Overcoming obstacles is clearly depicted by the account of the entry of the Israelites into the Promised Land. They encountered three (3) major obstacles in this process.
Spying the Land (Numbers 13)
The Lord instructed Moses to send twelve (12) men, one leader from each of the 12 tribes, to spy (explore) the Promised Land (of Canaan). This took place while the Israelites were encamped in the Desert of Paran (Kadesh).
When Moses sent them out, he instructed them on what they were to specifically explore. He also instructed them to bring back some fruit of the land.
After forty (40) days, the twelve (12) spies returned from their exploration mission. They filed their mixed report before Moses, Aaron and the entire Israelite community.
Their report confirmed that the land did indeed flow with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). They also added that the land was inhabited by powerful people. These included the descendants of Anak (giants). Their cities were not only large, but they were also fortified.
Walls of Jericho (Joshua 6)
After Moses’ death, Joshua secretly sent out two (2) spies to check out the Land. They were to specifically focus on Jericho in their secretive mission.
However, the king of Jericho was informed of the presence of the two spies in his kingdom. He went after them but did not manage to find and capture them. This was due to a prostitute named Rahab. She had hid and given them an escape route.
Much later on, after the Israelites had crossed the (River) Jordan, they went up to Gilgal (on the eastern border of Jericho) and encamped there. Because of God’s exploits among the Israelites (the parting of the Red Sea, the destruction of the Amorite kings and the crossing of the Jordan on dry ground), the king and inhabitants of Jericho and the Amorite and Canaanite kings to the west of Jordan and along the coast of Jordan were very fearful of the Israelites. Therefore, the gates of Jericho were locked and the inhabitants neither went out nor visitors in.
Nonetheless, the Lord informed Joshua that He had delivered Jericho, it’s king and fighting men into his hands. He also instructed Joshua to (have seven priests and the army) march around the city once per day for six (6) days. They were to sound trumpets but not a cry or sound from the army.
On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven (7) times. At the seventh march, Joshua commanded the army to shout just as the Lord had commanded. The walls of Jericho collapsed.
Facing the Giant (1 Samuel 17)
The Israelite and Philistine armies were separated by a valley. King Saul and all the Israelite were terrified by the Philistine giant named Goliath and his challenge to them. Goliath wanted one Israelite to fight him for loser’s-people-becomes-the-subject-of-the-winner’s-people. Thus, for thirty-nine (39) days, Goliath challenged the Israelites to a fight.
On the fortieth day, while David heard Goliath challenging the Israelites to a fight. He got to hear this while he was delivering supplies to his brothers in the army. These were the supplies that his father had sent him with.
Therefore, David sought to know the reward that would be given to the one who would kill Goliath. David’s conversation was overheard and reported to king Saul, who sent for him. In the presence of Saul, David offered to fight (and kill) Goliath.
What can You observe from the three (3) accounts above?
- Ten (10) of twelve (12) spies saw themselves as unable to take the land (they saw themselves as grasshoppers). Two of the them (Joshua and Caleb) saw themselves as able to take the land.
- But for Joshua, everyone else saw Jericho as a large fortified city.
- King Saul and his army saw a terrifying giant. But David saw Goliath as similar to a lion or a bear that he had killed while tending his father’s sheep.
The first obstacle to or challenge in taking over (conquering) your land (space) is usually in your mind. And it is usually related to your ability (grasshopper mentality). The second has got to do with your inability to see beyond the ordinary, even obstacles (walls). The third involves your inability to down-size the obstacle (giant) to your past conquests (lion and bear).
Overcoming Obstacles
The report from your exploration of potential lands (opportunities) will have mixed results. It will comprise the good (in line with God’s promise(s)) and the bad (people’s opinions).
However, you have to see the opportunities through your God-given ability (Matthew 25:14-30 and Philippians 4:13) and faith. You also have to see beyond the obstacle (city without walls) and appropriate the same to your ability (that is, the lion and bear levels).
If you are in need of perceiving properly or correctly amidst obstacles, and overcoming obstacles, then the following tips will be of great help.
- Identify and acknowledge the existence of this problem.
- Single out the tendency to put yourself down or be pessimistic in the face of obstacles.
- Commit yourself to change of mindset or mentality.
- Ask God to equip you through prayer (2 Kings 6) and His Word (Romans 12:2 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17) that contains precious promises regarding you.
