They Said It Couldn’t Be Done

The message was brought by Rev. Donnie White.

Numbers 13: ³⁰ And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. ³¹ But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. ³² And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. ³³ And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Israel was miraculously delivered from Egypt.  Why did they so quickly decide God couldn’t deliver anymore?  There was fertile land with clusters of grapes so big they had to be carried between two men.  It was all waiting for them.  God had proved himself and was ready to give it to them.  Twelve spies were sent in and ten of them threw a wet blanket on it.  Only Joshua and Caleb said let’s do it.  The ten said saw a wilderness overtaken by powerful people.  They were intimidated and brought an evil report to the people.  Ten men persuaded an entire nation.  They had come across the Red Sea on dry ground and watched the Egyptian army go down in defeat.  Now they were destined to be in the wilderness 40 years because they said it couldn’t be done.

There are some situations in the Bible where they said it couldn’t be done.   Following is a short synopsis of the examples.

Matthew 19 tells us about the rich young ruler. He wanted to know how to get to heaven. Jesus told him to sell all he had and give it to the poor.  He went away sorrowful because he was too attached to his possessions. Riches cause problems for many people.  Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven.  The disciples said who then can be saved.  Jesus said with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.

Nicodemus said a man couldn’t be born a second time.  Jesus told him not to marvel.  There is a physical birth but to be born again is a spiritual birth.  It can be done through Jesus.

The people said the hungry couldn’t be fed with just a lad’s lunch.  Jesus took it, blessed it and broke it.  Thousands were fed and 12 baskets of leftovers were gathered.  With Jesus, it can be done.

The suffering can rejoice in distress.  What?  Look at Paul and Silas, beaten and thrown in jail.  They began to sing at midnight instead of crying oh me.  Paul said I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.  Through Jesus, it can be done.

A poor man can be rich.  Next time you’re down and out remember you’re the King’s ambassador.  Jesus has prepared a mansion for us guaranteed to be better than any we’ve ever seen.  The poor can be rich because of what Jesus has done.

A blind man can see.  Blind Bartimaeus cried out for Jesus to have mercy.  Some told him to be quiet and not bother Jesus.  He kept crying out.  Jesus healed him.  It can be done.

They may have said it about you.  He’s too mean.  She’s done too much.  He can’t be saved.  But God saved you.  It can be done.  No matter what you’re going through remember that with Jesus, it can be done.