Joshua 2:24
‘And they said to Joshua, “The LORD has indeed handed over to us all the land; furthermore, all the inhabitants of the land have despaired because of us.”’
This is the report that should have been given forty years earlier. In that case the majority gave a bad report. They agreed that the land was great and the produce was bountiful. However, they were afraid of the people of the land. They described them as giants. Joshua and Caleb were part of the original 12, only they gave a good report. However, the were outnumbered and the people believed the intimidating report. They were afraid and grumbled against Moses and God.
Numbers 14:30,31 describes their punishment, “By no means will you come into the land where I swore to settle you, except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Your children, however, whom you said would become plunder—I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected”.
The message of faith has its challenges. We need to step into what God asks of us regardless of how the circumstances appear. We need to see with the eyes of faith. Hebrews 11:1,2 says, “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval.” We aren’t to let the circumstances scare us. We trust in Him and His Word. If God says to go in and take it, then we should do so. We will be far happier when we are in God’s will.
We will experience fear. Bring that to God. The fear has a gravity that pulls us in. Don’t yield to it. I Peter 5:7 tells us what to do, “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” They aren’t for us to carry. Matthew 11:28-30 expounds on what we are to do, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” This is a lifestyle. We team up with Jesus. The result is rest for our souls.
Here we have the Israelites getting ready to enter the promise land. Many battles await them. However, God is their warrior. He will do the fighting for them. I believe the first battle that they fight will be against Jericho. They circled the city and God made the walls fall down. He struck the lethal blow, they went in and did clean up.
As we walk with Christ we will have troubles. John 16 33 says, “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” We don’t stir up the trouble, the world brings it because we are in Christ. We are to share His Word and love others.
We look to God and His Word. We see our circumstances that way. Roads may appear rocky. That’s ok, we trust Him. There will be giants in our paths, God is beside us and will lead the way. Thank You, Lord.