Written by Audrey Lero

Listen to this: If they can create a problem that makes you fear, then they can immediately turn around and sell you a hope-filled solution. It is a key to marketing, and we see this play out everywhere in our world today.

In conversation with a colleague recently I learned this valuable lesson about FEAR.

This young man spent some time in the military running intelligence. He told me oftentimes what would happen in the country he was stationed in and what the local and international news stations reported were two very different things.

He taught me in this quick conversation that there’s a direct monetary correlation between fear and hope - that if you can create a problem that makes someone fear, then you can immediately turn around and sell them a hope-filled solution.

What a brilliant plan…manufacture fear to sell synthetic hope!

Where have we heard that before? I think there is something like that in the Bible, right?

Let’s go to the story of Joshua and Caleb and the ten spies heading into the Promised Land.

Recorded in Numbers 13 and 14, their military convoy went out to scout out the new land - it was the ‘Promised Land’ that God had promised the Israelites.

Occupying the land were two things:

#1 - ridiculously large grapes

and….

#2 - ridiculously large giants

All twelve men saw the grapes and the giants, but when it was time to report their findings to the people, their news was conflicting.

Ten of the spies chose to report the magnitude of the giants and incite fear, but Joshua and Caleb however, reported on the vastness of the grapes and encouraged everyone to get excited about enjoying them!

The group of men all saw the same things in the new territory, but the majority chose to magnify the obstacles and hindrances which put them in fear.

Numbers 13:27-29

And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”

While Joshua and Caleb ‘were of a different spirit’ and chose to magnify and meditate on what God was doing in faith.

Numbers 13:30-31

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then 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 are.”

What’s the report in your life that you are choosing to believe - Fear or Hope?

Are you choosing to look at the media giants or the promises of God as we enter uncharted territory on this earth?

I pray you are encouraged today to know that you are just like Joshua and Caleb. You are OF A DIFFERENT SPIRIT!

You can report the good news today during this tumultuous season!

What’s the report that you are going to believe and deliver?

Fear or Hope?

As we do here at Christians Engaged, #ChooseHope

Prayer for us today:

Holy Spirit, when we are tempted to fear the unknown ahead, prompt us to lift our eyes to the hills and gaze on the One from whom our help comes from.

Father, You are the giver of life and promise. We set our affections on your Word as we navigate new territory.

Thank you that Your perfect love casts out all fear!

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Audrey is one of our area leaders for Christians Engaged. If you would like to check out how to get more involved with us as a volunteer or area leader - please fill this out.

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