TREM Devotional 7 April 2026 – What Are You Seeing?

Biblical Context

The book of Numbers, where our scripture comes from, tells us a lot about Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses wrote this book, and it covers a period of about 38 years. After their amazing escape from slavery in Egypt and receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, God led His people towards the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This wasn’t an easy trip. The Israelites faced a lot of wilderness travel, testing, and even rebellion. Right before they were supposed to enter the land, Moses sent out twelve leaders, one from each tribe, to check out the land. This was a critical moment for the nation, full of hope and expectation, but also a lot of fear about what lay ahead. The report they brought back would decide the next steps for a whole generation.

Key Word Study

When the Bible talks about a land "flowing with milk and honey," it isn’t just a pretty phrase. In ancient times, this combination was a clear sign of a land’s amazing richness and ability to support life well. "Milk" didn’t just mean dairy from cows; it meant a place with plenty of pasture for livestock like goats and sheep, meaning good sustenance and wealth from animal products. "Honey" in that era usually referred to wild honey from bees or syrup made from dates or grapes, showing a land full of fruitfulness, sweet things, and a good harvest. So, when God promised a land of "milk and honey" to Israel (you’ll see this phrase many times, like in Exodus 3:8), He was giving them a picture of a land that wasn’t just livable but incredibly fruitful and blessed, a place where their needs would be met with an abundance of good things. It meant an easy, pleasant life, far better than the hard life they knew in Egypt.

God’s Promises Are Already Done

You know, Bishop Mike Okonkwo tells us something important about God’s promises. He isn’t just telling you what He will do in the future. Instead, He’s letting you in on what He has already done and perfected. Think about that for a second. When God speaks a promise, it’s not a future possibility; it’s a finished reality just waiting for you to step into it. The Promised Land for the Israelites wasn’t a potential land; it was a settled fact in God’s plan. It was already flowing with milk and honey, just waiting for them to possess it. This changes everything about how you look at the challenges in your own life. You’re not hoping God will do something; you’re recognizing He has already done it, and you’re moving to claim what’s already yours. It takes a different kind of sight, doesn’t it? It takes a vision that looks past present facts to God’s eternal truth.

The Spies’ Mission and Their First Report

Moses picked twelve men, strong leaders from each of Israel’s tribes, and sent them into the land. Their job was to go see it, check it out, and come back with a report. And what a report they brought back! They saw a place that was just as good as God had promised, a land spilling over with abundance. The scripture says, "And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." (Numbers 13:27 KJV). They didn’t just see it; they brought back proof. The source material talks about how a single cluster of grapes was so huge that two men had to carry it on a pole. Imagine that! This wasn’t some tiny, shriveled fruit; it was a clear sign of how rich and fertile the land was. It was physical evidence that God’s word about the land was absolutely true. They had seen the blessing with their own eyes, and they brought back the visual proof. For a moment, it must have felt like a dream come true for everyone listening.

The ‘Nevertheless’ Moment

But then, something shifted in their report. After describing all the good things, the abundance, and the amazing fruit, they added a critical word: "Nevertheless." That one word changed everything. The full report was: "And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there." (Numbers 13:27-28 KJV). They didn’t stop with the good news. They tacked on all the difficulties they saw. They focused on the strength of the people already living there, how big the cities were, and the giants—the Anakim—they had seen. It’s like they had this incredible display of God’s blessing right in front of them, but their eyes quickly moved to the problems, the obstacles, the things that looked too big for them to handle. That "nevertheless" became a giant in itself, shutting down faith and opening the door to fear for the whole community.

Seeing Giants But Not Being Stopped

Here’s what you need to remember about those giants and walled cities: they were there, yes, but they didn’t stop the spies. The message from Bishop Okonkwo is clear: "Yes, there were giants, but they went in and came out. The giants did not kill them." Think about that. These men walked right into a land with giants, spent forty days exploring it, and every single one of them made it back alive. "They took the grapes; the giants did not stop them." They managed to gather massive fruit and carry it out without being harmed or stopped by the people they feared. "They all went and came back, not one of the spies was lost in the land." Not one! This fact speaks volumes. The obstacles they reported were real, but they were not insurmountable. They didn’t even stop the spies from completing their mission and bringing back the evidence of the land’s goodness. Their fear was bigger than the actual danger they faced. What they saw internally—their doubts and worries—was stronger than the reality of their protection and success.

The Danger of a Negative Focus

The problem wasn’t what they saw; it was what they chose to focus on. Their report should have stopped after describing the milk, the honey, and the incredible fruit. The wonders of God’s promise were clearly before them. Yet, "But they were all preoccupied with a negative report." Their eyes were glued to the giants and the walls, letting fear overshadow the clear proof of God’s blessing and power. They forgot who had promised them this land. They forgot about the God who had opened the Red Sea and brought them through the wilderness. It’s easy for us to do the same thing. We can see the good things, the opportunities, the signs that God is working, but then we let one or two negative details hijack our entire perspective. We let the "nevertheless" steal our joy and our faith, making us forget all the times God has shown up for us before. It’s a dangerous place to be when your vision is clouded by what scares you instead of what God has already provided.

Challenges Are Part of Life, Breakthrough Is Possible

It’s just how life works; it’s not one-sided. Bishop Okonkwo helps us see this clearly: "In anything you pursue in life, challenges and obstacles will arise." You can’t escape them. Whether it’s your business, your career, your relationships, or your spiritual walk, you’re going to face hard times. That’s a fact. But here’s another fact: "There are millionaires in every business." Think about any business that might look difficult or saturated. Someone, somewhere, has found a way to succeed in it. "No matter how difficult any business may look, you will see somebody who broke through in that business." This isn’t just about money; it’s about any area of life where you want to see success. If you’re seeing obstacles, remember that someone else has found a path through similar ones. It means the problem isn’t the obstacle itself, but your way of looking at it, and your belief in your ability to get past it. There’s always a breakthrough to be found.

Refuse to Quit, You Will Succeed

This brings us to a powerful truth. The difference between those who fail and those who succeed often boils down to one thing: quitting. "Others may fail, but some are succeeding because they refuse to quit." It’s not always about having the most talent or the easiest path; it’s about persistence. "Others probably would have been successful if they had not quit." You don’t want to be one of those who give up just before their breakthrough. You’re not someone who folds under pressure. This message is for you, right now: "You are not among those who will fail." That’s a promise you can hold onto. When you’re faced with giants, when the walls look too high, you have a choice. Will you focus on the "nevertheless" and retreat in fear, or will you choose to see God’s promises, remember His track record, and keep pushing forward? Your vision decides your victory. See what God has already done, see the abundance, and see yourself succeeding because you’re not going to quit.