Why is it that no one will listen?

March 6, 2009

Today's Reading: Numbers 13-14 and Acts 18

Today is one of the only sections in Numbers that I really remember, the story of the twelve spies. Calling them spies is sort of like comparing their mission to something out of an over-the-top espionage movie like Mission Impossible.

In this case, the mission was not successful, not because anyone was caught or killed, but because they chickened out. Is there any wonder why the Senator wanted to disavow their actions.

It’s hard to believe that after all the Israelites had seen, with the parting of the Red Sea and everything else, that they would be afraid of giants. I wonder just how big these giants were to get them all scared. Out of twelve spies, ten of them reported that the giants in the land were so big that we are like grasshoppers.

I always called the ten fearful spies the journalists of the group. The ones that most of the world listens to, who are the first ones to say how much doom and gloom are on our horizon. Considering the state of our economy, a lot of people are listening to the voices of their worst possible fears.

Sure, there were two who said what the Lord had in mind, but sadly, no one listened. The same thing happened to Paul as he tried to preach the Jews in Macedonia. All Paul was trying to do is help people get to know Christ.

I would love to think that I would be one of those who would listen. That I wouldn’t be one those who would have great fears of giants, who would be willing to face giants instead of running from them. However, I would also have to say that I’m probably more apt to follow the crowd and listen to the stupid not-so-silent majority.

Have you ever been the one in the minority, who is trying to tell people that they shouldn’t or should do something, and they go ahead and do it anyway? That is always a tough position to be in. It’s like being Jeremiah, and no one will listen.

Part of that frustration is that we feel like we have no say in the matter, that powerful people who do powerful things will always just do what they do. I refuse to believe that is real. The whole world is swayed by small things. And we who are to warn the majority are not responsible for the majority, but just to warn.