promised land

so it's good reading in the book of numbers. you might not think it, but there's some quality stuff in there. as i read numbers 13-14, the Lord gave me some insight into how it applies to where we are right now in auburn. and not just here, but the Body of Christ as a whole.
quick summary: these two chapters cover the story of the israelite spies who went in to scout out the Promised Land before the israelites would take it. they got back and told all the people that basically there was no way they could possibly capture the land... all the people were giants. so here's where it gets interesting. after the spies' reports, all the israelites were ready to head on back to egypt (back into slavery).
hmmmm... parallel to us? God told me to read the passage with the mindset of revival as the Promised Land (because it has been promised to us). first thing to note: the influence of the spies. all but two believed that defeat was certain. their attitudes (this is only 10 men) influenced a whole nation to believe that it was impossible to take the land. but notice caleb and joshua's response of confidence: "we should by all means to up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it." now that's the kind of man i want to follow... confident in the Lord's power to overcome.
but here's the real interesting stuff. even when we're on the brink of the Promised Land (revival!), many will want to turn back. it's because they want the easy route. and the road really won't be easy. we will have to fight. later in the chapter, the israelites realize their mistake and try to move on by their own initiative. but the Lord had not directed them so, and thus they were struck down by their enemies. to move ahead without the Lord's direction is an assured loss.
He also pointed out to me that the israelites had never been ready to acutally pack up and go back to egypt, they had just always talked about how life was better in egypt. it was when they were literally on the brink of entering the Promised Land. key here: the worst attack from the enemy came right before an amazing display of God's power in overcoming their enemies and giving them the Promised Land. so with us, the worst attack from the enemy (in which he did not try to actually take out the israelites, only turn their hearts away from God and His promises) is right before the Promised Land (revival). the battle is real...