Read together Numbers 13 & 14
 
This section of the Bible from Numbers shows us the difference between good influencers and bad influencers. Two men pleased God with the influence they tried to have over the people, but 10 other men did not please God with their influence.
 
When the 12 men entered Canaan to see what it was like, they found the land was rich and grew wonderful crops. They knew they would have plenty of food. In fact, they brought back a cluster of grapes that were so huge it took two men to carry it on poles! The people had never seen anything like it - it seemed too good to be true!
 
The men also reported about the people they saw there. They were unusual people, giant people, huge people in the part of Canaan called Hebron. 10 of the men discouraged the people and said the giants were so big that they felt like grasshoppers when they were close to them. But, Caleb and Joshua were excited and ready to take the land from the giants. They believed that they were able to conquer the land, even with the giants. Caleb and Joshua believed that God was on their side.
 
But, the people were influenced by the 10 men who were afraid of the giants. They whined to Moses and wanted to go back to Egypt, because they were afraid. Moses couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t believe they doubted God’s power! Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes, just like they would if someone had died, because the people were letting a dream die. They were listening to bad influencers. Joshua and Caleb kept encouraging the people to go forward into the land of Canaan, the land that God had promised them. But, the people just wouldn’t listen. They got angry at Joshua and Caleb and wanted to kill them, but God protected them.
 
God was so angry and disappointed in the Israelites that He sent them back out into the wilderness to wander around. They wouldn’t go into the Promised Land yet. In fact, they waited 40 years!
 
The ten men saw how huge the men were in Hebron and were sure there was no way they could conquer them. They were seeing with their physical eyes. They forgot something - God wanted them to see with their other eyes - their eyes of faith. Caleb and Joshua realized the men were huge, but knew God was bigger than any giants. They had faith in a mighty God who wanted to lead them. They understood what God wanted, because they saw with their eyes of faith.
 
What kind of an influencer are you? Do you look at the “giants” in your life with your physical eyes or with eyes of faith? We influence others by the eyes we use. Do you encourage others? Look up Romans 8:28 together. No matter what you are up against, God can make something good out of it if you love Him and have faith in Him. That’s pretty awesome! Seeing with our eyes of faith also gives us courage. Look up Hebrews 13:5 together. If God is never going to leave us, then why should we ever be afraid? We’ve got the King of the Universe with us! That should give you great courage and the people around you will see your courage. They will want the same kind of courage you have! Are you excited to be a Christian? Look up Ephesians 6:7 together. When other people see that you are excited about living for the Lord, then you will influence them to follow Him also. Excitement and enthusiasm are so contagious! Be a good influencer!