April 8, 2011
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The Victorious Life of Joshua Part 6
Num 13:23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and [they brought] of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Num 13:24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.
Num 13:25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
Eshcol = “cluster”
The number forty in scripture, particularly the old testament, usually signifies a move of God, or that something is led by the Holy Spirit. Both the number “4″ and “40″ in scripture signify a move of the Spirit.
Num 13:26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
Moses = “drawn”
1) the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus
Aaron = “light bringer”
1) brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest
Israel = “God prevails”
Paran = “place of caverns”
1) wilderness area bounded on the north by Palestine, on the west by the wilderness of Etham, on the south by the desert of Sinai, and on the east by the valley of Arabah; the exodus was through this area and probably all 18 stops were in this area.
Kadesh = “holy”
1) a city in the extreme south of Judah
a) same as ‘Kedesh’ and ‘Kadesh-barnea’
It is this same Kadesh-barnea location, that the children of Israel were at, at the time that Moses struck the rock in anger.(Num 20:11) This is why he was not allowed to enter the promised land. He was in a holy place, and as the leader, he allowed criticism to make him lose control.
I have several different bibles now. One of them is a John Maxwell leadership bible. In it, he talks about this issue that Moses had and how to deal with criticism.
First, he says that in leadership, criticism and confrontation come with the territory. “Leaders can bank on two truths. First, they will be criticized. Second, criticism always changes the leader. Unhappy people tend to attack the point person. Moses’ own family criticized him.”
This is what he says God wants us to know about how to handle criticizm:
1. Maintain your humility (Num 12:3)
2. Face the criticism squarely (Num 12:4)
3. Be specific about the issue (Num 12:5-8)
4. Lay out consequences (Num 12:9-10)
5. Pray for the criticizers (Num 12:12-13)
6. Restore them when appropriate (Num 12:14)
He also says to consider ten ways that leaders should handle criticism:
1. Understand the difference between constructive and destructive criticism (who benefits?).
2. Don’t take yourself too seriously (but take your God very seriously).
3. Look beyond the criticism to see the critic (do you respect him? what’s her need?)
4. Guard your own attitude toward the critic (don’t get defensive; stay objective).
5. Recognize that good people get criticized (don’t beat yourself up).
6. Keep yourself physically and spiritually in shape (weariness distorts our perspective).
7. Don’t see only the critic; see the crowd (is the criticism widespread?).
8. Wait for time to prove the critic wrong (be mature enough to be patient).
9. Associate with people of faith (spend your optional time with optimists).
10. Concentrate on your mission; change your mistakes (focus on the big picture).
