For today’s meditation we focus on Joshua 14:7, “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.” (ESV)
Of late we are studying the life of Caleb, and the above mentioned verse are the words of Caleb to Moses. Moses had sent twelve leaders from the twelve tribes of Israel to spy on the land of Canaan which was the land promised to them by the Lord. When all twelve returned from their mission this was the response from ten of those leaders.
The report of the ten spies
This is found in Numbers 13:31,“Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are."” (ESV)
These ten men who spied on the land for forty days brought back this report to Moses, and the people of Israel. They were certain that they could not contend with the men in the Promised Land because they were much stronger than them. For many long years these Israelites were in cruel bondage in the land of Egypt with no hope of being delivered from their predicament. The Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, broke their bondage, and brought them out with gold, silver and many material blessings which they acquired from the Egyptians. Also the Israelites witnessed God’s mighty deliverance when He made a way through the Red Sea, and also destroyed the Egyptian army in that same sea. Though the Israelites had witnessed all of this they still did not believe they could overcome the men who inhabited the land that God had promised to them.
Caleb’s report
This was how Caleb summed it up as found in Joshua 14:8,“But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God.” (ESV)
The ten men who spied on the land gave the report that the land had giants, and conditions too hard to conquer, and that it was impossible to possess the same. When the multitude of Israelites heard this report their hearts melted. While ten men spoke based on what they saw, Caleb who saw the same things spoke words of faith based on God’s promises to the Israelites.
Caleb’s confidence
We read about this in Numbers 14:9, ....“The LORD is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid." (GNB)
While ten men only saw the problems, two men in that group were able to see God, and depended on the promises that He had made to them.
Let me highlight to you again Joshua 14:7, “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.” (ESV)
While Caleb brought word that came because of God, and the faith that he had in Him, the others just brought word based on what they saw with their physical eyes. It was Caleb’s faith in God that distinguished him from the other ten men.
The faith that Jesus commended
Jesus taught about faith this way in Mark 11:23, “I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn't doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, 'Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will be done for him.” (GW)
This is what Jesus declared will be done for anyone who has faith. As we progress in our journey of faith we will have hardships, we will face giants, but as children of God we can speak only about the problems, or we can speak words of faith that come from our heart. Oftentimes, we face many difficulties, these could be not having a job, health issues, financial constraints or problems pertaining to our family or children. When faced with mountain like problems we don’t need to speak about the problems, but can speak God’s promises with faith from our hearts. As we do so all these stones that are hindrances, will become stepping stones that help us to overcome our difficulties. Generally when there are hardships and trails we get so preoccupied with them, and speak of them continually, thereby hindering our own progress in this journey of faith.
Twelve men explored the same land, and saw the same things. However, ten of them were discouraged, and spoke words of fear that discouraged the entire group of Israelites. Let us be cautious that our words are filled with faith so that God can fulfill His purposes through us.
The question David asked
We read in 1Samuel 17:26,David asked the men who were standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and gets rid of Israel's disgrace?” (GW)
The background to this question is found in 1 Samuel 17:1-2, “The Philistines assembled their armies for war. They assembled at Socoh, which is in Judah, and camped between Socoh and Azekah at Ephes Dammim. So Saul and the army of Israel assembled and camped in the Elah Valley. They formed a battle line to fight the Philistines.” (GW)
You may wonder why so many complicated names of places are mentioned in this passage. The reason is that the bible is also a historical book, and not the figment of someone’s imagination. Here there was a war between Philistines and Israelites. Both the armies were prepared and ready for war. However, this was a peculiar war, and not one that was done normally.
A different warfare
We read in 1 Samuel 17:4, “A man named Goliath, from the city of Gath, came out from the Philistine camp to challenge the Israelites. He was over nine feet tall” (GNB)
This was a peculiar war because as both the armies stood on either side for battle, there came forth a man from the Philistine ranks by name Goliath who was over nine feet tall, with extraordinary strength, and a veteran in warfare, who posed a different challenge to the Israelites.
The challenge
We read in 1 Samuel 17:8, Goliath stood and shouted at the Israelites, "What are you doing there, lined up for battle? I am a Philistine, you slaves of Saul! Choose one of your men to fight me. (GNB)
As the Israelites stood together as an army with the intention to fight the Philistines, Goliath came out from the midst of the Philistine army, and challenged one man from the Israelite camp to come forward, and fight against him.
Have you noticed how when we encounter problems as a group we are courageous, and get intimidated and fearful when having to face those challenges alone?
The reaction of the Israelite army
This was how the Israelites responded to this challenge as we read in 1 Samuel 17:11, “When Saul and his men heard this, they were terrified.” (GNB)
When King Saul heard this challenge he was so fearful, that the entire army of Israel were also terrified. As the Israelite army beheld Goliath with his strength, they forgot to look to God. In the midst of this army of Israel were three soldiers who were three brothers of David. David’s father had sent him to give some food to his brothers who were at war. As David approached the camp to deliver the food, he heard Goliath’s challenge which aroused an intense fervor in David’s heart.
As I meditated on this passage I was astounded by one fact. The one who brought David to that place at that time was not his father nor his family members, but God. David had two options before him, he could have just handed over the food to his brothers, and walked away or could stay and take up the challenge.
Whenever we encounter challenges we must realize that the God who is with us will help us overcome every hardship. It is in our hands to decide to fight the challenges we face, or just to walk away from it.
The ten men who spied on the land were disheartened, and the Israelites chose to go with their report. They too were discouraged and lamented before Moses, and the consequence was that they had to wander in the wilderness for forty long years.
As children of God if we get perplexed when faced with hardships we too will have to wander unnecessarily. However, if like Caleb you trust in God, and believe that He will strengthen us, if we go with faith in God’s promises, as we stand up to fight, God will give us victory for sure.
David made enquiry
We read in 1Samuel 17:26,“David asked the men who were standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and gets rid of Israel's disgrace?” (GW)
It is really interesting that the King of Israel and all of his army were terrified, but David who was just a shepherd boy assessed the situation, and wanted to know what reward would be given to the one who could overthrow the giant in front of them. David saw the same giant that everyone else did, but his perception was completely different from those around him.
David had no experience as a soldier, and did not even know how to use the armor of the men who went for war, but when he heard the challenge, he was zealous to face the giant.
All of us face various problems, and none of this is uncommon or peculiar only to us. Most of the trials we encounter are those that challenge many people around us. However, many people get discouraged, while there are others who put their trust in God like David did, and conquer their trials. If you are wearied about any hardship that you are facing, the Lord encourages you to stand up and fight the battle, knowing that the Lord is with you. This may be a problem that is troubling you for many long years or areas where you are faltering again and again. Remember that God has given us His promises in His Word, and if we hold them in our hearts firmly, take a stand against the issue, no giant or hardship can stand against us or prevail over us. The Lord will help us to come out victorious.
How often we are like Saul or the ten men who went to spy on the land where we get so wearied, and make a big deal of the problem at hand. Be reminded that the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. The God who is with us will always lead us in triumphal procession through Christ Jesus. Let us not grow weary,but allow God to help us to be strengthened in our faith. There is no situation that God can’t turn around.
The response of David’s brother
Whenever we speak words of faith there will be those who will get upset with us. If everyone approves of all the words of faith that we speak there could well be something wrong. The fact is that a man of faith will see things differently, he is one with a vision, and is one who trusts in the Lord completely. A man of faith knows that God will give him the victory in all his endeavors.
This was the response of David’s brothers to him as found in 1Samuel 17:28,“Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard David talking to the men. Then Eliab became angry with David. "Why did you come here," he asked him, "and with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how overconfident and headstrong you are. You came here just to see the battle." (GW)
Eliab the eldest brother of David strongly rebuked David though he himself had no courage to stand up to Goliath.
If you want to be a child of God who wants to take a stand for God then be certain that some will rise up against you, and may also hate you too. There may be those who like David’s brother will discourage you. They will not do what it takes to fulfill God’s purpose, neither will they encourage those who are doing it, but will rather be a stumbling block. Remember that the man of faith will surely be victorious because his faith depends not on his strength, but on the God who called him. Whenever you want to progress in this journey of faith there will be set-backs and discouragement. Turn away from such, and fix your eyes on the Lord, and move forward knowing that the Lord is with you.
The reaction of Israelites to Joshua and Caleb
Among the twelve men who spied on the Promised Land, Joshua and Caleb decided to speak words of faith instead of fear, and the response of the people was most unbelievable.
We read in Numbers 14:10,“Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones.” (ESV)
As per the law only a man who sinned was stoned, but here the Israelites wanted to stone the men of faith. However, the presence of God descended on that place, and protected these two men Joshua and Caleb.
When we too want to speak words of faith there may be those who take up stones to hurl at us, but remember none of the harm that is aimed against us will prevail, because God will fight on our behalf.
David did not give up
We read in 1Samuel 17:29-30,“And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? And he turned away from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.” (ASV)
In this situation David realized that God had a purpose for him to be there, and hear the loud challenge that Goliath made to the Israelite army. David understood that his times were in God’s hands. He also explained to his brother that there was a purpose for him being there, and it was not to just give food to them as they presumed. Eliab’s rebuke did not dishearten David, but rather strengthened his resolve to do something about the situation. We read that David went ahead, and began to enquire the same thing with others in the camp.
When we move forward on this faith journey, if we don’t give heed to all the discouraging words but proceed, the Lord will give us the due success.
King Saul beckons David
This news about David and his conversations with the soldiers reached the ears of King Saul. We read in 1Samuel 17:31, “The things David was saying were picked up and reported to Saul. Saul sent for him.”(MSG)
Think about the timing when David came to the battle field, the words of faith that he spoke. The outcome was that instead of tending sheep, David now stood before the king.
Both Caleb and David spoke with faith, and God fulfilled the promises that He had made to them.
If we are men and women of faith, we will surely stand in the right place where God wants us to be. Not sure what kind of problems you are encountering in your lives. Instead of grumbling or speaking words of discouragement, speak words of faith, and God will do all that is needed for your victory.
The honor that Caleb and David received
David’s brothers were forgotten, but David was elevated to be the King of Israel. The ten spies were forgotten, but Joshua and Caleb had the privilege to enter into the Promised Land.
Let us ask the Lord to help us to have the heart of faith that was found in Caleb and David. With our God we can do valiantly, and He will enable us through run through a troop or scale through walls. May we be those who will fulfill God’s purposes standing strong, and not allowing anything or anyone to oppose our progress in this journey of faith.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins
