‘Stories of Old – Part 4’ – 7.23.2023

July 23, 2023
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Unwavering Faith in the Face of Great Challenges

27 This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. 28 But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.”   Numbers 13:27-29 NLT

30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”  Numbers 13:30 NLT  

  • Caleb had faith in the one who gave the promise, God.  
  • The people’s faith was conditional.  

 

1 Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness. they complained. 3 Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”  Numbers 14:1-4 NLT  

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”   Numbers 14:5-9 NLT

  • Caleb’s eyes were on God. 
  • Conditions didn’t matter because God was powerful beyond those conditions, beyond all conditions.

 

24 But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.    Numbers 14:24 NLT  

  • Conditional faith is not faith at all.
  • You can’t fake unwavering faith.

 

10 “Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. 12 So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”  Joshua 14:10-12 NLT  

Next steps for me today…

  • Evaluate and remove the conditions you are putting on having complete and unwavering faith in God.
  • Strengthen your faith by remembering how God has blessed, equipped, and empowered you as you face challenges in the past.
  • Trust God no matter what you are facing.
  • Have unwavering faith in God for salvation.

 

Next Steps

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