In the book of Numbers, Moses sent twelve men to spy out the Promised Land and see who inhabited it. After 40 days, ten of them came back and said, "Moses, we don't have a chance. The people are huge. Compared to them, we look like grasshoppers." Notice their "I am" — "I am weak. I am inferior. I am intimidated. I am afraid." What happened? Fear, intimidation and inferiority came knocking at the door.
But two spies, Joshua and Caleb, came back with a different report. They said, "Moses, the people are big, but we know our God is much bigger. We are well able. Let us go in and take the land at once!" Notice their "I am" was just the opposite. "I am strong. I am equipped. I am confident. I am more than a conqueror."
What's interesting is that the negative report from the ten spies spread like wildfire throughout the rest of the camp. Before long, some 2,000,000 people were intimidated and afraid. Nobody even paid attention to Joshua and Caleb, who had the report of faith. Here's what I've learned: a negative report always spreads faster than a positive report. When people are murmuring, complaining and talking defeat, be on guard. Make sure you don't let the wrong "I am" take root.
These ten spies went on to say, "Moses, why did you even bring us out here? We're going to die in the wilderness. Our children, our wives, they're going to be taken as plunder." God answered back something very powerful. He said in Numbers 14:28, "I will do for you exactly what you have said. You said you're going to die in the wilderness, so you will die in the wilderness." God is saying the same thing to us. "I am going to do exactly what you've been saying." Don't ever say, "I am weak. I'm intimidated. I'm inferior." Friends, the wrong "I am" can keep you from your destiny.
In the scripture, have you ever heard of a man named Sethur, a man named Gaddi, or a man named Shaphat? Never heard of them. You know why? They were some of the ten spies. They were some of the ones that never made it into the Promised Land. The fact is that they were called to be history makers. They had seeds of greatness on the inside, but the wrong "I am" kept them from really making their mark. Don't let that be you. You may be facing some major obstacles. My challenge is be a Joshua. Be a Caleb. "I am strong. I am confident. I am equipped. I am more than a conqueror. I am well able." Make sure you have the right "I am" coming out of your mouth, and just like Joshua and Caleb, you'll have what you say and make it into your promised land!
"As surely as I live," declares the LORD, "I will do to you the very thing I heard you say." (Numbers 14:28, NIV)