by Debra Neybert, Training Specialist
But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.
~Numbers 14:24 (Amplified Bible)
When the 12 spies returned after 40 days of “scouting out” the Promised Land, 10 spies reported their observations through a lens of unbelief. The other two spies, Joshua and Caleb, had a different report In particular, Caleb states the following:
If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense and the shadow [of protection] is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us. Fear them not. (Number 14:8-9, Amplified Bible)
What a powerful declaration Caleb made in the face of tremendous opposition! We, like Caleb, continually face giants—both internally and externally. Even in recent days, decisions have been made in our land that would seem overwhelming and might cause us to wonder, “Will we overcome the giants and fortified cities?”
If we look forward with the spirit of Caleb and Joshua, to “claim the territory” of our inheritance, then the very giants who loom so large will become “our bread.”
Caleb had “a different spirit” about him. Those who follow the Lord with their whole heart are aligned with God’s victorious nature! The idea of a “different spirit” also denotes one who pauses or has a second thought. In other words, Caleb chose his response wisely.
Caleb saw with the eyes of faith! Faith always gives a good report, because faith sees what God sees—the victory! When we see through the challenges to the victory, it causes us to persevere until we possess the promise. In reference to Moses, the scripture says, “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27)
Caleb saw past the fortified cities and giants to Him who is invisible! Faith doesn’t minimize the difficulties of our circumstances, but it also refuses to focus on them. Faith’s focus is, rather, on God, who is mighty in battle and always causes us to triumph!
The Lord eventually brought Caleb into his Promised Land, but it wasn’t until 45 years later. He patiently waited, as did Joshua, for the generation who remained in unbelief to die in the wilderness. When it came time for him to possess his inheritance, he said to Joshua, “give me this mountain” (see Joshua 14:12!).
There were giants on that mountain! But Caleb obtained his inheritance, not only for himself, but for his descendants too! Never give up!
Perhaps you have been waiting a long time to fully possess your Promised Land and giants are blocking your view of Him who is invisible. Our difficulties are really opportunities for God to show Himself strong on your behalf!
In reality, those giants who stand before us were disarmed at the Cross and in the Resurrection. May we, like Caleb, see—through eyes of faith—the giants as our bread, as we enter into our Promised Land!
