I love to read and re-read the Book of Joshua. There is so much contained in this book that is today still relevant! Take Caleb for instance, Caleb's faith in God never wavered even though everyone around him wavered. God convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the Promised Land, but the people were intimidated by giants and fortified cities. Their disbelief forced Caleb to wait forty years in the wilderness before he finally entered the Promised Land. And, even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in God's power. Take a look at what Caleb asked for:
"Now, therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." Joshua 14:12
Wow!! Let's look at it for a moment, when God was dividing the land among the Israelites, most of the people were asking for the lush valleys and the grassy plains. The "easy stuff." But not Caleb. Look what he asked for--Caleb asked for a mountain! The Bible says that the Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains where they had built fortresses and strongholds. But this did not intimidate Caleb--he asked God for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God's presence! Caleb longed to see God work in power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he dwelt in the easy places. Caleb instead chose a situation in which he knew that he would have to trust God. The enemies had made the mountains their home. Caleb knew this, and he knew that his inheritance from God was on the mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.
Friends, what about you and me? I think that if we always choose the "easy way," that is asking for peaceful valleys and the like, we will never see God's power displayed to enable us to take a mountain. We need, sometimes, to seek out the mountain. If we do this, we will witness God doing things through our lives that can only be explained by His mighty presence. Have you climbed any mountains lately?
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
"Now, therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." Joshua 14:12
Wow!! Let's look at it for a moment, when God was dividing the land among the Israelites, most of the people were asking for the lush valleys and the grassy plains. The "easy stuff." But not Caleb. Look what he asked for--Caleb asked for a mountain! The Bible says that the Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains where they had built fortresses and strongholds. But this did not intimidate Caleb--he asked God for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God's presence! Caleb longed to see God work in power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he dwelt in the easy places. Caleb instead chose a situation in which he knew that he would have to trust God. The enemies had made the mountains their home. Caleb knew this, and he knew that his inheritance from God was on the mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.
Friends, what about you and me? I think that if we always choose the "easy way," that is asking for peaceful valleys and the like, we will never see God's power displayed to enable us to take a mountain. We need, sometimes, to seek out the mountain. If we do this, we will witness God doing things through our lives that can only be explained by His mighty presence. Have you climbed any mountains lately?
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
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