Poetry

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Spies from twelve tribes scoped out the country yielding milk and honey,
With priceless pomegranates, figs, and grapes that cost no money.
Such fruit their lips did long to touch, their tongues did salivate.
To taste the goodness of the land their mouths could barely wait.

And yet a strain of doubt crept in, unseen yet not ignored.
"To buy the tools to take this land your 'lazies' can't afford.
To beat their plowshares into swords requires too much toil.
How can non-warring flesh and blood from Anak wrest such soil?"

Alas, ten scouts consumed the bait that scourged their souls with lack,
Deception of the knowledge tree which lies they could not hack,
But famishing for bondage did unleash a bad report:
"The land, though fertile, urges us this mission to abort."

"It eats up its inhabitants," the dubious men proclaimed,
Thus slinging verbal stones at Him who o'er all names is named.
"We see ourselves as grasshoppers unable to prevail
Against the mighty locusts clad in plates of solid mail.

"How then can even Moses think to give us victory
To feed our starving hoards? Shall he provide a feast for free?
Behold the squirming caterpillars munching on each vine!
We stand no chance against those giants drunk on ancient wine!"

With such intimidating words they did the crowd discourage.
The people wailed, God's man travailed, and Caleb cried "Take courage!"
"Don't let your fears prohibit you from relishing the meal
Provided by your shepherd who your every pang does feel.

"The one who sends the manna can assuage your every need,
For from the chains of hunger pains he longs to see you freed."
But they cried, "Don't you see the ones who guard our food supply?
Yet you fish think their nets to break, our loaves to multiply!"

And so with greedy hands they grasped for stones to quash their rage,
Blindly seeking for a way to slay the chosen sage
Who dared to bring deliverance to every captive soul
That labored under Pharaoh's whip. He wept to see them whole.

But now the ghost of anorexia did haunt their hearts.
They knew not how to fight the plague that gloom and death imparts.
The very law they pledged to heed could not absolve their sin.
Therefore the devils once cast out did quickly come back in.

With bitter claws they mocked and scratched. "Just look at how you've failed.
You stand condemned and don't deserve this banquet you've assailed.
God's promises you dare not claim, nor of His table eat.
But you may drink of sorrow and self pity bittersweet."

So they imbibed the bitter cup of bitterness and grief.
Though of the Rock they sipped, yet they remained in unbelief.
They failed to mix His manna with the pure milk of the Word,
And, starved for faith, did soon forget the Living truth they'd heard.

But after several hundred years God sent His only Son
To pay the price for every fault. He has the victory won!
He offers us a feast of bread, and of the finest wine,
The blood of His own sacrifice, that blessed life divine.

In Him the Promised Land has come, if we His grace receive
And in all true sincerity wholeheartedly believe.
So let us with thanksgiving then His promises hold sure,
And bold against the devil's lies our softened hearts inure,

That we may of the Spirit's fruit and perfect love partake,
Which covers all self centeredness and every frail mistake
To which our tainted flesh is prone. To His cross let us cling.
Let us exult His finished work and of His praises sing.

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