Growing in our Christian walk is a bit like a hike up Mount Everest. With each challenge we can feel God strengthening us in ways that thrills our souls. We marvel at how far we’ve come. Then there’s a beautiful plateau where we find rest and encouragement for a while, enjoying the view that is getting better with each level...but the next challenge rises before us, calling us up, and we must move on. But some outright refuse...
The Children of Israel made a grave mistake. They followed the Lord out of Egypt, but not into the Promised Land. Their disobedience robbed them of the opportunity to humble themselves before God, allowing Him to grow them, stretch them, and mature them. But each time He took them to the edge of their comfort zone, hoping they would choose obedience, and faith, they complained and rebelled, hardening their hearts. Sadly, the loss was theirs.
But there were two men who chose to follow God wholeheartedly, and God’s promise was faithfully gifted to them...“Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb and Joshua.”(Numbers 14:30)
Why them? Because they trusted that God was true to His word. They obeyed Him when He said He would take them to the Promised Land. They believed that where God’s promise was, His protection followed.
And where there is trust, there is courage! And this courage took them bravely as spies into this land flowing with milk and honey. The grape clusters were so large that two men had to carry a single cluster. This was a land only imagined in their dreams! God has the same for us...
Dear friends, if the edge God has taken us to causes us to withdraw in fear, may we learn from Caleb and Joshua, and trust Him. Let’s grow in these challenging times! Let’s thank God for loving us enough to care that we mature. But then we must lift our eyes beyond this current difficulty and focus our eyes on the Promised Land. It is so near!
God is faithful. May we never forget His power to not only save us, but to grow us, and deliver us Home.
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