Hey Y’all, Becca here with My Morning Cup of Joy! This morning my mind was on the difference that our thoughts can have in the outcome of our life. This brought me to Caleb and Joshua, in the Book of Numbers, as they are traversing the wilderness and they make it to Canaan.
[23] And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. [24] The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. [25] And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. [26] And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. [27] And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. [28] Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. [29] The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. [30] And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. [31] But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. [32] And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. [33] And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. Numbers 13:23-33 KJV
The children of Israel were coming into the land of Canaan when God gave Moses instructions to choose one from each tribe to go and search out the land (Numbers 13:1-2). The Lord already told them He was giving the land to them, but He wanted to hear their report. He wanted to see their faith in action.
So, Moses sent the men (Numbers 13:3). They searched out the land and found it had great fruit and was a land to be desired. There was only one problem, the people of the land were very great, even giants! This caused fear to set up in the hearts of some of the men, and this is where the lesson begins.
OUR PERSPECTIVE IS WHAT RENDERS US POWER
Let’s break this down. There were two perspectives in the camp the day they returned. The men that went exploring the land were in a leadership position. Whether they realized it or not, their perspective could sway the perspective of the entire camp.
When they returned, they came with one cluster of grapes that had to be carried by two men, as well as pomegranates and figs. The land was fertile and prosperous. That alone had to speak to the children of Israel. Yet it was the words of those men that had power. What we say has more power than we realize, and what we say begins with the way we think. What we think will have a direct effect on what we do/say/believe. If we’re always in the mulligrubs, we may want to take a look at how we are thinking.
So, let’s look at the results of the words these men spoke. All the men that went exploring saw the exact same things. They saw the same fruit, the same land, and the same people. Two men had a good (encouraging) report, and the other ten had an evil (discouraging) report (Numbers 13:30-33).
CAN WE CHANGE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES?
I’m not saying it’s easy, but it is possible to change your circumstances with the way you think and believe. How many times have we been in similar situations as the Israelites? Maybe it’s a possible new job or the possibility of starting your own business? Maybe it’s moving away from the only place you’ve ever known, to a place you’ve never been and know nobody. Whatever it is for you, think on it for a little while. If we really could believe that greater things are to come, through prayer, deliberate thought, and weighting it with wisdom, how much different would our outcome be?
Yes, we could be as the ten with the negative report. Some may even say that it was the most realistic and logical answer. “Look at the size of the people. We’re like grasshoppers in their sight. How can we possibly win?” It makes sense in a way but being the people of God makes us different. We know that the God who created the universe, the earth, and all its contents, is the same God “that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20). We should be able to see with the other perspective, to have an encouraging word in our hearts. As David did, he “encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).
As opposed to the negative alternative, we could make a difference in our circumstances by having joy and exuberance in our hearts. It would make the difference in that job interview. It could make the difference in that new business you start because in good faith we know, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4: 13).
CHOOSE TO SEE THE POSITIVES IN LIFE
So how can we turn things around? When Caleb gave the good report, he never said it would be easy, but he did say they were able! He chose to see the positives in his life. He remembered the word God gave Moses, “…search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel” (Numbers 13:2). The others couldn’t see it or were too afraid to believe it. Maybe they thought it would be too hard. So often we believe that no action will be easier than taking a risk and working hard for that risk. It’s a lie to believe that, and it always will. We can take no action, be stuck in a miserable place doing things we don’t want to do, and hate everything about our life. If we’ll be honest with ourselves, we’re just making excuses as the Israelites did.
Now I’m not saying that big changes are for everyone. It can be just as brave to make little changes in our life, like choosing to eat differently, or exercise so we can be healthier. There are some of you that are looking at those big changes though, and the ones that know, know. You’re in a place of decision that isn’t easy. Maybe you have kids or are taking care of your parents. Perhaps you’re in that proverbial “between a rock and a hard place.” You can’t get ahead, can’t get out of the rat race. Can’t do anything right, or anything more than you’re already doing.
I implore you to take inventory of your life. What is taking your time? Do research. Everyone has a cell phone these days. You have all the information you need literally at your fingertips. Find that thing you love and go for it! Caleb, at the fault of the ten negative, had to walk in the wilderness for forty years, but he still got to see his dream come true. He was faith-filled and fearless. That’s what we can be today, Faith-Filled and Fearless! God bless y’all!
