Hope of Success

Scripture reading: Numbers 13

Focus verses: “The Lord said to Moses, "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites… 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." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." Numbers 13:1a, 30-31

The Lord told Moses to send some men to explore the promised land that He is giving to them.  (He didn't tell them to decide if they could take it, but that it was being given.)  After the appointed men explored, they saw that the land was very good, but most of them complained that it would be too difficult to take over the powerful people and fortified cities.  They began to spread lies about the land, saying that it was a bad land and the people were giants.  They lost their hope and treated God with contempt.

Caleb saw the good land and trusted in the God who said that He was giving them the land.  In Numbers 14 we see that Joshua joins Caleb in declaring the land to be good and trusting in God's protection and promise.

We may not always know what God is giving us, but we can trust God to deliver us if we are trusting in Him, even in the face of our own personal giants.  Do not give up hope in God.  Do not treat God with contempt and rebel against Him.  Walk in confidence as Caleb and Joshua did.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries