Unwavering Trust Series

Have you ever suffered because of someone else made a wrong decision?

• You wasted money, time or efforts because someone made a mistake and opted for a wrong choice. The sad thing is, you were made to pay for it too.

• I’m sure you understand how that feels. It’s sad but this is life; we don’t always suffer for our own mistakes.

Caleb had such an experience. He was a member of the team that spied on the land of Canaan. He came back with a positive report, and a right one (Num 13).

• Both he and Joshua were confident that victory was theirs because God has so promised, to give them the land.

• But the majority could not put their faith in God. They could not put their faith in what they COULD NOT SEE – the promises of God!

It is so much easier to put our trust in what we see. We got to learn to trust what God says.

• Don’t go by the majority. Go by what God says. Don’t go by what is popular; go by the truth of God’s Word.

• There is this old song, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. It says, the world behind me, the cross before me. And then, though none go with me, still I will follow.

A promise cannot be seen, of course. If you see it, it is not a promise. A promise has to do with the future, and it can only be received by faith.

• We are call to trust His Word because God is completely trustworthy.

• James says, “He does not change like shifting shadows”. (James 1:17)

• Samuel says, “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change his mind.” (1 Sam 15:29)

Not only did Caleb trust God’s promise completely, he was passionate about seeing it fulfilled in his life. After 45 long years, he was still talking about it!

• 14:10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised, He has kept me alive for 45 years…”

• 14:12 “Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day…” That day was over 40 years ago!

Let me tell you something very interesting. Do you know that we have no record of Caleb ever talking, or saying anything throughout the wilderness journey?

• We had only records of him speaking BEFORE and AFTER the journey – in Num 14 after the spying trip, and now in Josh 14 when he was about to take his inheritance.

• (And a short word in Josh 15 when he marries his daughter. That’s all we have.)

From Num 14 to Josh 14 that’s a span of 45 years. And the most amazing thing is this, both conversations were almost identical. It was about the promise of God!

• Caleb has not changed over the 45 years of hardship. He was still passionate about what God has said.

• Are we? Are we excited about what God has said? Are we passionate to see His will be fulfilled in our lives?

LET THE PROMISES OF GOD DRIVE YOU

Caleb was driven by the promise of God. He was preoccupied by what God wants to give to Israel. He did not give up.

• Despite a change to the original plan. Despite the long detour back into the wilderness. Despite the long delay in fulfilling God’s promise.

• Many would have given up hope because of detours and delays to the promises of God. Many would have doubted God because of the difficult circumstances.

• We don’t need 45 years. Give me 45 days or 45 weeks and we can see people giving up on God. BUT NOT CALEB.

Caleb longs to see this day. He desires to see God’s promise fulfilled.

• He did not give up because he believes God; he trusts in what God has promised.

• No wonder the Lord says of him (Num 14:24): “my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly.”

That’s the spirit we want to have - this burning desire to see God’s will fulfilled, this UNWAVERING TRUST in His promises, despite the odds.

• We want to be driven by that which we cannot YET see but believe in.

• If Caleb had trusted only what he could see, he would be terrified by the giants Anakites, the fortified cities, and the uphill task.

• But that wasn’t what he was looking at. He was looking to God. “… the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as He said.” (14:12)

I don’t know what you are seeing today. The challenge for us is to look to God and trust His promises, that which cannot be seen.