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  NUMBERS 13:26
  by Chuck Smith
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the significance of Canaan, the
legitimate and illegitimate wilderness experiences, and the importance
of trusting God's promise and word.

Topics: "Spiritual Journey", "Faith vs. Fear"
Scripture References: Genesis 12:7, Exodus 3:8, Numbers 13:30, Psalm 23:5, John 10:10, Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 4:1-3

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DESCRIPTION
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Chuck Smith discusses the significance of Canaan as the fulfillment of
God's promise to Abraham, emphasizing that it represents liberty, rest,
and abundance for believers. He contrasts the legitimate wilderness
experience, which teaches trust in God, with the illegitimate wilderness
experience marked by rebellion and discontent. The sermon highlights the
crisis at Kadesh Barnea, where the majority of spies reported fear and
doubt, while the faithful two saw God's promise as attainable. Smith
encourages listeners to reflect on their own spiritual journeys and the
choices they make in faith.

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CONTENT
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Intro: Life divided into three planes: Natural man, Carnal man,
Spiritual man.

History: God promised land to Abraham.

I. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CANAAN.

A. Fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

1. 500 years later Abraham's descendants brought to the gateway to the
land.

a. God brought them out of Egypt (plagues).

b. God brought them through Red Sea.

c. God brought them through wilderness of Shur.

B. Many of hymns and songs spiritualize Canaan as heaven and Jordan as
death.

1. Songs.

a. "Swing low - I looked over Jordan."

b. "I won't have to cross Jordan alone."

2. Our present life in the heavenlies.

a. No sin in heaven.

b. No baffles in heaven.

c. No defeat in heaven.

C. What Canaan did represent.

1. Liberty for oppression. "Sin shall not have dominion over you."

2. Rest for wandering.

3. Possession for promise.

4. Variety for monotony. "My cup runneth over love - that passeth

knowledge joy unspeakable and full of glory peace - that passeth

human understanding."

II. THE LEGITIMATE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.

A. Journey from Red Sea to Kadesh.

1. We are led through some bitter experiences - Marah that God might
show

His sweetness.

2. Restful. beautiful experiences - Elim.

3. We learn to trust God for provisions.

Ill. THE KADESH BARNEA CRISIS.

A. They sent out spies, came back - confusing reports.

Timorous ten - we are not able.

Trustful two - we are well able.

Ten - cities walled & very great.

Two - their defense is departed from them.

Ten - the men are giants.

Two - neither fear ye the people.

Ten - saw through magnifying glass of unbelief.

Two - say through magnifying glass of faith.

The majority impeached God's promise and word.

(God was not big enough?) They didn't relate to God.

IV. THE ILLEGITIMATE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.

A. Rebellious experience.

B. Marked by:

1. Restlessness (no restful Christians in wilderness).

2. Discontent (no contented Christians in wilderness).

3. Fruitfulness - The battles they fought only for permission to pass

through land. Battle of rebellion not conquest. Carnal Christian has

plenty of fights.

4. Negative experience - They were no longer doing the things of Egypt.
Some

accentuate the negative so interested in things they don't do, they do

nothing.

5. Vacillation - up and down.

Conclusion: Perhaps you are today at Kadesh Barnea.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/chuck-smith/numbers-1326/
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