The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 14:7-8,
"I [Caleb] was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly."
These are the words spoken by Caleb to Joshua at the time of the distribution of the Promised Land. You will recall that twelve spies were sent out from Kadesh Barnea to spy out Canaan prior to Israel's invasion of it. Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb brought back an encouraging report and urged the Israelites to go up and take the land. The other ten spies came back with a message of doom and gloom. For them, there was no way the Israelites could conquer the Canaanites. They were simply too big and strong. The nation followed the ten culprits. This is what thrust Israel into her forty year sojourn in the wilderness at God's hand.
The ten spies and the Israelites failed to place their faith and confidence in God-- that God could deliver the Canaanite peoples over to them. No faith and confidence in the promises of God.
Note how Caleb couches his report to the Israelites to take the land. He says his report was consistent with his convictions. He followed the Lord wholeheartedly. The essence of faith, trust, conviction and confidence in God. Like his ancestor, Abraham, Caleb was "fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:21.
How about me today? Am I strong in my confidence in God? Am I fully persuaded God can and will do what he promises us? Do I share Paul's confidence in God's intentions for me? "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phillippians 1:4-6.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"I [Caleb] was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly."
These are the words spoken by Caleb to Joshua at the time of the distribution of the Promised Land. You will recall that twelve spies were sent out from Kadesh Barnea to spy out Canaan prior to Israel's invasion of it. Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb brought back an encouraging report and urged the Israelites to go up and take the land. The other ten spies came back with a message of doom and gloom. For them, there was no way the Israelites could conquer the Canaanites. They were simply too big and strong. The nation followed the ten culprits. This is what thrust Israel into her forty year sojourn in the wilderness at God's hand.
The ten spies and the Israelites failed to place their faith and confidence in God-- that God could deliver the Canaanite peoples over to them. No faith and confidence in the promises of God.
Note how Caleb couches his report to the Israelites to take the land. He says his report was consistent with his convictions. He followed the Lord wholeheartedly. The essence of faith, trust, conviction and confidence in God. Like his ancestor, Abraham, Caleb was "fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:21.
How about me today? Am I strong in my confidence in God? Am I fully persuaded God can and will do what he promises us? Do I share Paul's confidence in God's intentions for me? "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phillippians 1:4-6.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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