We need to see our obstacles as opportunities to watch God move mightily on our behalf.
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are able to overcome it. 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.
Numbers 13: 30-31
The Lord had Moses send a group of men on a forty day journey to search the land of Canaan. They came back with exciting news. They had seen, “A land which floweth with milk and honey.” But it was also a land filled with giants. Caleb and Joshua saw it as a place of opportunity. Whereas, all the others who were on the expedition team, saw it as a land of opposition and their words whipped up the people into a frenzy of fear and doubt.
Our faith is often exposed for what it truly is in the moments when it is put to the test. It’s amazing how a few can impact the majority when it comes to God’s Plan and will for our lives. The minority will run roughshod over the majority and the memory of God’s provisions gets consumed by fear. If the people would have only thought back to how Almighty God delivered them out of the iron fist of Pharaoh, if they had returned to the theater of their mind and remembered the miraculous power of God on display in the parting of the Red Sea. Exodus 14:21 allows us to go back to that moment that they would have witnessed firsthand, “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” Had they only remembered all the times when Jehovah Jireh provided for them time and time again, instead they murmured against Moses and Aaron and the Bible tells us, “They said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt” (Numbers 14:4.) Captivity seemed better than Canaan. Slavery wasn’t a bad memory but a position they were willing to return to.
The nuts and bolts of Caleb’s courage are not found within himself, it was his trust and faith in God Almighty. God had proven time and again that He could be trusted. God’s Word teaches us a sobering truth about faith and the consequences of not believing God, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6.) Caleb pleased God- by believing God. I believe that it would have been exciting to have been around Caleb! This man had a heavenly fire that burnt in him every day; he seemed to have lived life to its fullest. God was the source that fueled Caleb’s unction for everyday living, no matter what the opposition might look like. Caleb wasn't a man that brought everyone down, he was a man whose approach would have been, bring it on, my God is able.
We, too often, romanticize that which we have been delivered from when the going gets tough. Fear often leads to foolish thinking and ultimately foolish words. We sin against God with our murmuring and we miss out on an opportunity to bring glory to God with the work He has planned for us. What is it that God has called you to do? Why is it that all you see are the giants? Caleb’s confidence was not in himself, but in God. Who is your confidence in? The Psalmist writes, "O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee" (Psalm 84:12.) I want to encourage you to not allow the unbelief of another to discourage you in that thing which the Lord has called you to do, big or small it doesn't matter. You can have the courage of Caleb- Just believe God. Obstacles are opportunities to watch God work powerfully. Believe God, and you will live a life that is pleasing to God, no matter how many giants you encounter. That will be living life to the fullest.
Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Bro. Tracy
Numbers 13: 30-31
The Lord had Moses send a group of men on a forty day journey to search the land of Canaan. They came back with exciting news. They had seen, “A land which floweth with milk and honey.” But it was also a land filled with giants. Caleb and Joshua saw it as a place of opportunity. Whereas, all the others who were on the expedition team, saw it as a land of opposition and their words whipped up the people into a frenzy of fear and doubt.
Our faith is often exposed for what it truly is in the moments when it is put to the test. It’s amazing how a few can impact the majority when it comes to God’s Plan and will for our lives. The minority will run roughshod over the majority and the memory of God’s provisions gets consumed by fear. If the people would have only thought back to how Almighty God delivered them out of the iron fist of Pharaoh, if they had returned to the theater of their mind and remembered the miraculous power of God on display in the parting of the Red Sea. Exodus 14:21 allows us to go back to that moment that they would have witnessed firsthand, “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” Had they only remembered all the times when Jehovah Jireh provided for them time and time again, instead they murmured against Moses and Aaron and the Bible tells us, “They said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt” (Numbers 14:4.) Captivity seemed better than Canaan. Slavery wasn’t a bad memory but a position they were willing to return to.
The nuts and bolts of Caleb’s courage are not found within himself, it was his trust and faith in God Almighty. God had proven time and again that He could be trusted. God’s Word teaches us a sobering truth about faith and the consequences of not believing God, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6.) Caleb pleased God- by believing God. I believe that it would have been exciting to have been around Caleb! This man had a heavenly fire that burnt in him every day; he seemed to have lived life to its fullest. God was the source that fueled Caleb’s unction for everyday living, no matter what the opposition might look like. Caleb wasn't a man that brought everyone down, he was a man whose approach would have been, bring it on, my God is able.
We, too often, romanticize that which we have been delivered from when the going gets tough. Fear often leads to foolish thinking and ultimately foolish words. We sin against God with our murmuring and we miss out on an opportunity to bring glory to God with the work He has planned for us. What is it that God has called you to do? Why is it that all you see are the giants? Caleb’s confidence was not in himself, but in God. Who is your confidence in? The Psalmist writes, "O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee" (Psalm 84:12.) I want to encourage you to not allow the unbelief of another to discourage you in that thing which the Lord has called you to do, big or small it doesn't matter. You can have the courage of Caleb- Just believe God. Obstacles are opportunities to watch God work powerfully. Believe God, and you will live a life that is pleasing to God, no matter how many giants you encounter. That will be living life to the fullest.
Thanks for visiting and thanks for praying,
Bro. Tracy
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