The Power of Perspective – Pt 1

There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like (as mere insects) grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:33 NKJV.

Who are you? How do you see yourself? What do you see in yourself? What perspective do you have of yourself? I’m not advocating excessive self-evaluation, but there is something massively important here.

We know the story of the spies being sent into the land of Cannan, and how they saw there a land that was overflowing with milk and honey. There’s no doubt about what they saw. They even brought proof of it, in the form of a single cluster of grapes so large it had to be carried on a pole between two of them.

I was reading this in my reading plan the other day, and even though I have read it many times, I still saw things and understood some lessons that apply to every one of us.

What did the spies see?

i. The spies saw the land and its fruit.

• Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. Numbers 13:23
• Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
  Numbers 13:27

Here’s what they saw. They saw what they were destined to possess. They saw what God had promised. They saw their destiny. They saw what had been won for them, they saw the land God had destined and promised to give them.

There had never been any doubt in God’s mind that the people would come into the land God had promised years before. As Bill Johnson says, it’s always a trust issue at the bottom if everything. Somewhere, in everything, it comes down to trust. Will we trust the Lord? Will we rest on His promises?

• Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving to you, Numbers 15:2
• Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land to which I bring you, Numbers 15:18

It was when, not if. God was going to give them the land.

However, they saw it, but didn’t possess it. How many of us, see the things God has promised for us, we see the truths, the spiritual land we are to possess, we see the spiritual ground we are to take, we see the promise, but, we don’t possess it.

ii. How they saw themselves determined their whole future and that of all their generation.

Their view, their vision, their perspective, their understanding, their perception, determined their future, but also the future of all their generation! We know what happened to them. All of that generation (apart from Joshua and Caleb) died there in the wilderness.

Vision, view, perspective, is not just about us. It is, but that’s only part of the story. God wants all our generation to possess the land, to inherit the promise. There’s a corporate side, a community aspect, to the truth of inheriting vision. The vision we carry is for us and about our inheritance, but it is not only for us, but there are also many others who must inherit with us.

iii.       How they saw themselves just wasn’t true.

There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:33 NKJV.

This was just not true. It was not how their enemies saw them, it was not how God saw them, it was just completely wrong.

• Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased. Exodus 15:16 NKJV.
• “I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. Exodus 23:27 NKJV.
• This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’ Deuteronomy 2:25 NKJV.

The fear of God was already in their enemies!

What can we learn from this?

Some of the lessons from this event are very clear.

Perspective determines Practice.

Profession. Possession. Position. Place. Placement. Performance. Profession. Pursuit. All of these things (to a large degree and I believe we don’t fully understand just how powerful our perspective on life is), hang on the perspective, the view, the vision, the perception, the Perspection we have. (Now there’s a great word! Perspection. I love it! Bad grammar but great doctrine).

View determines Vocation.

I wonder how many wonderful saints, Christian men and women, young people and children as well, from all walks of life and ministry, I wonder how many of them do not see themselves as God made them to be? Believing a lie, is not a pathway to freedom. Only the truth sets us free.

When we see, by the revelation of God, who God has made us to be, what He’s done for us in Christ, what He’s made us to be, where He’s placed us by His grace…, that, changes, everything!

Vision: isn’t only about what we are to do. It is also about seeing who we are.

O that more and more people, would have a vision, that they would see the things God has done for them, and who He has made them to be. Seeing and knowing and experiencing that truth, will set them free.

Instead of saying you gotta do this and you gotta do that, lets minister the truth and reveal to people who they really are.

This is a huge subject. Let’s look at it some more in the January Brief Word.