What Do You See?
Fires. Tornadoes. Disease. Earthquakes. Racism. Rioting. Hurricanes. Murder hornets and locusts. It’s a little much.
There were once ten men who felt the same way. They were part of a group of twelve chosen by Moses to fulfill God’s direction in Numbers 13:1, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.’”
The men explored the land for forty days. It was so lush that “they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.” (Numbers 13:23)
The men gave this account, “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.” (Numbers 13: 27-28) Caleb spoke up and encouraged Moses and the people to enter the land. The ten men, however, said “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” (Numbers 13:31)
Those ten men reported such bad news about the situation that the people were stirred up to the point that they wished they could go back to Egypt. Some even wanted to get a new leader to go back to Egypt.
Caleb (and Joshua) saw things differently, “If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:8-9)
When most of the men only saw problems, Caleb saw God. Caleb trusted God’s promise and protection. His faith was unwavering and not dependent on circumstances, problems or giants.
God said, “Because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it” (Numbers 14:24).
In this world of trouble and blessing, we all have the same choice to make. We can choose to look at what is going on around us or we can choose to look to God.
Pray for the wisdom and courage to follow God whole-heartedly. When others talk about the problems of the world, talk about the power of God.
Remember, the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of the giants.
By LaRaine Rice
There were once ten men who felt the same way. They were part of a group of twelve chosen by Moses to fulfill God’s direction in Numbers 13:1, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.’”
The men explored the land for forty days. It was so lush that “they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.” (Numbers 13:23)
The men gave this account, “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.” (Numbers 13: 27-28) Caleb spoke up and encouraged Moses and the people to enter the land. The ten men, however, said “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” (Numbers 13:31)
Those ten men reported such bad news about the situation that the people were stirred up to the point that they wished they could go back to Egypt. Some even wanted to get a new leader to go back to Egypt.
Caleb (and Joshua) saw things differently, “If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:8-9)
When most of the men only saw problems, Caleb saw God. Caleb trusted God’s promise and protection. His faith was unwavering and not dependent on circumstances, problems or giants.
God said, “Because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it” (Numbers 14:24).
In this world of trouble and blessing, we all have the same choice to make. We can choose to look at what is going on around us or we can choose to look to God.
Pray for the wisdom and courage to follow God whole-heartedly. When others talk about the problems of the world, talk about the power of God.
Remember, the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of the giants.
By LaRaine Rice
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2021
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