Obstacle or Opportunity for Faith?

Our church has reached it's first supposed "obstacle" in our relocation process. We are seeking financing with a different bank, because of some issues with the first one we had been dealing with. Initially, I have to be honest...it knocked the wind out of me. Everything had gone perfectly, without any barriers. My first thought was that this was an obstacle in our path. Corey assured me that this would happen, and that we would just trust God through each step.

Today as I was reading my quiet time, I was encouraged by a story I have heard many times before...isn't it amazing how the Living Word does that, teaches us something new from something we've heard many times before?!! I was reading in Numbers where the Israelite spies were sent into the "land flowing with milk and honey." This was the PROMISE LAND...God had already promised it to them!!! And yet, when they saw the people of the land, all but two of them were paralyzed by fear and gave a negative report back to the people that it couldn't be done. Caleb tried to convince the people, "The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land...and give it to us. Only don't rebel against the Lord, and don't be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them!" He had faith that these people weren't an obstacle to keep them from God's promises. Unfortunately, the Israelites didn't listen to the men of faith, but to the men who told them to look at all the difficult challenges we'll face. Through human eyes, these were perfectly legitimate concerns, definitely reasons to not go into the new land. However, we aren't called to look at our situations and circumstances through human eyes, but through eyes of faith. Remember, these were the same people God had led out of Egypt. They had seen the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of the Egyptian army; and yet they didn't have the faith to possess the promise land. And so, because of their unbelief, none of them ever experienced the joy of this blessing God had promised to them. When they realized their sin, they decided to go possess the land, but Moses warned them, "The Lord won't be with you, since you have turned from following Him."

As a church and as God's people, we must see this "obstacle" not as something to prevent us from receiving God's blessings, but as an opportunity for faith. Faith in the same God who has paved the way so far (brought us out of Egypt) and led us to this place. Let us not be guilty of doubting Him now! He has given us this vision, and that means that He has already promised victory as long as we follow Him.