“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.” Numbers 14:24
Wouldn’t it be
great if God could brag on you?
If God were to brag
on you, what would he brag about?
God was bragging on
Caleb in our Scripture text today. In yesterday’s post I mentioned three things
about Caleb that impressed God.
First, he was a
dedicated servant.
This morning I want
you to notice the second praiseworthy trait Caleb possessed. He had a different
spirit – “Caleb has a
different spirit”.
What was different
about Caleb’s spirit?
Caleb had faith!
“Then Caleb quieted the people
before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are
well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30
When nearly every
other Israelite was overcome with fear over the report from the Promised Land,
Caleb had the contrary opinion. Ten spies were moaning and lamenting the giants
that would confront them across the Jordan River. Those spies saw the same
things when they scouted out the land for forty days. But they returned with
vastly different reports.
Why were there two
such opposite forecasts about their future when all twelve of the spies went
the same places and saw the same things!
At least part of
the answer lies not in WHAT they saw but in HOW they saw.
The ten spies who
gave the bad report were looking through eyes of flesh while Caleb was looking
through eyes of faith!
They saw the giants
in light of their own weaknesses and inadequacies, while Caleb saw them in
light of God’s strength and power!
That’s the
difference that faith makes! And it’s a
BIG difference.
Facing giants in
the flesh is a losing strategy that incites fear. But Caleb’s spirit, the
spirit of faith, inspired hope!
Caleb had fervency!
“Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those
who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The
land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is
pleased with us, he will
lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is
gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” Numbers 14:6-9
Caleb was zealous for the will of God. He knew
how God had delivered them from the bondage of the mighty Egyptians. He was mindful of how God had brought them
safely through the Red Sea and then closed it back to destroy their enemies! He
was convinced God was able to give them the Promised Land as well!
He could not let the skeptics and the doubters
have the last word! He fervently pleaded God’s case before the people!
Caleb
was fearless!
“Only do not rebel against the LORD,
nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has
departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.”
Numbers 14:9
Caleb’s courage
came from his conviction that God had the power to keep His promise! He had
seen what God had done in the past and believed He would do it again!
Caleb had a
“different spirit”! His spirit was a spirit of faith, a spirit of fervency and
of fearlessness. His spirit stood in stark contrast to the defeated,
discouraged and doubting attitudes that surrounded him that day.
No wonder God took
notice of him!
No wonder God was
pleased with him!
No wonder God
bragged on him and help him up as a model for all His people.
How is your spirit
today?
Are you living by
faith?
Are you fervent for
His will?
Are you fearless in
His promises?
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