There are many things we can be grateful for in life but have you ever thought about the amazing Biblical characters that have gone before us with a heart of gratitude. These guys and gals showed us by their great example and yes, even by some of their failings, how to live a courageous Godly life.
Today I would like to show my gratitude to just two wonderful Old Testament characters. Hopefully I will find time to write about many more of them in the future.
I am really grateful for Joshua and Caleb.
I am so thankful that these guys showed me by their own example how to stand up against popular opinion and hold fast to the promises of God. Despite the negativity of the other men who went in to spy the land with them and despite the crowd opposed to them – even to the point of wanting to stone them – they held fast to what God promised.
Remember that God promised them a land of milk and honey. The same men went to the same land yet the majority came back with a negative view compared to the minority who came back with a positive view.
Bible says in Numbers 13 that the negative majority, while confirming that the land indeed flowed with milk and honey just like God said it would, also claimed that Israel had no chance of possessing the land because the people already in it were strong, had walled cities and giants were also in the land.
The positive minority, namely Joshua and Caleb saw that the land was exactly as God said it would be and boldly proclaimed, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
The negative group could only see the obstacles while the faithful few could only see the possibilities. In chapter 14 we are told how the negativity quickly spreads with the whole congregation weeping, complaining and wanting to give up and go back into the slavery of Egypt where they just come from.
Joshua and Caleb pleaded with them by declaring how nothing had changed and that the land was exactly as God said it would be. They said, if the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us!
But sadly the congregation wanted to stone them for being so positive.
As a lesson in positive thinking verses negative thinking, and when I talk about positive thinking I refer to scriptural thinking. The negative ones, the ones who did not trust God, did not enter the Promised Land. The two positive, faithful guys did enter into the Promised Land.
Are you positive or negative?
Do you have unfulfilled hopes and dreams? Do you get all excited about pursuing something or changing something in your life but lose sight of the possibilities when you see the obstacles. When you see the obstacles do you give up and turn back to the slavery you are trying to escape from?
This can be applied to anything in our life. Most people fail to arrive at the place of milk and honey because they turn back. Whether it be in changing jobs, weightloss, or any other aspect in life it is the turning back from obstacles that prevent success.
God only mentioned the promised land and the milk and honey. He didn’t mention the obstacles because there wasn’t any. The only obstacles were the ones created in the minds of the negative ones. Sure the walled cities and giants did exist in the land but they were not obstacles for God.
Next time you are faced with a challenge remember the words of Joshua and Caleb who had full confidence in God and his word. Let’s go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it.
Thankyou Joshua and Caleb for showing us how to be positive, courageous and faithful to God. Your example has helped many other believers down through the centuries long past your own life times.
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