The state of our world – its cultures, societies, marketplaces, educational institutions, economies, and governments all appear to be going from bad to worse. Families have fallen apart and have become dysfunctional and unhealthy. We wonder how anything or anyone good can stand up to it all. With all the bad news, where can we find the good in life here on Earth anymore?
The Land: Very Very Good
Only two spies challenged the bad report of the ten spies from the land. They were so upset about the bad news broadcast to the children of Israel that Joshua and Caleb rent their clothes (Numbers 14:6).
Why tear their garments? In ancient times, rending garments was done out of grief over a truth being destroyed, or faith having been lost in God. The truth that YHWH gave the Promised Land to His people as an inheritance was being dashed by the evil report. Faith was destroyed by the Giants vs Grasshopper report. Why have such a hard time believing that YHWH would fight their battles and grant them victory over their enemies?
Another truth to be believed was that the goodness of the land was for Israel to enjoy. Joshua and Caleb proclaimed that the land was not only good but exceptionally good – very, very good.
They (Joshua and Caleb) said to the whole assembly of Bnei-Yisrael, “The land through which we passed is an exceptionally good land!” Numbers 14:7, TLV
The word for ‘exceptionally’ in Hebrew is a word written twice – me’od, me’od, an uncommon, emphatic phrase found only three times in the Torah. Me’od by itself means ‘exceedingly;’ written twice the word means ‘exceedingly abundantly, exceptionally.’
As beautiful and as fertile as the Mid-Willamette Valley is here in Oregon, I don’t know that anyone could honestly use that superlative for the land we live in, nor anywhere else in America for that matter. Have you heard family or friends talk excitedly about how good the land is where they live or are moving to? Nope, not even the Ozark Mountains.
The children of Israel were living in a desert and had come from a land where they had to work hard to keep it fertile with irrigation systems. The Promised Land was so good, it was watered by heaven, not by man-made canals. Why wouldn’t the first generation of Israel buy into Joshua and Caleb’s good news about how exceptional the land was?
Good: All That Surrounds the House
The Hebrew word for ‘good’ – ‘tov’ – paints a picture of what Joshua and Caleb envisioned for the households of Israel. Anywhere a family would set up a house in that very, very good land, the land would surround that house with what truly is very, very good – grace, beauty, love, health, and prosperity.
The two spies envisioned highly functioning, prosperous households in keeping with the commandment of YHWH to the very first family. The Creator’s first commandment to males and females upon the earth was:
“Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it.” Genesis 1:28
This sounds so similar to what the purpose of our Father was for the children of Israel to be dwelling in the exceptionally good land of Canaan.
Believe that God is Good!
An important message not to miss in the Good News to all mankind is that our God is good and does good things for His people. The prophet Isaiah and later the apostle Paul warned Israel that they continue to have a big problem with believing the Gospel.
And how shall they proclaim unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the good news of good things!” But not all heeded the Good News. For Isaiah says, “YHWH, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of the Messiah.
Romans 10:15-17
Ah, so there is the key to heeding the Good News of good things – putting faith in the Messiah Yeshua. Believing Moses and the prophets isn’t good enough. We must believe the Word of the Messiah, to believe that our Father is good and does good things for His people. Our Good Shepherd still has a mission to accomplish – to bring the exiles of Israel back to the land promised to Abraham’s seed.
To not believe Yeshua means that even those who identify with the God of Israel could not enter into the Promised Land that is to come.
So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Hebrews 3:19
I don’t know about you, but I do not want to miss out on what our Father has in store for His children. This wild branch does not ever want to be cut off from the olive tree again! I had better continue in His goodness and kindness:
Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God can graft them in again.
Romans 11:22-23, KJV
Before we see our God as severe in His chastisement, see Him as favorable towards us.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime. Psalm 30:5, NASB.
He loves to bless those who trust in Him for His goodness. The Good News report believes that YHWH is good and by His grace and mercy does good things for Israel.
He’s a good, good Father and He’ll have it no other way! Abba wants us to know Him as being faithfully good to His children, and that His mercy upon us endures forever.
Praise Him for His Goodness!
O give thanks unto YHWH, for He is good: for His mercy endures forever! Let the redeemed of YHWH say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy; and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and the west, from the north, and the south.
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried unto YHWH in their trouble and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Oh, that men would praise YHWH for His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Psalm 107:1-9
Oh that we’d all thank and praise our God for His goodness to His people! How did He demonstrate His goodness to the children of Israel who cried out to Him in distress? He delivered them that they might go the right way to enter the exceptionally good land and dwell in a city of habitation. There they were surrounded by His grace, beauty, love, health, and prosperity. Let’s trust in our good, good Abba to do it again for us in our day!
Who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of YHWH revealed? Isaiah 53:1
Let us be praising God for the Good News report of His goodness to us!
Giving thanks to YHWH our Elohim for His exceptional goodness,
David Klug
