My addition to Our Daily Bread (7/10/11):
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite community: "The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. If the LORD is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. Only don't rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us. Don't be afraid of them!" (Numbers 14:6-9 HCSB)
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 HCSB)
Just as the majority of the spies struggled to see the blessing of the promised land, there are times in each of our walks that struggles seem to obscure our faith. It’s hard to remember that His plan includes our going through suffering. That not only builds character in us, but it opens a way for Him to shine through us. I fear I am a part of the original “self-esteem” generation: where many of us were taught that we could be anything we set our minds to, but someone forgot to tell us that there are no openings for the position of God. We want our Promise Land
The problems are not the problem when we let the promise have its power. Focus on the promise and the faithfulness of He who promised and courage will be the result. Joshua & Caleb found out the hard way that not all brothers will see it. I think Caleb said “we can certainly conquer it!” (Num. 13:30) knowing God was part of his “we.” The others just didn’t see it that way. In the verses above, Caleb and Joshua understood and lamented that their brothers saw only the peril of the problems rather than the power in the promise.
I’ve gotten into the habit of telling my 3-year-old son “Watch where you’re walking and walk where you’re watching.” We almost always do end up going where we are watching, so in the words of the Sunday School classic, “Be careful little eyes what you see.”
Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne. (Hebrews 12:1-2 HCSB emphasis mine)
Andy Jentes
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