I Will Not Be A Victim

Numbers 14:31
But your little ones, whom you said would be victims I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.

We cannot project our fears upon our children. Young people don’t have the baggage and scars that we have. They are optimistic about the future and it’s our job to make sure they get there. We cannot taint them with our insecurities, prejudices, and fears from the past. We must allow God to paint upon their canvass a bright future free of the restrictions that we lived through. We need to be careful that we don’t create victims. Victims are people who are prone to attack and abuse because they feel they are powerless. Victim thinking blames other people for your plight when you have the wherewithal to go forward. Victim thinking looks at challenges and is defeated before you ever attempt to conquer those that oppose you. Victim thinking leaves God out of the picture even though he’s been there all the time. I will not be a victim.

The Children of Israel were on the border of the the Promised Land. They had been stuck in a recession on their way to their possession, but got stopped because of depression. Moses sent over 12 spies to spy out the land to see if it was worth taking. They came back with clusters of grapes that two men had to carry. Ten men came back with negative reports about how big the giants were and why they shouldn’t go. Joshua and Caleb came back with the fruit talking about how they could take the land. Joshua and Caleb were the only two who believed they could take the land; the rest spread fear and negativity into the congregation. They said, “Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? If we take this Stimulus plan our children will have to pay this debt back, this is a spending plan! “Only two people Joshua and Caleb said, “Yes we can!”

These obstructionists wanted to stone their leaders, painted caricatures in the New York posts of monkeys being shot down. Talking about, I guess we need a new leader to write the stimulus plan. They wanted to select a new leader to take them back to Egypt. God showed up and told them there would be no victims. God took action:

1. Joshua and Caleb would lead them in. He picked the youngest and most optimistic to lead. Joshua was able to lead because he had walked with Moses since they left Egypt.

2. The older people would die in the wilderness after 40 years because they refused to believe they could go in. Some people have to die out before you can enter in.

3. The Rebellious leaders who tried to block God’s plan died immediately. They were swallowed up by the earth.

4. The young people who had nothing to do with the negative talk of their parents would live and take their jobs.

In order not to be a victim you have to:

1. Remember what you saw that was good. Joshua and Caleb remembered the grapes, the fruit, not the giants.

2. Separate yourself from toxic people. When Joshua and Caleb heard the people complaining and being negative they tore their clothes which is a sign of grief.

3. Speak those things that are not as though they were. Joshua and Caleb said, “God will give us this land flowing with milk and honey.” We will create more jobs. This recession will end by 2010!

4. Don’t rebel against God and his leaders. You would be a fool to want the President to fail. I rebuke a Rush Limbaugh spirit!

5. Don’t fear man, fear God!

Dear God I will not be the victim when you say move I will move. Greater are you that I with me than those who stand in the way of my promise. I will not be an obstructionist but I will be a revolutionary. We as a people will get to the Promised Land. I am not a victim.

In Jesus Name.
Amen