards a job and renting your own place, and Bible study."  I didn't want to waste the man's time or the time of the people at Set Free, as it was called at that time.  I spent a few moments explaining my basic understanding of what was offered and requirements my visitor would be subjected to.  He was keen because in his mind it was a choice between life and death.  He had been recently locked up and didn't have transportation, so I gave him a ride over to the facility because time was of the essence.

Upon arriving, I talked with a pastor I had met before.  After my new friend briefly explained his alcohol addiction and dire situation, the pastor in a friendly manner began to explain the program.  As my friend sparked up a cigarette the pastor said with a smile, "And that's another thing.  You'll have to give up smoking."  All the sudden the demeanor of my friend changed.  He became extremely nervous, almost agitated.  "Man, quit smoking?  I can't do that.  I can't smoke in the program?  I just bought this new pack of cigarettes!"  The discussion continued, and I watched that man begin to work his way through the whole pack, still debating whether the program was for him or not.

I never knew whether my friend ended up entering into the rehabilitation program or not.  It was free to those without money, but it was not without personal cost - a cost that man initially was loathe to pay.  He saw his drinking as a life and death issue, but not his smoking.  What he did not seem to realise was refusal to give up cigarettes would disqualify him from the program which could save his life - so his smoking was just as deadly as his drinking.  Refusal to agree to quit smoking was symptomatic of a spiritual heart problem more deadly than lung cancer.  This shortsightedness is not limited to alcoholics.  We can do the same thing as Christians.  We might recognise sinful problems in our lives and deem some worse than others when they are all linked and equally deadly.  We might want to be rid of an addiction because of the negative impact we perceive in our lives, but other things can also control our hearts and equally distance us from God and fellowship with others.  It is stubborn disobedience and unwillingness to submit to God in our hearts which proves more deadly than actions which are mere symptoms of an inner sickness.

Sin brings death.  It is not alcohol or smoking in themselves which doom a man to hell, but the refusal to confess and repent of sins, choosing to deny self and obey God.  If there is anything in your life which hinders you from coming to Jesus to be forgiven and cleansed, holding onto that thing says you love it more than Life Himself.  Does God have your affections and desire?  Are you willing to do everything He asks without question?  Or is there one little thing you are not yet willing to submit to His rule?  Following Jesus is a life and death decision.  To follow Him is life, and all other ways are death.  Giving up the old life and choosing to follow God in obedience requires faith.  As it is written in Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."