Furever families

Furever families

David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: I love you, LORD; you are my strength. – Psalms 18:1

Psalms 18:2-6

 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

 3 I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

 4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.

 5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.

 6 But in my distress, I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

Abandoned, neglected, or mistreated dogs often become strays. They wind up lost and bewildered. Tragically, many of them suffer and perish. However, there is hope for these animals through organizations like Rescue Me, RescueShelter.com, and the Animal Rescue Network.

In 2003, Jeff Gold, a resident of Watkinsville, Georgia, established Boxertown to assist in finding homes for boxer dogs in need. Following the success of Boxertown, Gold created Rescue Me, a network that aids in placing all types of dogs, cats, and other animals into loving homes.

One of the free services provided by Rescue Me is RescueShelter.com, a free resource that offers the most comprehensive directory of animal rescue organizations worldwide. The guide includes information on wildlife rehabilitators in more than 150 countries.

These organizations serve as a beacon of hope, a lifeline, for strays or abandoned dogs and pets whose owners can no longer provide for them. These animals are rescued, rehabilitated, and their pictures and stories are shared online. People from near and far respond and become foster families providing critical assistance to these needy canines.

Through these organizations and the kindness and compassion of ordinary people, many abandoned, neglected, or mistreated dogs are adopted into new furever families. There they are welcomed and loved. Their lives are transformed from a destiny of dismal darkness to a brighter future in a loving home.

David found himself in a very dire and difficult place. He was like an abandoned stray surrounded by enemies who were out to get him. He was being chased and hunted by those seeking his death. He was frightened and cried out for help.

“Death had had him in its grip as rope binds a prisoner. The forces of ungodliness terrified David as when one finds himself in a wadi (dry stream bed) during a spring thunderstorm and discovers a wall of water coming at him. He pictured himself trying to pick his steps through a field full of traps that hunters had set to snare animals.”

“David cried out in terror, and in His heavenly temple, God heard his call for help. He came rushing to [David’s] defense. His deliverance was like a thunderstorm in that it was the supernatural invading nature. The figures of speech in verses Psalms 8 team:7-15 picture a violent storm with lightning, thunder, high winds, torrential rains, black skies, and flooding” (Constable).

In response to David’s pleas, the Father spectacularly intervened in the time-space continuum and rescued David.

REFLECT & PRAY

In this life, confrontation is inevitable. When things go bad, finger-pointing, blaming, and confrontation often begin. Even in those dark days, we can count on the Father for His support. He has bound Himself to us forever (Stanley).

Fatherthank You for hearing and responding to my prayers and intervening on my behalf. Thank You for adopting me into Your Forever Family.

INSIGHT

But there’s more. Psalms 18 is a messianic Psalm and contains prophecy concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, David prophesied about the Coming One, the Messiah. Throughout the Psalms and other parts of the Old Testament, the Father has cleverly weaved together future prophecies about His Son with the real-life experiences and histories of those who participated or wrote about them in the Old Testament.

Psalms 18:20-31

 20 The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.

 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

 22 I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.

 23 I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.

 24 The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.

 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity, you show integrity.

 26 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked, you show yourself hostile.

 27 You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

 28 You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.

 29 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God, I can scale any wall.

 30 God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

 31 For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?

Psalms 18:20-30 reveals “the rationale or mystique of the Resurrection” (BBC). The Lord Jesus Christ was totally innocent and lived a sinless life. All that He said and did reveals the integrity and righteousness of His character, words, and actions. His righteous life qualified Him to be the Savior of the world.

Isaiah 53:10 But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

The Lord Jesus Christ lived a sinless and spotless life. He demonstrated an undeviating devotion to the will of the Father and His commitment to His crucifixion and death on the cross. This was necessary for him to die for the sins of the world and become eligible to be resurrected.

Romans 6:4 Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

The Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father. The Father’s glory refers to His magnificent splendor and power. It connotes His grandeur, majesty, and unlimited authority. Glory is a power word; it describes the power of God gloriously exercised. The phrase “through the glory of God” indicates the Father using power to raise Jesus (Toews).

Paul’s statement regarding the glory of the Father summarizes the dramatic work of the Father using His unlimited power and authority to raise Jesus (Toews).

The relationship between resurrection power and glory is referenced in the story of Lazarus.

John 11:40 Jesus responded, Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?

Resurrection from the dead reveals the unlimited power and glory of the invisible God.

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© Dr. H 2023

The place of highest honor ∙∙

The place of highest honor ∙∙

God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names. – Philippians 2:9

Colossians 1:15-22

 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,

 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth using Christ’s blood on the cross.

The president of the United States has the privilege of recognizing those considered the “best of the best” civilians in America.

The concept of conferring The Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States, was initiated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the security or national interests of the country, as well as to global peace, cultural achievements, or other notable public or private endeavors.

Typically the medal is bestowed upon the recipient by the sitting president who has chosen them. Between 1963 and 2021, more than 550 civilians have been so honored. Two people, Ellsworth Bunker and Colin Powell, were two-time recipients.

The award symbolizes that anyone, regardless of origin or standing in society, can live out the highest, most noble ideals. In doing so, they inspire others to do likewise.

Does the Lord Jesus Christ deserve the place of highest honor and devotion? Would His meritorious contributions to humanity, world peace, cultural, or other significant endeavors warrant it? If an American president existed during the first century, would they have bestowed The Presidential Medal of Freedom upon Him? In all honesty, it would matter who the President was.

But in fact, the question is irrelevant. Because the Most High God, the highest existing authority, has already granted Him the place of highest honor. The Father has proclaimed for all eternity that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is above all other names. In the act of total submission to the Father and total dedication to the eternal salvation of the human race, the Lord Jesus Christ chose to die for the sins of the world. He achieved reconciliation between the holy, pure, and righteous Father and sinful, fallen, tainted humanity. He established peace between heaven and earth.

He demonstrated the accuracy and efficacy of His teaching for all to follow.

Luke 14:11 Those who humble themselves will be exalted.

REFLECT & PRAY

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes so that you by his poverty could become rich.

Father strengthen me to give and maintain the Lord Jesus Christ, the place of highest honor in my life.

INSIGHT

Frequently, the worth of a gift is determined by its origin rather than its price. This is why individuals often hold heirlooms passed down to them by beloved family members in high regard, as these objects possess a significant sentimental value that transcends their monetary value.

Measuring the value of eternal life, forgiveness, unconditional acceptance, and adoption into the Father’s Forever Family is impossible. These gifts have been freely bestowed upon all who believe in the Son of God, who is the visible representation of the invisible God. Through His Son, the Father has revealed Himself to humanity.

Colossians 2:9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

2 Corinthians 4:4 Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Regarding the work of redemption, as far as the Father and the Son are concerned, “It is finished.” All that was needed has been done and made ready and available to all who accept it. If the Christian faith were summed up with one word, it would be the word DONE. If all of the other religions in the world were summed up with one word, it would be DO (Greg Laurie).

All that children of the King receive from the Father is freely given. We do not work for nor do we earn it. It is all grace.

The 1964 Winter Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria. The British two-man bobsled team finished their first run and were in second place. They realized a bolt had broken as they prepared for their second run. Without it, they would be disqualified and out of the competition.

Eugenio Monti of Italy, one of the most successful athletes in winter sports, with ten world championships and 6 Olympic medals, became aware of the problem. He lent Team Britain a bolt from off his sled. The British team fixed their sled and went on to win the gold medal. Team Italy finished third.

It was an incredible gesture of unselfishness and the best-known performance of Monti’s sporting career. When queried, Eugenio Monti replied, “Nash didn’t win because I gave him the bolt. He won because he had the fastest run.”

Monti was honored with the De Coubertin Medal for Sportsmanship by the International Olympic Committee, becoming its first recipient, due to his generous and selfless action. The committee bestows this award upon athletes who exhibit a genuine spirit of sportsmanship, and it is considered the ultimate honor among Olympians. The path to achieving this recognition does not involve any specific training regimen but rather stems from cultivating strong personal values and making good decisions in one’s life.

Despite being God, the Lord Jesus Christ did not view equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He voluntarily relinquished His divine privileges and took on the form of a human, choosing to serve in a position of humility as a slave. He further humbled Himself by submitting entirely to the will of the Father, ultimately suffering a criminal’s death. As a result of His sacrificial act, the Father exalted Him to the highest position of honor and bestowed upon Him a name above all other names.

The Lord Jesus Christ received recognition and the applause of heaven. He showed the way for all children of the King. Those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11).

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© Dr. H 2023

Galaxy brain ∙

Galaxy brain ∙

I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. In wrath, remember mercy. – Habakkuk 3:2

Psalms 33:4-9

 4 For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

 6 The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.

 7 He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.

 8 Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him.

 9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.

Since the 1990s, the Hubble Space Telescope has been capturing and transmitting back to Earth amazing, resplendent images of distant galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae (NASA.gov). The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched in 2021. JWST is designed to be the successor to the Hubble but has improved capabilities for observing the universe. It has a large, segmented primary mirror over six times larger than Hubble’s.

These magnificent telescopes allow us to get outside of ourselves, glimpse places far away in time and space. JWST is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos and add to our knowledge some of the most fundamental questions in the universe. Incredibly, it permits us to investigate the atmospheres of exoplanets in search of signs of life.

“Imagine yourself at a scenic vista somewhere on Earth, such as the rim of the Grand Canyon or the shore of an ocean stretching out past the horizon line. As your brain processes the view and its sheer vastness, feelings of awe kick in” (Marina Koren, TheAtlantic.com, December 1, 2020). The awe elicited by the greatness of the creation has come to be called “Space Telescope.”

The experience of awe can lead to “a diminished sense of self,” a phrase psychologists use to describe feelings of smallness or insignificance in the face of something larger than oneself. A diminished sense of self is when an individual experiences a lower or weakened sense of their identity or value. People with a diminished sense of self may encounter challenges related to their self-esteem, self-confidence, and a sense of direction or meaning in their lives.

Research has demonstrated that the sensation can be a good thing: “A shot of awe can boost feelings of connectedness with other people” (Koren).

People were created with the ability to feel awe when viewing and reflecting upon the Father’s magnificent work of creation.

But the Father is seeking something far closer to His heart. He wants people to be awestruck with Him. How can we see and reflect upon the unseen God?

He has provided two ways: His Word and His Son. Through the written Word of God, we come to know about the Father. We discover His characteristics, qualities, and divine attributes. But more importantly, we learn about who He is as a person.

As we “see” Him in His Word, it is transformational. We are awed and experience something far more sensational than Galaxy Brain. We experience what we might call “God Brain.” We are at once diminished and seem puny and insignificant, yet at the same time, our thirst for connection with Him magnifies.

REFLECT & PRAY

“The Father is God, and the Son is God, but the Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father. He is speaking about unity, not identity” (Wiersbe).

Father You are utterly awesome. Lead me towards a more profound understanding of your essence. Intensify my craving and longing for you. Satisfy my growing desire to establish a stronger connection with you.

INSIGHT

How can we see and reflect upon the unseen God? The answer is fascinating and yet sublimely simple. As we observe the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels and hear Him speak and teach, He shows what the Father is like because He and the Father are one.

John 10:30 I and the Father are one.

How can this be? Theologians have been trying to answer that question for centuries. Perhaps we may never understand it on this side of eternity. But we can simply read the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, reflect, understand, receive, and believe.

The Lord Jesus Christ unequivocally stated that the Son and the Father are one, that is, one essence, true deity. Two different personalities, the Father and the Son, are both equally God. When the Lord Jesus Christ became truly human, He lived His life on earth as God in the flesh.

If you want to know what the Father is like, look at the Son. It is that simple.

John 14:7- 9

 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

 9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?

Because no one has ever seen the Father face-to-face, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to reveal what He is like.

John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. But the unique One, who is himself God, who is at the Father’s side, He has explained Him.

When the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became flesh and dwelt among us, He revealed the Father to us. What does that mean?

The Greek term translated as revealed or explained is exegesato. It comes from the Greek verb exegeomai, which means to lead out, explain, interpret, describe, or make known.

Because no one can fully see and comprehend the Father in His Glory and live, the Lord Jesus Christ came to exegete and fully reveal the Father. “If you want to see what God is like, look at Jesus” (Barclay).

Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his essence.

He’s Everything to Me

In the stars His handiwork I see

On the wind He speaks with majesty

Tho’ He ruleth over land and sea

What is that to me

‘Til by faith I met Him face to face

And I felt the wonder of His grace

Then I knew that He was more

Than just a God who didn’t care

That lived away out there

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© Dr. H 2023

Wilderness Therapy ∙

Wilderness Therapy ∙

This was the regular pattern – at night, the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD’s command wherever he told them to go. – Numbers 9:16-18

Deuteronomy 8:2-18

 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.

 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell.

 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good.

 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

 14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.

 15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock!

 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good.

 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, “I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.”

 18 Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful.

Trails Momentum of Henderson, N.C., is a therapeutic outdoor-adventure program for young adults based upon Wilderness Therapy.

Wilderness Therapy has the potential to be a transformative experience for young adults. Taking participants out of their comfort zones and challenging their boundaries encourages pursuing new goals and passions while testing and affirming their faith. Through Wilderness Therapy, young adults can experience personal growth and expand their horizons.

This journey of self-discovery provides young people with a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their capabilities, and their limitations.

Those who successfully navigate the challenges of Wilderness Therapy often gain a newfound sense of self-awareness and discover inner strengths they never knew existed. They develop self-esteem, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment by facing and overcoming challenges that they previously thought were insurmountable.

Wilderness Therapy is nothing new. The Father used it to guide and transform the generation of Israelites. Wilderness Therapy successfully transitioned the people from slavery to becoming resilient inhabitants of the Promised Land. A unique aspect of the Father’s Wilderness Therapy program is that He is always present, providing constant support to those who embark on this journey. They were never alone in the wilderness.

The Father’s presence among His people was not that of a mere observer but of a leader. The Lord led them using the cloud. He directed the Israelites to move or settle down and determined the duration of their stay in each location, whether for one night or two days, a month, or a year (Numbers 9:22). The Father guided them and directed them on every leg of their journey (Duguid and Hughes).

REFLECT & PRAY

How blessed we would be if we would go when the Father told us to go and stay when the Father told us to stay! Obedience brings blessings (Stanley).

Father many children of the King are reticent to travel or move about. You use Wilderness Therapy to transform lives. Encourage me to be willing to follow You wherever Your love leads.

INSIGHT

The Father’s sovereign and purposeful guidance and leadership of His people is seen in how He led them in the wilderness. The Israelites stayed in one place for as long as God intended, and each experience along the journey was purposeful and not coincidental (Wenham). The people had to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. They had to follow God’s visible guidance each day until the cloud came to a halt – this required unwavering obedience to His will  (ESV – Notes).

“There was no place for fussing and crying out, ‘Are we there yet?’ What they had to do was watch the cloud and follow carefully wherever it went. . . This journey is at the will of the Lord himself and under his direction every step of the way” (Duguid and Hughes).

It required forty years and the death of an entire generation for the Israelites to learn to trust God more than their eyes or emotions.

What does it take for us to learn to trust God in the same way?

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© Dr. H 2023

A different spirit ∙

A different spirit ∙

My servant Caleb . . . had a different spirit and has followed Me fully. – Numbers 14:24

Numbers 14:6-9

 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua and Caleb, tore their clothing.

 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is wonderful!

 8 And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.

 9 Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”

So Near and Yet So (Cole Porter)

I so often dream we might make a team

But so wild a scheme I must banish

For each time I start to open my heart, you vanish

My dear, I’ve a feeling you are so near and yet so far

You appear like a radiant star first so near, then again so far

Although the Father had performed remarkable miracles in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea, the people of Israel were skeptical and mistrustful. The Father faithfully led them to the promised land. They were on its outskirts, right at the border. But they remained incongruously faithless and clueless.

So the Father ordered Moses to choose twelve men, one from each of the twelve tribes, to enter and spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:2). The twelve spies went together, and all saw the same things. But their observations and reactions could not have been more different. The condition of their hearts predisposed their responses.

Ten of the spies saw things through the eyes of fear and doubt. Two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, saw things through the eyes of faith and trust.

When the twelve spies returned to the camp, they reported what they saw. Two diametrically opposed reports were given. One was an evil report. It focused on all of the obstacles. There were large, fortified cities and giants (Nephilim). They concluded their report by saying, “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are! The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants. Next to them, we felt like grasshoppers” (Numbers 13:31-33).

What they saw with their eyes was filtered through the fear and doubt in their hearts.

The other report was a good report. What Joshua and Caleb saw with their eyes was filtered through their faithful, trusting hearts.

Numbers 14:8-9

 8 And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.

 9 Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”

What did the people do? They believed the evil report!

Numbers 14:1-3, 10

 1 The whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.

 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.

 3 “Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle?”

 10 The whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb.

It is tempting to say their response seems unbelievable. But we might have done the same thing under similar circumstances. Fear can grab and dominate anyone’s heart.

REFLECT & PRAY

The courage and faith of Joshua and Caleb were exemplary. What sets them apart? It is pretty simple. They took the Father at His Word. They believed all that the Father said and put their complete confidence in Him. “God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him wholeheartedly” (Stanley).

Father I pray that I may have a different spirit, a spirit of faith, trust, and confidence in You.

INSIGHT

The people of Israel disrespected the Father. They snubbed Him. This was not a one-time act. Sadly, it was their standard operating procedure.

This is one of the rare moments in Scripture where the Father’s patience maxed out. He was furious. What did the Father do next? The Father returned to the camp in His glorious splendor. He takes Moses aside, and in so many words, He says, “We have to talk!”

Numbers 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?”

The potential for immediate death for the people of Israel loomed on the horizon. Moses intervened on their behalf, and the Father’s anger abated. Moses’ words are well worth reflecting upon (Numbers 14:13-19).

Entering the promised land was “off the table for that generation.” They did not want to enter the promised land, so the Father ensured they never would. They were doomed to remain in the wilderness. Rather than striking the people immediately, the Father condemned them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. They would die in it. They would never again see the promised land nor enter it. The Father switched from Plan I, immediate death, to Plan S, slow death.

Numbers 14:29-34

 29 You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older . . ..

 30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb and Joshua.

 34 Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years – a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.

A teachable moment! The lesson is simple. It is far better to have the Father as your friend than as your enemy.

So how does the story end? It did not end well for the children of Israel over 20 years of age. They all died in the wilderness. Only their children were allowed to enter the promised land. But Joshua became the commander-in-chief of the Army of Israel, successfully leading them in battle and conquering the promised land.

What about Caleb? The Father puts the spotlight on Caleb. What made him special?  He had a different spirit, a spirit of faith. He followed the Lord with his whole heart. Nothing was held back (Numbers 14:24). At age 85; he was undiminished in spirit and body. He was ready to take on all challenges and all challengers. Because of his convictions, he was fearless. Caleb was completely confident that the Father had his back. And so He did (Hebrews 11:1).

When we possess a spirit of faith, the Father enables us to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. “An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men” (Thomas Fuller).

“When we align ourselves with God and His will, the Lord takes the battle out of our hands and places it in His. Big enemies become small when God leads the charge” (Stanley).

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