Tag Archive

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” Numbers 13:30

The journey was over. The Israelites stood at the border of the Promised Land. God had brought them out of bondage. He’d provided all of their needs. He’d shown them great and mighty acts of power. Now he’d told Moses that the time had come to enter the land promised them. Moses sent spies into the land to see what kind of cities there were, what the people were like and to bring back some of the fruit of the land.

When the men returned they showed the people some of the great fruit that they’d found in the land. They described the beauty of the valleys and the plains. It was good land. It was profitable land. Then they told the people the bad news. The land would never be theirs. The people were too strong. They’d built huge, walled cities and the men were heavily armed. The men were to give an account of the condition of the land and people, but they offered a commentary on the likelihood of conquest and victory.

Enter Caleb. Caleb saw the same cities, the same warriors, and the same fruit of the land. But he looked at it from a completely different perspective. He didn’t see people; he heard the promises of God. He didn’t see obstacles to conquest; he saw opportunities for God to work in mighty ways. While the men offered commentary, Caleb did exactly what the leader had asked of him. He told the facts based on God’s promises.

Caleb stood alone against all the ‘popular kids’ of the camp. He stood for what he knew to be right. He didn’t talk about conflict, He talked about possession. To him the battle was already won. There was no doubt in his mind.

We can all learn from Caleb. There are too many times when our biggest obstacles are people. It could be the peer pressure that keeps us from doing what we know is right. Peer pressure isn’t just a junior high or high school thing. It follows us all our lives. We are afraid to be different. We don’t want to stand out in a crowd.

Don’t let people stand in the way of the things God wants to accomplish in you. He has given you the power to stand against the giants in your life. He’s made a way to destroy the walls others have built to keep you from pursuing your goals. Move forward with confidence. Look at the ways God has worked in the past in your life and in the lives of others. Regardless of your past or your present situation, He wants to see you have victory. Take possession of that victory.

PRAYER: Holy Father. Today you know what giants are haunting me. There are walls in my life that keep me from experiencing the joy I should be having in you. There are people and events that are keeping me from claiming the things you want me to have. Forgive me for my doubt. Empower me to move forward and not listen to the voices of those who want to bring me down. Like Caleb I claim victory over my giants through your Holy Spirit. Amen.