Personal Revival: Why Should We Want it? How Can We Get it?

Why revival? Why should we be interested in revival? Isn’t that out of date and out of touch with what we need and what people are looking for today? Isn’t that for the old folk who in bygone days would run up and down the aisles of churches or tents at camp meetings waving a hanky and shouting? Will revival put food on my table and money in my pocket? Will revival heal my broken heart? Will it get me that promotion? Will revival make me successful? Will revival meet my needs? Those are some interesting questions and I do believe personal revival is a key to addressing them, but perhaps in a way that we’ve yet to consider. You see, God has an answer; in fact He is the Answer to all of those questions (John 14:6).

Without God or with a distant relationship with God our priorities and perspectives are all out of whack so that our focus is on the symptoms rather than the root problem. The root problem is that we are either separated from God by our sin (Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:2) and need to be saved (Romans 6:23), or we have drifted from God and lost our bearings (Revelation 2:1-7). These questions are not bad in and of themselves; they are just the wrong questions. The Bible tells us to trust and delight in God and He will give us the right desires in our heart and get us through our times of difficulties (Psalm 37:3-5). God has promised to supply all of our needs through Jesus (Philippians 4:13, 19). It is by drawing close to God through faith in Jesus that all of these questions are put in proper perspective and provided for. That’s why we need revival; revival brings us closer to God through salvation and renewal in the Spirit. Today, as never before, we need revival.

The first revival in the recorded revelation of God occurs in Genesis 35. It is there where after a tragic sequence of events involving the rape of one of his daughters and the murderous revenge of his sons against the perpetrator Shechem (as well as the innocents of the city where he lived), that God moved upon Jacob to lead his family in revival. Revivals are often preceded by some tragedy, trial or spiritual low point. When we look at the world nationally and internationally we see a great deal of tragedy. When we look not only globally, but locally and personally we can find tragedy, pain and hardship that threatens to push us down and away from God. It is just during such times of fear, trepidation, uncertainty, and despair that we need a revival from God that will give us the faith and courage in Him to get us through it all.

There is a literary principle of first mention at work here. The first mention in the Bible of a word or subject serves to lay a foundation or pattern for future reoccurrences of that same word or subject. Such is the case in Genesis 35; it lays the groundwork and sets the pattern for personal revival. Below are some things that we need to realize to experience personal revival. There are some questions to help us assess where we are with the Lord.  There are also related scriptures in parenthesis we should prayerfully consider. We need revival and God desires revival for us.  Let’s turn to Genesis 35 and after prayerfully reading the chapter join together in seeking a personal revival by considering the following questions.

 First, realize God initiates revival. Genesis 35 begins with the words, “then God said to Jacob” (35:1a; see Acts 15:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 2:12-13). God saw the need and spoke to Jacob. Do I believe God can revive me, that He wants to and can change me? Are you fully trusting in Him to speak to you, to change you, or are you relying on yourself or something or someone other than God?

Second, realize revival involves God reminding us of where we once were (35:1b; see also Revelation 2:1-7). God directed Jacob to a place where he had been close to and in the presence of God (Genesis 28).  Are you closer to the Lord now than you were when you first accepted Jesus as Savior? Are you closer to the Lord now than you were a year ago, six months ago, a month ago? If you aren’t steadily growing closer to the Lord, you are probably backsliding (Jeremiah 3:6-15; Hosea 14:4).

When you were saved you proclaimed Jesus as your Lord (Romans 10:8-10). Is He still your Lord? Have you slowly or rebelliously taken back some of the things you once gave Him control of? Maybe you need to go to Him in prayer and return that which you’ve taken back. And maybe you need to ask Him to search you deeper for areas that need to be surrendered to His Lordship. Is He your “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”? (See Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:16). ). If you’re not closer today than you were in the past, why do you think that is? Ask the Lord to show you.

Third, realize revivals often work through a person chosen by God who acts on God’s word (35:2a). The account goes on to say, “And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, . . .” The Lord started this revival by speaking individually to Jacob. What is God saying to you? God moved on Jacob’s heart and he passed on to others what the Lord had put on his heart. Revivals can be quenched by those who keep what God conveys to them to themselves. If God gives a word, he desires us to share it! (Jeremiah 20:9; Galatians 6:2; 1 Peter 3:15). It may be a testimony of what God has done, is doing or has promised to do in your life. It may be a scripture He has put on your heart. It may be answered prayer. It may be something the Lord has convicted you about and that you obediently intend to change. God can use such things to spark a revival. Caution: don’t feel like you have to say something; don’t use such a time to voice a pet peeve or gripe; listen to the Lord and only speak if He directs you to do so (Acts 4:8f., 31; 13:9f.; James 1:19-20; 1 Peter 4:11).

Fourth, realize revivals involve holiness, a willingness to forsake anything and everything that is not pleasing to God (35:2b; Psalm 66:18; 139:23-24;Jeremiah 4:3-4; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:22-25). Is there a sin in your life that you have been allowing? Have you been rationalizing or overlooking some clear contradiction of God’s word in your life? Remember, God is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all in your life. The missionary Jonathan Goforth stated:

If revival is being withheld from us it is because some idol remains still enthroned; because we still insist in placing our reliance in human schemes; because we still refuse to face the unchangeable truth that, 'It is not by might, but by My Spirit.'

Fifth, realize revivals involve taking action on God’s word (35:3-4). Jacob and his family took action; they obeyed the word of the Lord. Jesus said the one who truly loved Him was the one who was obedient to Him (John 14:21, 23). Do you love Jesus enough to obey Him? (Matthew 7:21-28; James 1:22-24).

Sixth, realize revivals result in God’s protection (35:5). Are you afraid of something or someone? Revivals come when we trust in God to protect us (Psalm 4:8; 11; 121; 124; 139:10; Isaiah 41:10; 54:17; 59:19; John 10:28-30; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). God is better able to defend us against our enemies than we are or any other earthly person. John Wesley used to say:

Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen; they alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven upon earth.

Seventh, realize revivals result in a focus on God (35:6-7). Jacob moved from merely remembering that holy place named “Bethel” (“house of God”) to focusing on “El Bethel,” or the God of the house of God. . When the Holy Spirit is working and bringing revival the focus is on Jesus (John 15:26). Focus on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2; 13:5).

Eighth, realize revivals may involve weeping (35:8). Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died and the place where they lay her was then called “the oak of weeping.” Revivals sometimes come to prepare us for a loss (see Death of Rachel in 35:16-29). It could be the literal loss of an individual, or it could be the loss of a portion of our sinful “self” that we need to hold a funeral for (see Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-11). Weeping shows a willingness to allow our emotions out. People are often reserved or embarrassed to let their emotions out. Sometimes the keeping in of emotions is a sign of pride. When was the last time you shed a tear before the Lord? In humility (not prideful show) we should let our emotions out before the Lord (See Psalm 30:4-5; Hebrews 12:12-17; James 4:7-10). 

Ninth, realize revival leads to insight and greater perception of God and our relationship to Him (35:9-11; Psalm 42). We need to draw near to God (Psalm 73:28; James 4:8). Jacob the heel-catcher or selfish grabber was transformed to “Israel” or “one governed by God” one who served God as LORD. Revival brings us back to our best time with God and then brings us even deeper as God works in us a greater capacity to know Him on a deeper level (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14). Often a revival begins with the Lord bringing a portion of scripture to mind that He wants to use in your life.  Is there a verse or passage the Lord is putting on your heart now? How can it be applied to your life? Is God speaking to you about some changes you need to make? Revivals start when people respect His revelation and take it to heart (e.g. Jeremiah 15:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Is there a verse God used to speak to you in the past that perhaps He wants you to return to and reapply?

Tenth, realize revival leads to memorable fruitfulness and blessing (35:11b-14). God revived Jacob and sent him out to be “fruitful and multiply.”  And after God left him, he erected a stone pillar, a lasting symbol to remind him of this special time.  Jacob then poured out a drink offering and “poured oil on it. “ Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in scripture (Zechariah 4). Are you spiritually fruitful? Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus? Are you being used by Him in some way? Are you involved in His ministry, in His church? We are fruitful when we abide in Jesus (John 15). When the Holy Spirit is at work He bears fruit in us (Galatians 5:22-25) and through us (Colossians 1:9-12).

We need revival, in the world, as a nation and personally. Pray for and receive God’s work of revival in your heart and life. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

 

Where Are All the Miracles?

Where are all the miracles? We look at the Bible and see miracles. Where are the miracles today? Miracles are happening today. Miracles can happen today. God is no different now than He was in Biblical times. God is immutable; unchanging. Miracles attest to the reality of God (e.g. Acts 2:22). But it seems the miracles that are happening today are happening in faraway places in underdeveloped parts of the world. Is there a connection? Has our science and technology, our modernity, gotten in the way of miracles? Perhaps, but I think there may be a more rudimentary explanation.

In the Old Testament a man named Gideon asked the same question. When the Angel of the Lord called on him to deliver God’s people Gideon said, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” (Judges 6:13). In other words, “Where are all the miracles?”

It’s interesting that the LORD doesn’t respond to Gideon’s question. Instead it states, “Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14). The LORD put His finger on a pressure point of Gideon. The truth of the matter was that Gideon had nothing in himself that could be associate with “might.” Gideon was quick to react, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:15). Gideon was weak. God knew it. But God works through weakness. “And the LORD said to him, ‘Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:16).

God was going to teach Gideon a major life truth. All we need is God. All Gideon had was God. And all Gideon needed was God. You may not be in agreement with all that Martin Luther the Reformer did, but some words he uttered captures the sense of the Lord’s conversation with Gideon. Luther, when under persecution, said, “One with God is a majority.” That’s the truth!

But where are the miracles? Well God would deliver His people from the Midianites. He would use only 300 men led by Gideon to defeat an army described “as the sand of the seashore in multitude” (Judges 7:12). That was certainly a miracle. But Gideon’s initial response to the Angel of the LORD indicates this was a time when miracles had stopped. And today we look around us and miracles aren’t that common. Have you ever seen a miracle? Some have, but most today would probably say they have not. Why is that?

We see many miracles in scripture. But we have to understand that the Bible does not contain every detail of history. For instance the Book of Acts contains many accounts of miracles, but we need to remember that those miracles occurred over a period of about 30 years of history in the early church. In light of that duration we get a better perspective on the occurrence of miracles.

A “miracle” is defined as an extraordinary unusual event manifesting Divine intervention in human affairs. Something that is extraordinary and unusual is by definition not common. But sometimes it doesn’t seem like there are any miracles happening around us. Still we ask, “Where are the miracles?”

If we go back to Gideon and look at the context in which he asked why there weren’t any miracles happening, we see it stated, “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years” (Judges 6:1). Maybe there were no miracles happening then and maybe there are few miracles today because of the sin of God’s people. Maybe it was a way of God to get the attention of His people. Much of the world and our own nation is steeped in sin. There is a globalization of immorality. And the church is not immune to it! There is sin everywhere.

The Midianites were so oppressive of God’s people that they moved into caves for protection. Today too many Christians are isolating themselves from the world for protection. Isolation is not the answer. Jesus called His followers to be salt and light; to purify in order to preserve the world and to shine light into the sinful darkness (Matthew 5:13-16). You can’t do that by isolating yourself from the world.

The Midianites were destroying “the produce of the earth,” the crops of the people. God’s people were “greatly impoverished” by the Midianites (Judges 6:2-6). Today the Midianites take the form of deficit spending, war costs, public school indoctrination and a host of other parasitic vermin that is sapping not only our secular resources but the resources of our spiritual heritage.

Finally the people called out to God. Finally they had enough. Finally they came to the end of themselves. Finally they realized they could only turn to God. When will we get to that point? When we do finally God will answer. What did God say? What will He say?

It states, “the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; ⁹ and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. ¹⁰ Also I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not obeyed My voice.’ ” (Judges 6:8-10). God points His people to the Exodus, a time of incredible miraculous manifestations. He also recalls how God had cleared out the Promised Land for them. But then He adds, “But you have not obeyed My voice.”

Miracles, even the Exodus and conquest of the Promised Land, didn’t lead God’s people to obey God. Jesus recounted the story of a rich man in hell who upon seeing the consequence of his life of luxury begs Abraham to get word to his five brothers so they won’t have to follow his eternal destiny. Abraham’s response was, “if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded through one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31).

The reason we don’t see miracles today is because our motive for wanting them is wrong. We think if God would just perform a miracle it would so impress people that they would fall on their knees and repent. But scriptural history tells us different. God’s own people saw Egypt, the mightiest empire of their time defeated by the miracles of God. They saw the Red Sea parted and then closed up on the Egyptian army. They saw water from the rock. They ate manna from heaven and quail dinners provided by God. God parted the Jordan River. He brought the walls of Jericho down. He made the sun stop in the sky. He defeated enemy after enemy for His people. He did countless other miracles. And still they disobeyed Him!

In the Gospels we see Jesus turn water to wine, the blind made to see, the lame to walk, lepers healed and our Savior rise from the grave. We see the disciples follow in the steps of their Master healing and delivering people from demons. We see numerous miracles and still so many stray.

Why no miracles? There are no miracles because, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3). The hypocritical Pharisees sought a sign from Jesus and Jesus didn’t grant their request. In fact Jesus said it was an evil and adulterous generation that seeks a sign (Matthew 12:38-39). Herod was eager to see Jesus so that he might see Jesus do a miracle (Luke 23:8). Simon the sorcerer was rebuked by Peter for wanting to purchase the ability to perform miracles (Acts 8:14-25). Miracles sought with wrong motives are not granted.

But not everyone asks amiss. Who is to say our motives aren’t pure when we see a suffering child or adult and ask God for a miraculous intervention? But go deeper. What is so bad about going to be with the Lord? To live is Christ, to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). When our loved ones are hurting and we are begging the Lord for help, our emotions are so upset it’s hard to wade through and know our motives. If a miracle is to occur it must be according to God’s will and for His glory. That is the criteria we must bow to.

Why no miracles? Gideon’s weakness and lack of faith was evidently representative of the lack of faith amongst God’s people at that time. The Gospels indicate that the lack of faith hinders the manifestation of the miraculous (Mark 6:1-6)

If we follow the pattern of Gideon, he asked for a confirming sign to authenticate it was indeed the Angel of the LORD he was talking to (6:17), he prayed for the Angel of the LORD to wait for him to bring an offering to him (6:18), and we see that it was in the sacrificial offering that the Angel of the LORD confirmed who He was through a sign of igniting the sacrifice into a fire (6:19-21). Then Gideon encountered peace in the presence of the Lord (6:22-24). Gideon named the place YHWH Shalom, or The-LORD-Is-Peace.

After this Gideon was sent on a mission to overturn and destroy a pagan altar of Baal (6:25-35). This was to build Gideon’s trust in God. God mercifully further confirmed to Gideon that He would deliver Israel through him (6:36-40). And then God miraculously delivered His people from the Midianites with only three hundred men (Judges 7).

So what is the pattern? First confirm that it is the LORD that is talking to you about the miracle you seek. Second, through prayer and worship wait for the LORD to confirm His will. Third, let God’s peace guide you (cf. also Col. 3:15). Then let God direct you to strengthen your faith in preparation for the miracle He will do. Then follow the leading of the LORD and be ready for Him to do a miracle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Testing of the LORD

“Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them” – Judges 3:1

Have you ever asked yourself why has this happened to me? Everyone at one time or the other asks themselves this question. Sometimes the answer is that we are suffering the consequences of our own sinful choices (e.g. Jeremiah 2:19). Difficulties and trials may be the result of spiritual warfare (e.g. Job). Nothing can happen to us that God has not allowed to happen. We may not understand why God allows certain things to happen. And we may not like what He allows to happen. But God is big enough to handle our questions and objections. God is sovereign over all.

There is another source of difficulty that we may find hard to understand or accept. Some testing and trials come from God. That is the testimony of scripture. The book of Judges is a history of God’s people in the Promised Land. In the opening portions of Judges it states: “Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan ² (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), ³ namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. ⁴ And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.” (Judges 3:1-4)

God had enabled His people to take over the Promised Land and fully occupy it (Joshua 21:43-45). But this passage in Judges tells us that God purposely allowed some of the pagan peoples to remain. These pagan peoples would be the source of trouble for God’s people. But God, fully aware of this, allowed them to remain. Why did God allow these pagan nations to remain? The answer to that question is of great value because it gives us insight into how God ministers to us. The above passage states God allowed these pagan nations to test His people. They would be tested in two ways.

First, God allowed the pagan adversarial nations to remain in order to strengthen His own people (Judges 3:1-3). There was a generation of Israel that had not lived during the conquest. They needed to learn how to fight and defend themselves. God allowed adversaries to remain to serve this purpose. Faith is like a muscle, it needs exercising. A muscle grows only when it is stretched and strained to capacity, even beyond capacity. Then the muscle is fed, nourished and rested. And when restored it will be restored larger and stronger than before the workout.

Do you have an adversary in your life? It may be a person. It may be a circumstance or situation God has allowed in your life. Have you asked God why this is happening to you? It may be that God wants to strengthen you and prepare you for a future task. Why does God allow cults to exist? Perhaps it is that the testing that comes from confrontations with cults is a means for God to strengthen our faith. Enlightenment and understanding comes when we are motivated to study to prepare for ministering to cultists. How many Christians have been motivated to study the word of God in order to be prepared for that inevitable knock on the door from a Jehovah’s Witness or Mormon? That atheist or skeptic you know and that is always trying to trip you up with questions may be a tool of God to move you deeper in His word and closer to Him. God uses adversaries to test and strengthen our faith.

Secondly, God allowed the pagan adversarial nations to remain in order to bring us through decision to obedience (Judges 3:4). It states that God allowed these nations to test them, “to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD.” It isn’t that God needed to know this. God is omniscient. He knows everything! What God was doing was helping His people know what was in their hearts. It’s easy to talk a good talk, but can you walk the talk?

God’s people were often quick to pay lip service to God. At the end of his life Joshua challenged the people saying, “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! ¹⁵ And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15) The people’s immediate response was, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve others gods.” (Joshua 24:16). Then what did the people do? They forsook the Lord! We see this in a repetitive cycle in Judges consisting of sin, suffering consequences of that sin, crying out to God, God delivering the people through a judge, rest and peace, and then the cycle happens all over again. It’s true, talk is cheap!

Why was and is obedience so important to God? Obedience leads to blessing (Deut. 28; Joshua 1:8). God gave the Law and the instruction of His word in order to protect His people from danger. God instructs His people in order to show them the way in which they can experience and maintain a close personal eternal walk with Him. God loves us and He instructs us to show us what is best for us. If He says “No” to something, it is only because what we are intending to do or what we are asking for is harmful for us. He has something better for us. When we disobey we never get God’s best. Obey God and you’ll always get His best.

But there’s another reason why obedience is important. Obedience is a way of expressing our love for God. Love and obedience are connected (cf. Deut. 11:13; 30:20).  Jesus said if we love Him we will obey Him (John 14:15, 21).  We can say we love Jesus all we want, but if we are living in sin we prove ourselves liars. You may say you love your spouse, but if you cheat on them and commit adultery in thought or deed how valid or true is your love? Cheating on them breaks your marriage covenant. We can rationalize and excuse ourselves but the reality is still we have broken something precious. It is only through repentance and actual change that reconciliation is possible. Usually that comes through getting caught; through testing. Maybe this teaching is a test for some of you.

God knows what is in our hearts but we don’t (Jeremiah 17:9-10; 1 John 1:8, 10). The heart is deceitful and wicked. We can only know what is really in our heart by looking into the mirror of God’s word (James 1:22-25). God’s word speaks of His testing. It is God’s word that tells us the truth about ourselves (Hebrews 4:12-13). God tests us to bring us to a point of decision. When we choose to obey Him it expresses our true love. When we choose to disobey it exposes false love. God tests us for our own good, to strengthen our faith and show us the truth about ourselves. God’s testing makes a way for us to experience His best.

The psalmist was inspired to write, “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our hearts; we went through fire and trough water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment” (Psalm 66:10-12). Sometimes rich fulfillment only comes through testing.

Seven Promise Fulfilling Principles

So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.” – Joshua 21:43

It is fitting to conclude this series of messages from the book of Joshua with a summation of the tools that help us to secure God’s promises. There are certain principles in scripture which pave the path to seeing God’s promises fulfilled in our life. In the last five chapters of Joshua as we read the account of the taking of the Promised Land we can see Seven Promise Fulfilling Principles.  

Principle #1 – Justice and Mercy. In Joshua 20 we read of the Cities of Refuge. Revenge killing was common in primitive cultures. Families killed families like the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s. This is not uncommon even to our day as we see in the Middle Eastern conflict. Such revenge killing was often done even in the case of an accidental killing. This was unjust therefore God made a provision in the Law for Cities of Refuge where those not guilty of intentional killing could flee to find a fair hearing. These Cities did not protect the premeditated or intentional murderer. Living with a spirit of justice and mercy is a principle that leads to experiencing the fullness of God’s promises.

God commands justice be the rule of His people and connects it with taking the Promised Land – “You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Deut. 16:20). The testimony of God in His word is that He requires justice (Micah 6:8). He puts the highest value on justice (Prov. 2:13). God delights in justice (Prov. 11:1). God gives wisdom to execute justice (Prov. 2:6, 9). And God is displeased with injustice (Eccl. 5:8). God’s judges are commanded by Him to rule justly (Duet. 16:18; 2 Sam. 23:3; Ezek. 45:9).

Jesus is our supreme example of justice and will one day rule justly on the earth – “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.” (Jer. 23:5). In Acts Paul proclaimed,  “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹ because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31; cf. also Psalm 98:9 and Isaiah 11:1-4).

 

We are exhorted in God’s word to seek justice: We should think about justice – Phil. 4:8; We should receive teaching about justice – Prov. 1:3; We should always act justly – Psalm 119:121; We should take pleasure in acting justly – Prov. 21:15; and we should teach justice in our family – Gen. 18:19. Therefore, 6 Cities of Refuge were appointed for the just consideration of those involved in the death of others. These Cities were spread throughout the Land. There were 3 Cities of Refuge in the West and 3 in the East. These Cities of Refuge are a type of Christ. We find safety from our sin as we abide in Christ (John 15).

 

Principle #2 – Give Priority to and Support Ministry (Make provision for you spiritual health). The Levites (from the priestly tribe of Levi) were not given any portion of the Promised Land because God was their portion. The priests were entrusted with caring for the spiritual health of the people. Having said this the Levites still needed their practical needs met. Therefore the LORD arranged for 48 cities spread throughout the Land where the Levites could reside, have their practical needs met as well as be centers of ministry. These cities were locations where the priestly ministers would infiltrate and influence the people to worship the LORD. Six of these Cities also served as Cities of Refuge. Placing the priests in close proximity to the Cities of Refuge revealed God’s heart that there should be a consideration of the spiritual/eternal aspect of criminal proceedings (Joshua 21:1-42).

Principle #3 – Trust in God’s Faithfulness. In Joshua 21 it states, “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. ⁴⁴ The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. ⁴⁵ Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass” (Joshua 21:43-45).  God is faithful. He gave all the Land that had been promised to Abraham 475 years before (Gen. 15). God always keeps His word. You can always trust the LORD. God always has and always will keep His word (e.g. Psalm 111).

God by nature is faithful. “God is faithful, by whom you have been called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9; cf. also 1 Thess. 5:24). God’s faithfulness is great (Lam. 3:23; Ps. 89:2), it is holy and like no other faithfulness (Psalm 89:8). God’s faithfulness never fails (Ps. 89:33; 2 Tim. 2:13). His faithfulness is infinite (Ps. 36:5). His faithfulness is everlasting (Ps. 119:90; 146:6). His counsels are faithful and reliable (Is. 25:1). He is faithful to fulfill His promises (1 Kings 8:20; Ps. 132:11; Micah 7:20; Hebrews 10:23). He is faithful to keep covenant (Deut. 7:9; Ps. 111:5). He is faithful in executing judgment (Jer. 23:20; 51:29). And He is faithful to forgive sins based on faith in Christ (1 John 1:9). Aren’t you blessed and glad that God is so faithful? Praise God for His faithfulness!

The reality of God’s faithfulness is very practical to us. We should pray to God based on His faithfulness (Ps. 143:1). We should proclaim the faithfulness of God (Ps. 40:10:89:1, 5; 92:2). We should depend on the faithfulness of God (1 Peter 4:19). Even when we are faithless God remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim. 2:13). Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness.

Principle #4 – Follow Through on Agreements. The tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh had decided to take their portion outside the Promised Land east of the Jordan river. They had held up their part of the agreement to accompany their brethren into the conquest of the Promised Land. Now Joshua would uphold his part of the agreement by releasing these tribes to go to their land east of the Jordan. It’s important to allow people freedom to make decisions. When we enter into an agreement we should be faithful to follow through with it (Joshua 22).

Joshua charges the two and a half tribes who would live east of the Jordan to love the LORD, walk in all His ways, cleave to Him, and serve Him with all their heart. Then Joshua sent them away with a blessing. Even when we don’t agree with people’s decisions, we should be willing to exhort them and send them away with a blessing. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree. If a person’s choice is not contrary to God’s word, then we should be willing to let go (Joshua 22:1-8).

Principle #5 – Be Diligent to Adhere to God’s Word but Not Hasty in Accusing Others of Sin – Don’t be Judgmental (Joshua 22:9-20). There was only to be one altar to God located in the Tabernacle of Meeting. To build another altar was to raise concerns of idolatry. Yet this is what the two and a half tribes east of the Jordan did. The tribes east of the Jordan had good intentions but it was a shocking step no matter the intent. When the nine and a half tribes heard of the alternative altar they passed judgment on them even though they didn’t have all the facts. They assumed the worst. This led to strife. We shouldn’t be judgmental. They had been exhorted to live in love. Love believes all things (1 Cor. 13:4-8). They were not acting in love toward their brethren.

We shouldn’t take the place of God in judging others. Our heart is deceitful and ill equipped to stand in judgment of others (Jer. 17:9-10). God alone knows the heart. Instead we are to love one another (1 Pet. 4:8). This doesn’t mean we aren’t to correct people. But if we do correct, we should use God’s word as our plumb line and watch that our motives are holy (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 4:1f.; Gal. 6:1).

Principle #5 – Be Willing to Reconcile. Good communication leads to reconciliation in cases of misunderstanding the motives of others. Unity is important to God. The outpouring of the Spirit comes to those united in prayer for it (e.g. Acts 1:14 and Acts 2). That is what we see happen here with God’s people. The two and a half tribes explained they erected an altar to the Lord out of fear that they would not be remembered as God’s people (22:21-29). Then it states, “³⁰ Now when Phinehas the priest and the rulers of the congregation, the heads of the divisions of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them” (22:30; cf.  Also 22:31-34). The unity of believers is of great value to God and critically important to experiencing the fullness of God’s promises. We should communicate with the parties involved and gather all the facts before accusations or corrections are made that jeopardize our precious unity.

Principle #6 – Courageously Cling to the LORD in Love – Don’t Compromise. Joshua 23 begins, “Now it came to pass, a long time after the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age. ² And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: “I am old, advanced in age. ³ You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you” (23:1-3). God had promised. God had delivered. God was faithful. God can therefore be trusted. Therefore, Joshua exhorts the people to carry on to completion the calling of God to secure the Promised Land. “See, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward. ⁵ And the Lord your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the Lord your God promised you” (23:4-5). Joshua exhorts the people to not stop now but follow through to the end on what God had called them to do; that is take all of the Promised Land.

But taking hold of God’s promises is not for the faint of heart; courage is required. “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, ⁷ and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, ⁸ but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day” (23:6-8). It takes courageous faith to live out the word of God. There will be opposition from without and from within. But if we are to take hold of God’s promises we need to be courageous in obediently keeping all of God’s word. Courageously cling to the LORD and His word.

Courage is not something that comes from within us. Courage is an overcoming faith that depends on God. “For the Lord has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. ¹⁰ One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you. ¹¹ Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God´ (23:9-11). Love is what binds us to the LORD. Love should be our motivation. Our courage is rooted in God’s love and our love for Him. Obedience is how our love is proved (cf. John 14:15, 21).

The alternative of disregarding God and His word only leads to loss. That is what Joshua warns the people of when he states: “¹² Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, ¹³ know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you” (23:12-13). Marriages that aren’t built on God’s word will not realize their maximum purpose or potential (cf. Eph. 5). If we choose to go our own way, God will let us, but He won’t go with us. The consequence will be a life of “snares and traps, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish” and miss out on the promises of God.

Truly, when people choose to disregard the Lord in light of all the evidence of His faithfulness, it boggles the mind.  Joshua reminds the people of the reality of God’s faithfulness. ““Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed” (23:14). Pastor Chuck Smith comments, “The past faithfulness of God is witness to the future faithfulness of God.” But as God is faithful to bless those with good who follow Him, He will be faithful to allow harmful things enter the life of those who disobey Him. It works both ways “(23:15-16). God loves us enough to discipline us (Heb. 12).

Principle #7 – Build on What God has Done – Choose to Serve the LORD Sincerely in Truth. Joshua gathers the people at Shechem and issues a challenge to them. Serving the Lord is a choice. You have to choose to serve the Lord. And that decision should be based on theh history of God’s faithfulness (Joshua 24:1-13).

Shechem is located between Mr. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim. In Deuteronomy 8 God tells the people to remember that all that they have is from the LORD (Deut. 8:18-20). God told the people that if they obeyed Him, God would give them victory no matter the size of the foe (Deut. 11:22-23). To ingrain this in the hearts of the people God instructed them separate into two groups, one on Mt. Ebal and the other on Mt. Gerizim. Then from Mt. Ebal the people would declare the curses that would come upon them in consequence for disobedience and from Mt. Gerizim declare the blessings that would come as a reward for their obedience (cf. Deut. 27:11-13). In light of all God has done and provided for His people, they are to reverence and worship the LORD by serving Him sincerely in truth (24:14-28).

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!” 24:14). “Sincerity” is translated from the Hebrew term tawmeem means entirely, completely, wholly, without blemish, or fully. It is a call to serve the LORD with all your heart.

Then Joshua utters these strong and memorable words: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (24:15). This is the challenge that all people have to consider; especially those who want to experience the promises of God.

The people were quick to answer and claim their allegiance to God (24:16-18). But Joshua knew better. He speaks what unfortunately became a prophetic word about God’s people. “But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. ²⁰ If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good” (24:19-20). Joshua confronted the tendency to idolatry of the people. If your “God” is your master passion, an idol is a master passion for anything other than God the LORD. No one else besides the LORD deserves to be your mater passion.

There were numerous pagan gods in the Old Testament: Baal the god of thunder; Chemosh the “destroyer”; Molech the fire-god and god of “death and underworld to which” infants sacrificed in the fire of Molech; and there was Mammon, god of wealth. These gods incorporated to one degree or another four basic aspects of idolatry: Worship of intellect, pleasure, power, and money. These are the same things people idolize today.

The people insisted they would serve the Lord (24:21). Joshua tells them their words are a witness about their decision (24:22-24).  Joshua put everything in writing; his charge to the people; and their vow to serve the LORD (24:26-28). Joshua died at 110 years of age. Israel followed the LORD while Joshua was alive. That’s the sign of an effective leader (24:29-33). But ultimately the people would stray from the Lord repeatedly. Judges, the book that follows Joshua, is a record of the low point, some of the darkest days of Israel. God remained faithful through all their wanderings and betrayals. Many missed out on God’s promises.

How about you? What will you decide? Dwight L. Moody once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do through one man that is totally yielded to God!” Let’s seek to be totally committed in love to God and see what God will do! Will you choose to serve the Lord? Will you follow these principles and experience the fulfillment of God’s promises?

Missing the Fullness

“And they did not drive out the Canaanites . . . .” – Joshua 16:10

God has given us “exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4). But it is possible to miss out on the fullness of those promises. God had promised to give His people the Land of Canaan (Joshua 1). In the New Testament Jesus promises abundant life (John 10:10). Why is it then that our life as a Christian so often feels less than abundant? In Joshua 15 through 19 we are given insight into some of the causes of Missing the Fullness of God’s promises.

People miss out on the fullness of God’s promises because of ingrained enemies. In Joshua 15 we are reminded of the good example of Caleb who did experience the fullness of the promise of God’s blessing in the conquest of the territory allotted to him by God (Joshua 15:13-15). “Caleb drove out” the giant impediments to the promise of God. But in verse 63 we are introduced by way of contrast to the first reason why God’s people sometimes miss out on the fullness of His promises. It states, “As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.”  An ingrained enemy is one reason people don’t’ live in the fullness of God’s blessing. Here we see one of the reasons people don’t live in the fullness of God’s blessings. We are told that the children of Judah were unable to drive out the Jebusites. The Jebusites inhabited Jerusalem. It was historically a well-fortified city. The Jebusites were able to withstand efforts to besiege the city because they had built a water shaft that kept the city from dying of thirst. It wasn’t until the reign of David that the Jebusites were defeated (2 Sam. 5).

There are strongholds in our life that sometimes take a prolonged period of time and effort to defeat. Victory is assured (e.g. Rom. 8:37-39). But victory may not come instantaneously. This is one reason for people not experiencing the fullness of God’s promises. Like Jerusalem under the Jebusites there may be a tunnel that this enemy is using to funnel and feed itself so that it remains in place. Like David we need to identify the source that the enemy is using to feed itself and cut it off. Is there an enemy in your life? Are you allowing a tunnel of some kind to feed it? The way to victory is to cut off the source of feeding for your entrenched enemy.

People miss out on the fullness of God’s blessing due to incomplete efforts. In Joshua chapters 16 and 17 we are given the boundaries of the Land of Promise apportioned to the two tribes of Joseph. And in Joshua 16:10 it states, “And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.” An incomplete work keeps us from the fullness of God’s blessing. In verse 10 we are told the tribe of Ephraim did not follow God’s commandment to completely remove the inhabitants of Canaan (Deut. 7). They allowed pockets of enemy presence to remain in the land. We are not told this was because of a particularly strong enemy resistance. We are simply told they did not drive out these Canaanites. They settled to making them forced labor.

There are times when we think we know better than the Lord. There are times when we think we can take and use those things God has forbidden for us. That always leads to problems and less than God’s best. It results in living in less than the fullness of God’s blessing. It’s important to pay attention to and carry out God’s word in detail; in its fullness. Fully keeping the word of God is the way to experience the fullness of His blessing. God doesn’t bless short cuts, half-hearted, and incomplete sloppy efforts.

People miss out on the fullness of God’s promises because of an eye-for-more. In Joshua 17:1-13 give us the boundaries of the half tribe of Manasseh who did enter the Promised Land. (Remember that half of the tribe of Manasseh decided to take their portion outside the Promised Land – Numbers 32:15). The half tribe of Manasseh who did enter the Land and receive an allotment came to Joshua with a complaint: “Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the Lord has blessed us until now?” ¹⁵ So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.” ¹⁶ But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel.” ¹⁷ And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, ¹⁸ but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.” (Joshua 17:14-18). These verses show us that, an eye for more can keep one from experiencing the fullness of God’s blessing.

There are times when we miss out on God’s blessing because we mistakenly seek more outside our lot before we take what is ours in the land in which God has placed us. God had given the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh their lot. They were dissatisfied with what God gave them. They felt they deserved more. Therefore they went to Joshua and complained and asked for a greater inheritance. Joshua’s response was to acknowledge they were indeed a great people and that they would indeed be given more land, but that the land they would be given was not elsewhere but right where they were.

Sometimes we miss the trees for the forest. Sometimes we fail to see what God is giving us right where we are because we are looking (lusting) for more elsewhere. This is a version of the-grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side mentality. There are times when we are looking for more land before we have completely taken and experienced the fullness of what God has for us where we presently are situated. There are numerous example of this in life. Like the child with two fists full of cookies who cries for “More cookies! More!” There is the person who cries for a promotion before they have proved themselves in their present position. There is the person who church hops to find a spouse when God may have provided their mate right where they are in their local church. There is the person who feels called to be a missionary to the world when they have failed to win their local neighbors. This more-mindset that keeps us from the fullness of God’s blessing is rooted in pride, presumption, a pressure to achieve or get more, a spirit of entitlement, and a general dissatisfaction with what God has given them.

This hindrance to the fullness of God’s blessing also involves a subtle laziness or lack of passion to take the land God has given you. Ephraim and Manasseh didn’t want to put in the effort to take land that would require a battle against giants. They had to be reminded by Joshua that, “You are a great people, and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours” (Joshua 17:17). In other words Joshua said, “You are great and you will receive more, but you will have to work for it in the power the Lord has provided.”

It is also rooted in a misunderstanding about how greatness is defined. Alan Redpath correctly comments:

“Greatness . . . has everything to do with faithfulness to the Lord and constant, persistent endeavor after holiness of life. . . . Are you constantly discontented with your present lot? Do you often pine for greater opportunity to serve the Lord? Is your heart set on some mission field? For it may be that the searchlight of God’s Word will disclose that the enemy is still deeply entrenched in your soul. May the Spirit of God point out to you that perhaps you have not really possessed the lot which God has given you. . . .

 As God speaks to you today, do you not see that the real trouble in your life may be, not that you have not enough scope for your gifts, but that you are not living to capacity where you are? Satan is still sharing the land with you. You may want to leave him behind and move on to greater things, but that is never God’s way. You can strain at the leash just as long as you like, but God’s Spirit will hold you back and focus the searchlight of the Word on your life. He will keep you where you are until you have occupied and lived to capacity just there, and until – in the place in which you are serving, in the lot that He has given you, up to the capacity of your heart for Christ - the enemy has been vanquished. [1]

Have you been seeking greater land from the Lord, different land? Seeking an escape from what God has given you? Perhaps He has work for you to do right where you are.

People miss the fullness of God’s promises because of neglecting to apply those promises. In Joshua 18 it states, “Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. ² But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. ³ Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?) Joshua 18:1-3). The tribes assembled to worship at the tabernacle of the Lord. But Joshua said there was something wrong; something was left out. They came to worship but they neglected to apply what God had told them. It is good and very important to attend church, worship the Lord, and take in the teaching of His word. But if what is taught is never applied it becomes worthless! Joshua identifies this lapse and problem and exhorts the seven tribes who hadn’t yet taken possession of their allotted land to do so.

We can attend church and study the word of God regularly, but if we never apply in the Spirit what the Spirit has shown us, it is worthless. Without applying what the Spirit teaches and what God promises in His word, we are rendered impotent; a gelding; we become spiritually constipated and bloated. We have to apply in life what is learned in the sanctuary or in our quiet times with the Lord and His word. Failing to apply God’s word in life will result in missing the fullness of the promises of God in life.

Joshua countered the neglect of the seven tribes by sending out three men from each of the seven neglectful tribes to survey the land (Joshua 18:4-7). When we fail to apply or take hold of the promises of God we need to survey the land; restudy what God has promised; and be re-inspired by remembering just what God has promised us.

Joshua sent out the surveyors and they “wrote the survey in a book” (Joshua 18:8-10).  It’s a good thing to write down and record God’s allotted land and promises of God. That helps us know just where we are to apply those promises.

Joshua 19 provides the boundaries for the remaining tribes. Joshua’s personal boundaries for his allotment of land are given in the last part of Joshua 19 (verses 49-51). Notice that Joshua took his allotment last; after the other tribes had received their allotment from the LORD. Joshua was a servant leader. He led by serving God’s people. He was not out to fleece the flock of God but to feed them the promises of God. That is the way of a godly leader. When the Spirit is leading through a leader, that leader will be driven to serve and sacrifice for those God calls them to lead. That is the way a leader leads his people into the fullness of God’s blessing. And that is the way we will experience the fullness of God’s promises and blessing.

More often than not we miss out on what God has for us because of self-centeredness, greed, pride, the flesh. It’s fitting that Joshua received his portion last. He becomes a beautiful Christ-type here as he fulfills the New Testament exhortation to, “Let nothing be one through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Phil. 2:3). This is the Christlike mindset we should have (cf. Phil. 2:5-11). Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:23-25). God has more than Land for you to possess. His purposes are more than temporal; they are eternal. Ask yourself, “What are God’s eternal purposes for me?” Seek His will and ask that question, and you’ll experience the fullness of His blessing.

 

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[1] Alan Redpath, Victorious Christian Living, (Calvary Chapel Pub. Santa Ana, CA 2007)   pgs. 181f.

A Giant Breakfast!

“Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread” - Numbers 14:9a

Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there,” -  Joshua 14:12a

Do you live in defeat? Do you cower and tremble in the shadow of giant problems in your life? Do you live in fear? There is an antidote to defeat and fear. God calls us to “Walk by faith and, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Fear is the giant foe of faith. Fear is the consequence of walking in our flesh by sight rather than by faith in God. God wants you to grow in your faith and surprisingly allows giants, giant problems in our life to feed our faith. Giant obstacles are really giant opportunities to grow in our faith.

 

Let’s get some context about a historical character named Caleb. The first time Moses brought the people to the precipice of the Promised Land, he sent twelve spies into the Land. After scoping out the territory they returned with a mixed report. They all admitted the Land was prosperous and fruitful; just what God had told them. But ten spies, (who remained nameless)  focused on giants that were also in the Land. The sight of these giants struck fear in their heart as though they would be squashed like grasshoppers.  Their hearts melted (Joshua 14:8). Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, acknowledged the giants but had faith in God. In the flesh or self-reliant world majority rules and so the people fearfully rebelled against God and refused to enter the Land. This faithless faltering was a huge affront to God. He showed that they hadn’t learned a thing from all the provisions and protections of God to that point. God had delivered them from the giant world power of Egypt (Exodus). God had provided manna and meat and water from a rock for them (Num. 11; Exodus 17). But they chose to fear instead of have faith in God. As a consequence God judged them unworthy to enter the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb were spared this discipline and would one day enter the Land (Num. 14).

Fast forward forty five years and the next generation of people, led by Joshua, had made a triumphal crossing of the Jordan and conquest of the Land. It was time for the people to be  apportioned the Land (Joshua 14:1-5). “Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal.” (Joshua 14:6). Gilgal, the place of rolling, is where God’s people were circumcised; where they threw off the flesh and rolled away self-effort and committed themselves to follow the Lord and depend on His strength. It was here that Caleb came to claim his allotment of the Land.

The faith we see in Caleb as he comes to Joshua to take his portion is the kind of faith we should emulate. He shows us how to make minced meat out of the giants in our land. In Joshua 14 Caleb tells his old partner Joshua, “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. ⁷ I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. ⁸ Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. ⁹ So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ ¹⁰ And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. ¹¹ As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. ¹² Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” Then it states, “And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. ¹⁴ Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. ¹⁵ And the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim). Then the land had rest from war.” (Joshua 14:6-15).  

Caleb was 85 years old and yet he testified, “I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me” to spy out the land from Kadesh Barnea 45 years before. At 85 Caleb wasn’t worn out, he was raring to go. When you walk in faith in the Lord it results in a spiritual vitality that is lasting.

Joshua had been assessed by God to be “old and advanced in years “ (13:1). A much different description is given of Caleb. Hebron was where the giants lived! At age 85 Caleb was willing to take on the hardest most challenging part of the land; giant infested Hebron! Forty-five years before he was ready to go get those giants. He’s waited forty-five years and never lost his passion to go after the giants. That speaks volumes about his walk with the Lord and his faith in God. Do you have that kind of faith that trusts in the Lord even though there may be giants lurking nearby? 

  The name “Caleb” means bold; impetuous, a dog, whole-hearted, hearty. He was loyal to the Lord like a faithful sheep dog is to its Shepherd. He went where His master told him to go. That required faith. When we look at these verses about Caleb we learn some valuable truths about how to gain victory over the giants in life.  

First, Caleb didn’t rest on past victories; he pursued with passion God’s Promised Land (14:6-9).  Caleb could have said, “Hey, I was one of only two guys that got it right the first time we approached this land. You need to compensate me and let me sit back and enjoy my retirement.” He could have said, “I’ve been faithful all these years. Don’t I deserve a part of the Land that’s trouble free?” Instead he had a passion for God’s purposes. He wasn’t intimidated by giant obstacles; he sought them out! We should pray that God keep our passion for His purposes strong. Are you pursuing the giants God has allowed in your life?

Second, Caleb trusted in God who he knew loved him (14:8). Caleb “wholly followed the LORD my God” (14:8b). His heart didn’t “melt” like those who had no faith but only fear (14:8a). He loved the Lord and that love made him secure in whatever lot the Lord gave him. He knew that because God did love him, that He had his best interests at heart. He could trust God because he knew God loved him. Because God loved him, and by faith he received that, he could rest his will in the will of His loving LORD. Do you love God like that?

Third, Caleb didn’t see age as a limitation. Caleb knew “The LORD has kept me alive” (14:10). If that was the case, Caleb felt God must have a purpose for him. He boasted that at 85 he was as strong and ready for battle as he was when he was 40. That’s supernatural God given strength. But that’s also a supernatural eternal perspective on life. Are you letting your age quench what the Spirit might want to do in and through you? We shouldn’t let age and cultural mores limit how God wants to use us. As long as God gives us breath we should seek how He wants to use us. And when our strength is in the Lord, it will not wane; keep being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

Fourth, Caleb’s faith rested in God (14:10-11).  Caleb believed God was just as able to work through him at 85 as He was at 40. That’s because Caleb rested in the fact that the battle belongs to the Lord not an 85 year old (cf. Joshua 10). If the battle belongs to the Lord, then we can boast in our weakness and know when we are weak, He is strong in and though us (cf. 2 Cor. 12:8-10). It’s about God, not us.

Fifth, Caleb accepted God’s lot for him (14:12a). Caleb didn’t rebel in dissatisfaction at God’s lot or portion of Hebron. He didn’t run from God’s call. He wasn’t afflicted with the grass is greener on the other side syndrome. He didn’t flee in dissatisfaction or fear. He accepted God’s lot for him with gusto. If God gives us a portion, He will bless and bring victory in that area. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. So often people rebel against God’s lot in life for them. Discontent can be a great barrier to God’s blessing. Learn to joyfully and passionately accept God’s lot for you and attack it with everything you’ve got. Are you accepting God’s lot in life?

Sixth, Caleb relied on God’s word (14:12b). Caleb expressed his faith in God’s word saying, “It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said” (14:12). “As the LORD said,” was good enough for Caleb. If God said it, that settled it for Caleb. Do you have the same trust and confidence in God’s word? Do you rely on God’s word? Soes God’s word settle it for you?

Seventh, Caleb knew that going after giants would bring him closer to God (14:13). Hebron means fellowship. Hebron was a land filled with giants. Is there a connection between fellowship with God and giants in the land? Taking the land filled with giants was no easy venture in faith. But Caleb new (and probably the secret to his vitality) was that tackling the giants in life causes us to depend on the Lord; fellowship with Him. Giants bring us closer to God!

The first time Caleb had faced the giants he returned to Kadesh Barnea from spying out the Land. 10 of the twelve spies gave a fearful report concerning the giants in the Land. But Joshua and Caleb said, “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” (Num. 14:9). 45 years later Caleb is just as courageous and zealous to tackle these giants.

“They are our bread.” What does that mean? It means that in some way these giants were nourishing; facing giants nourishes. How? Facing giants nourishes our faith and fosters deeper fellowship with God because it causes us to call out to Him, depend on Him; rely on His strength. Giants in life, giant problems, are what bring us into a deeper fellowship with God. That is why we are told to count trials a joy (James 1:2). That is why we are told that God causes all things, including giant problems, to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Giant trials serve as spiritual nourishment. It helps us chew on the reality that, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). With God, giants are inconsequential. Giant issues build our faith as we learn to depend on God and experience His faithfulness. Giant problems are giant opportunities to make giant strides in our fellowship with the Lord. “He who did not spare His own Son, but  delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).

This was Caleb’s secret. He had an attitude that helped him soar to higher altitudes with the LORD. His faith enabled him to boldly assert, “Give me the mountain with the giants! They’ll be my spiritual bread. I’ll eat ‘em alive!” When Caleb saw the Anakim he thought Let me at ‘em! The secret to spiritual vitality is giant activity. Don’t run from giants in your life, attack them in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). Step out in faith and fight the giants in the might of the Lord and you’ll find a deeper, stronger, lasting fellowship with the Lord. You’ll find victory!

Eighth, Caleb wholly rested his lot with the Lord and therefore found God’s rest (14:14-15). Caleb “wholly followed the Lord” (14:14). Even though Hebron was infested with giant Anakim, he tackled the foes in the strength of the Lord and took that land for the Lord and His glory. He did his best and entrusted the LORD with the rest. And in the end, “Then the land had rest from war” (14:15). The rest of satisfaction and accomplishment, the rest of freedom and securing faith, comes when we take on the giants and lay them to rest.

Are you living in the shadow of a giant or giants; big ugly intimidating giant problems? When you see them do you make a fast break in the opposite direction? When a giant stands in your path, do you brace to break fast under his attack or do you think breakfast? When you’re  opposed do ready for defeat or do you seek the God of peace to crush Satan under your feet? (Rom. 16:20). Are you a meal for your giants or are they a meal for you? Are you a coward in the face of calamity or are you courageous like Caleb? I pray we all have the courage of a Caleb. I pray we have the same confidence in God’s love that enables us to know and live in light of the certainty that God loves us and has our best interests at heart. I pray that like Caleb we trust the Lord and go after the giants in our life in the strength of His might. Time for breakfast; I’m hungry, are you? I could eat a giant! A giant breakfast!