Fresh Startნიმუში

Against All Odds

How would you feel when everyone seems to disagree with what you trust is true?

Before bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve men to do a “due diligence” of the land and its people (Numbers 13). They saw that the land was very good, but the people there were large and powerful. All of them, except Joshua and Caleb, concluded that they should not enter the Promised Land.

So the Israelites began to grumble angrily and even said they would rather die in Egypt (Numbers 14:2), but Joshua and Caleb did not back down. In front of the whole assembly, they reiterated that if it was God’s will, He would help them defeat the enemies and lead them into the land (Numbers 14:8-9).

Joshua and Caleb were among the twelve who explored the Promised Land, and they too saw the giants there. But why did they hold a completely different view? What made them so confident to stand firm in front of all opposing Israelites? It was their trust in God – trust in His promise to bring His people into the Promised Land, in His power to overcome all challenges, and in His presence with them.

How much do you trust in God’s promise, power, and presence as you face the “giants” in your life? We live in a world filled with information and opinions at our fingertips, and our confidence can be easily swayed by the people and things around us. We must be equipped with true knowledge and discernment, especially concerning our Christian faith. Yet simply knowing is not enough; we also need to trust and believe in what we know about God in order to boldly defend or proclaim our faith when necessary – just as Joshua and Caleb proclaimed God’s goodness and kept their trust in Him against all odds.

There may be a circumstance in your life right now where you know you need to stand up and trust in God. Today, invite someone who also trusts in God to pray for your boldness in standing up for the truth like Joshua and Caleb did.