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Category: Fishers of Men

Published: Tuesday, 09 March 2010 23:36

Written by Mark Neddeau

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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. Numbers 13:23

I've always enjoyed this passage of scripture, but it has been recently that God has opened an understanding to me about it, and it deals with the grapes the two spies who returned to the children of Israel were carrying.

Between the two of them they carried grapes on a staff. It must have been a huge and heavy vine to require them to carry it that way, and it was no doubt ripe and ready to eat, since the previous verses identify the time they entered into the land as "the time of firstripe grapes". Just look at that passage and realize what is happening. They return to Moses and the Israelites carrying this enourmous vine with multitudes of ripe grapes. If anyone has ever eaten grapes they know that when they are just right they can be so sweet and juicy and semi-soft and really a joy to devour. On the other hand, the same vine that holds those delicious morsels also holds grapes that are not yet ripe and worse, grapes that are past ripe! How many of us have pulled a grape of the stem only to realize it is bruised, dark and inedible? So, here we have a picture of two men pulling this enormous grapevine into camp.

I believe this was a type and shadow of the land itself. Moreover, a type and shadow of our very lives. There was going to be good and bad in that land simultaneously. There is good and bad in our lives simultaneously. There were giants and walled cities, but there were also fields and flocks and crops waiting! There were going to be receptive people, but also enemies. A great and goodly mix. Now we all know that the report was good at first, but quickly became a report of the "sour grapes" that awaited them also. It took Joshua to push for victory and overlook that which was overripe or rotten and see the fruit worth picking. We must have Joshua's spirit! We have to begin to look at every situation with the idea that there will always be good and bad, good and not-so-bad, and just plain good OR bad in every part of our lives.

Instead of shying away from the possibilities that you might find a sour note or hit a soft spot and stumble, you need to look at the entire health of the vine you have found. More often than not the GOOD will outweigh the BAD or UGLY of a situation and you will emerge victorious if you just take a step in faith! That's what ultimately happened here. The children of Israel faced the largest city in the area, Jericho, and GOD brought it down without a shot fired! Even deeper, you will be offered this kind of "fruit" in your life from outside forces. Friends, enemies, neutrals will all attempt to sow into your life. People not of your faith will try to teach you spritual or secular things. The key is to not be so closed minded or self-righteous that you NEGLECT to pick the good fruit from the vine while throwing the whole pallet away! Be open and honest and receptive to what God has for you! Try and trust God to feed you all manner of fruit in your life and you will bear evidence of the proper fruit in your season!

You can enjoy the fruits of the land, even if you bite into a sour grape now and again. God is a good God, yes He is, and he gives you enough good fruit to overcome the loss!

In Love - Elder Mark Neddeau

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