Num 13:32 “And they brought 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.

We shall conclude the teaching on the above topic which we commenced earlier. The background story is about twelve people who were sent on assignment to spy out the land of promise. Upon their return, thereport given was divided into two groups, the first group was the group of ten people who saw and reported what they saw in line with the fact of what they saw and not in the context of what their God could do for them and the second group were just two who saw and reported what they saw in the context of what their God could do for them. In view of this, the scripture informed us that the majority who reported the fact and not the truth brought an evil report. Please note
that the facts as it relates to physical things do not hold waters as far as God is concerned. It is thetruths that stands and always prevail because the word of God is truth. The fact may be that the inhabitants of the land are men of great stature, thus looks difficult to posses their land, but the truth is that God can override any form of situation we
confront by the truth of the word of God we have on the inside of our heart.

As soon as the evil report came into the camp there were immediate consequences. Beloved, any time you believe or spread evil report of unbelief and faithlessness in the almighty God, the following follows in one form or the other.

Firstly, believers and spreaders of evil report do not enter the Promised Land. No matter how qualified and well positioned you may be to enjoy the promises of God for your life, as long as you are a believer of evil report, it is certain you will never enter the promised rest of God.

Num 14:30 reads; “Except for Caleb the son of Jephunah and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.

These two mentioned were the only two of the twelve that were permitted to enter the land of promise because they refused to spread or believe an evil report.

Secondly, evil report leads to murmuring because it does not edify and God is not pleased with any form of murmuring.

Num 14:27-29 reads. ”How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who murmur against me? I have heard the murmuring which the children of Israel murmur against me. Verse 29 reads further, the carcasses of you who have murmured against me shall fall in this wilderness.

This is to say that evil report leads to murmuring and murmerers shall not enter into the Promised Land.

Thirdly, evil report leads to diversion and wondering in the wilderness.

Num 14:34 reads “According to the numbers of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days for each day you shall bear your guilt one year namely forty years, and you shall know my rejection.

Friends, the journey to the promised land was not to take forty years for the spies did not take forty years to get to the land to carry out their mission however due to the evil report, the land which was to be given to them in a matter of days and weeks was eventually delivered to them in forty years. Believers and spreaders of evil report always prolong their days of visitation and the days of manifestation of glory.

Fourthly, all the adult who were 20 years and above, who had seen the manifestation of God’s glory; who had seen how He parted the red sea and all the great works He did right from the land of Egypt yet refused to take a clue on the faithfulness of God would not see the promised land except for Joshua and Caleb. They shall all be consumed by war, disease and pestilence

Num 14.35 reads “I the Lord have spoken this, “I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed and there they shall die”

Evil report produces evil congregation; evil congregation shall be consumed.

Lastly evil reporters don’t only lead people to death, they themselves die before they get to the Promised Land by a plague.

Num 14:37 reads “those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord.

The ten men were not spared at all. Beloved, to believe in God when it’s not even convenient is the best option. It is good we all walk by faith and trust God and not spread evil report lest we be consumed. Nigeria shall be saved. I believe it so I say it shalom!