What a joy we
have when we read about the great deeds of our God. The
Almighty God is our Father, and we are rich, because all things belong to us
through our Lord Jesus Christ!
In all times there were men of faith who trusted their
God no matter what the situation was. But also there were men who trusted in
their feelings, in their five senses; they were carnal men who forgot their
mighty God.
Two of these great men of faith were Caleb and Joshua.
You can read their account in Numbers chapter 13 and 14.
After all the miracles God did for the children of Israel in Egypt , at the red sea and in the
desert, they finally arrived at the door of the Promised Land. Moses asked one
of each tribes, twelve men, to explore the land and see how it was, and how
fortified were the cities.
After 40 days they returned and gave a report before
the whole assembly: "We arrived to the land that flows with milk and
honey. Nevertheless, the people are strong, the cities are walled and very
great, and we saw GIANTS in the land." AND Caleb said: "Let us GO and
possess it for we are well able to possess it!" But the men said:
"NO, we are not able, they are stronger than us! We saw GIANTS, and we
were in our sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight!"
Sad to say, all the congregation started to murmur
against Moses and Aaron and said: "If we only had died in the land of Egypt or in this wilderness! Why has the
Lord God brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and
children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt ?"
After all the great signs and wonders God did for
them, all this time they were still faithless, they didn't know their God. But
Joshua and Caleb had faith: "And they spoke to all the congregation of the
children of Israel ,
saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If
the Lord God delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it
to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the
Lord God, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their
protection has departed from them, and the Lord God is with us. Do NOT fear
them.”" (Numbers 14:7-9)
The whole congregation was ready to stone them, but
the glory of the Lord God appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation and
said: "How long will this people provoke me? How long they will not
believe me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?" (Numbers
14:11)
So God punished them, and all this generation did not
enter in the Promised Land; but their children did enter, as well as Joshua and
Caleb, because they believed.
This is a heavy lesson for us all! Let us examine
ourselves if we are in the faith. As the apostle Paul exhorted us:
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an
evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another
daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the
beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. For who, having heard,
rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt , led by Moses? Now with whom
was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell
in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter in His
rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in
because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:12-19)
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all
things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who
called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great
and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2Peter
1:2-4)
(Prayer:) 'Lord God, remove from us all fears and
spirit of unbelief. Give us the faith and courage of Joshua and Caleb. These
men entered into your rest, the Promised Land. Thank you, Father God, that we
have your Word and your promises to lean on. Your Word is the only truth. We
don't want to believe the words of men but only your Word. Thank you, Lord God,
for helping us to enter into your rest. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.'
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