Opposing Views of the Same Situation
Before the sons of Israel went into the land of Canaan, God told Moses to send in one man from each tribe to spy out the land. The 12 men went in and searched through the land to see the people, the cities, and the produce, so they could report back to Moses. God had already made it clear that He had given them the land, and they knew that God was with them. However, 10 of the spies gave a negative report after seeing the land, while two were positive that they could take the land. (Numbers 13:30,31) What was the difference between the two groups?
Caleb spoke up first. He was confident that they could overcome the people and the fortified cities. He had no reservations, at all, because He was trusting in what God had said, not what his eyes had seen. He was not thinking that they could do it on their own, but he knew God was able to deliver what He had promised. The other group of 10 gave an opposing view of the same situation. They said that they were not able to take the land, because the people were too strong for them to overcome. They were only looking at the people of the land and the walls of the cities. They were not looking to God. They forgot what He had said, when they saw the troubles that lay before them.
That is what happens today. When we look to God, the challenges of life look small compared to His promises and power. However, when we focus on the problems, God begins to look very small. The result is a lack of faith in Him, because we have the wrong view of the situation. Which way do you live? There is only one of these ways that leads to a victorious, joyful life, and that is Caleb's way of looking at the situation.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 14-17.
Caleb spoke up first. He was confident that they could overcome the people and the fortified cities. He had no reservations, at all, because He was trusting in what God had said, not what his eyes had seen. He was not thinking that they could do it on their own, but he knew God was able to deliver what He had promised. The other group of 10 gave an opposing view of the same situation. They said that they were not able to take the land, because the people were too strong for them to overcome. They were only looking at the people of the land and the walls of the cities. They were not looking to God. They forgot what He had said, when they saw the troubles that lay before them.
That is what happens today. When we look to God, the challenges of life look small compared to His promises and power. However, when we focus on the problems, God begins to look very small. The result is a lack of faith in Him, because we have the wrong view of the situation. Which way do you live? There is only one of these ways that leads to a victorious, joyful life, and that is Caleb's way of looking at the situation.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Numbers 14-17.