1All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “We wish that we had died in the land of Egypt, or that we had died in this wilderness! 3Why does Yahweh bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be captured or killed! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return into Egypt?” 4They said to one another, “Let’s choose a leader, and let’s return into Egypt.”
5Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
6Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes. 7They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us: a land which flows with milk and honey. 9Only don’t rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don’t fear them.”
10But all the congregation threatened to stone them with stones.
Yahweh’s glory appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all the children of Israel.
The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. — Numbers 14:9
After a long trek through the wilderness, the Israelites were within view of the promised land. Twelve spies were chosen to scout out the land. They returned describing a land of green pastures and rich soil and produce. But ten of them said that conquering the land would be impossible, for they had also seen giants and fortified cities (Number 13:26-33).
The people whined and complained. But two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, reminded everyone that God had promised that land to them, so God would make it theirs if they trusted him. But the people wouldn’t listen and instead talked of killing Joshua and Caleb.
Later on is Number 14 verse it says “But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me”. The NIV version says ‘He is a man with a different spirit. Caleb didn’t see the Giant, he saw God’s promise. He wasn’t influenced by the majority; the majority isn’t always right. Caleb set himself apart from the others.
All of the spies were given the same mission. All of them saw the same thing. But not all of them gave the same report. While the ten spies were giving their account, it could have discouraged both Caleb and Joshua and yet, we have seen that they stood strong and steadfast in their belief.
All the spies saw the same thing. However, not all of them used ‘the eyes of faith’. The other spies saw fortified and secure cities that are impossible to break through. Caleb saw cities that are too small that they can easily conquer through God’s majestic power. The other spies saw giants that they felt like grasshoppers in their presence. Caleb saw another opportunity to prove to the world that God is the Living God who does impossible things.
The other spies saw the problem. Caleb saw the solution. The other spies went home discouraged. Caleb went home with an intense urgency that they should not waste any time and immediately conquer the land.
The other spies saw the problem. Caleb saw the solution.
What made Caleb’s perspective so different? It was because he was using the eyes of faith. The Bible tells us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7).
As Christians, we are also called to use our eyes of faith. Though the things around us may look problematic and hopeless, we can always look to God through our eyes of faith and keep on fighting the good fight that has been laid before us.
Sometimes we can be afraid of what lies ahead. People and circumstances loom like giants, and problems seem impossible to solve. But we have a choice. We can stay afraid, or we can trust God to walk with us. My prayer for you today is that you truly believe you are not alone and that God is with you.