S21P7 – Portraits of faith: Caleb

Numbers 14:24
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

Has God ever given you an unpopular word to speak to others? Has He ever asked you to take a stand that goes against the grain? When we are placed in such a position, it can be tempting to question God’s word and instead follow the masses, especially when the masses are people of God. Caleb was placed in such a position when he reported to Moses that the land of Canaan could be and should be conquered for the Lord.

Caleb was part of a team of 12 men who scouted the land, one from each tribe of Israel. These spies found a place flowing with milk and honey as expected, but also full of powerful people, some big as giants, with large fortified cities surrounded by great walls. Eleven of these men saw an obstacle that could not be overcome. Caleb saw a God who could overcome anything, even the seemingly impossible. For his faith in God’s conquering power, his own people rallied for Caleb to be stoned. Even in the face of this opposition, Caleb did not back down, and he became one of only two people from that generation of all these tribes to actually enter God’s promised land.

When God calls us to exercise impossible faith, we must prepare for opposition to arise. That opposition might even come from the body of Christ, from those whose faith bows to circumstances and practicality when tested. In those moments, we must be able to tune out the voices that speak against what God himself has spoken. If we can do that, we will be blessed for our faithfulness in carrying out the will of God when that requires that we appear to stand alone. Father, teach us to trust our discernment when You speak to us, and give us the faith required to stand with only You by our side knowing that You will complete what You have promised.