"...'Go up through the Negev and into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many. Is the land where they live good or bad? Are the cities where they dwell open camps or fortifications? Is the soil fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous, and bring back some of the fruit of the land.'"
~ Numbers 13:17-20
Good Morning, Good Morning!!
I was recently thinking about Joshua and Caleb.
Deuteronomy 1:21 tells us, Moses looks to the people of God after they've been wandering in the desert a bit and says, "See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."
In this moment, do they choose to step out in faith and run in like it's Christmas morning?
Part of me wants to be compassionate and try to put myself in the mind of someone who had been brutally enslaved to understand the fearfulness and trepidation, but the other part of me is baffled.
Moses says with crystal clarity "See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."
Moses! The conduit of the Father, who had just recently parted the sea so the people would be free, spoils and all...
The people who had followed the cloud above the tabernacle without fail. "Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites would set out, and wherever the cloud settled, there the Israelites would camp. At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at the Lord's command they camped." (Numbers 9:17-18)
Days, weeks, months, it didn't matter. They followed the direction of the Lord.
When they complained, He provided quail.
They had all the evidence they needed to know that Moses had the right end of the stick and that the Lord was indeed their God.
Yet, they complained. And even in that complaint, when after a short turn in the desert God said, go take possession of the promised land... the people said, meh, let's dip a toe in the water, let's send some spies and then maybe we'll think about it.
The command that came through Moses was bold. The sources both human and divine had clear recent evidence of validity.
Yet at the words...
"See, the LORD your God has placed the land before you. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."
... they were indeed discouraged.
How often do we do the same?
When the spies were sent and returned after 40 days, the problem only compounded.
10/12 were fearful.
10/12 focused on the giants rather than the promise.
When our Heavenly Father promises to complete a good work in each of us, to work through us, to bless us, do we focus on the giants or the harvest?
The giants are there, no doubt. But, whether it's a slingshot or something else, our Sweet Father has equipped each of us for every task He has set us to. Knowing that, do we focus on the bounty of the promise knowing we serve the Creator of the Universe?
I once heard someone say, If you saw you the way He sees you, you'd be unstoppable.
May you be unstoppable, friend.
Whatever He has planted in your heart to do, may you know you're equipped for the giants, focus on the promises, and "Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you."
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for helping us to walk in Your direction and promises in faith in the example of Joshua and Caleb.
Thank You for helping us to know that You have perfectly equipped us for each and every battle.
And, thank You for fulfilling in each of us the good work You began.
We love You, we need You, we choose You.
Amen
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 1:3-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6
"For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." ~ Ephesians 2:10
"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." ~ Hebrews 13:20-21
May the Good Lord bless you and keep you, friends... always, in all ways. Amen.
Bonus song of praise... ♥
(I know we've posted this song before, and this artist, but never together. Both, the sweet simplicity of the recording and the message seemed perfect this morning. God bless you, wherever you are, whenever this may cross your path.)
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