Our God is Greater

I am finding many gems as we go through the book of Joshua in Sunday morning Bible Study.  The Lord connects events, even if they are years or decades apart.  He brings them together in our studying so that we can learn, deepen our understanding, and grow up in Him.

In chapter 14 we see Caleb coming to Joshua to ask for the land that was promised would be for his family by Moses.  He tells Joshua, "7 I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, 8 but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God. 9 So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’  10 “Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. 12 So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”   Caleb brings us back to the days when only he and Joshua trusted the Lord's strength and promises to conquer the Promised Land.  Numbers 13:30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”  His attitude when he was in the wilderness just beginning to scout the land God had in store for them, was the same as when he was in it and looking forward to finally occupying his portion.

No matter how big the people who lived there were, no matter how strong and fortified the cities, no matter the wildness or harshness of the terrain...Caleb trusted God.  Caleb saw God's power not the weakness he may have had, not the magnitude of the task ahead of him, not the strength of the people he had to fight.  He saw the God who was able to conquer.  He saw the God who was stronger than anything we have to face.  He saw the God who was and is faithful to His promises and to His children.  This is what Caleb saw and this is the attitude I want to have.

Some days there seem to be so many giants to face.  It's overwhelming to the point where I just want to go back to bed and hide under the covers, lose myself in a good book and not face reality.  And truthfully, there have been days where I've just shut down.  I didn't go to work, I just sat...it's as if I couldn't face life, let alone conquer any problems or situations that came up or even those I live with on a day after day, year after year basis.  In the shadow of heartbreak, I often lose sight of the light that is Jesus our Savior.  Our God is greater than anything that comes our way.  God wants all of us to hang on to that fact and live in the rest He offers.  This visit, I feel like God was telling me, "Relax, I got this!,  With Me by your side and leading the way, you will prevail."

I'm praying we will learn to rely on the strength of God, and forget our weaknesses.  Lord, help us to see You and not fretfully look at the problems we face.  Because of You we can overcome.  But we need Your help to see and to believe.  Please help us.

Find one promise from the Lord today.  Make it your focus for the day.