When the Bible says “guard your heart
for out of it, springs the issues of life” (paraphrased). It’s absolutely true.
Your heart plays a major role in the decisions you make. I love this simple a
perfect definition of the word “heart” by Encarta Dictionaries, it goes thus; spirit: the capacity for courage and
determination’. I believe this should be the heart of a believer daily.
Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, had a brave and courageous heart. He looked at
himself as a man who is capable and able to virtually do everything. In Numbers
13: 1-17, when Moses followed God’s instruction to send 12 leaders among the
children of Israel to go and spy the land of Canaan. Each one of them gives
their report based on how they look at life; how they look at God and above all
how they look at themselves. Joshua, the son of Nun had a similar attitude with
Caleb but Caleb had an exceptional heart. After forty days of checking this new
land out, the other ten leaders return to Moses and the people and tell them
they have seen giants in Canaan and though it is a fruitful land but the
presence of these giants is not a good sight. They worsened matters by saying
they will not be able to defeat the giants they have seen in Canaan. They
referred to themselves as grasshoppers before these giants (vs18-29). They
created fear amidst the Israelites which caused them to say some crazy things
to God (Numbers 14:1-2).
Caleb being a young leader who is strong
and knows that God hasn’t brought them this far to leave them, gives a totally
different report Numbers 13: 30 “And
Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, let us go up at once, and
posses it; for we are well able to overcome it”. Caleb caught a glimpse of
God’s might and power and Sovereignty that is why he could confidently command
the congregation to go with him and possess the land. Caleb knew the battle was
the Lord’s and so all they needed were the right heart and attitude to combat
the “so-called” giants. Caleb knew that 1 with God is a majority and thus our
strength comes from God and not from our weapons. Caleb in the old testament
knew that the weapons of our warfare are not canal but mighty through God for
pulling down strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that
exalts itself above the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Caleb caught the
spirit in Romans 8:31b”if God be for us, who
can be against us”. If God be for His people who dares to stand against
them; who dares to try to fight them. Caleb knew the God they were serving.
Even when the Israelites refused to
believe Caleb and Joshua when they tried to convince them of the beauty of Canaan,
they tore their clothes and continued convincing the Israelites:
Numbers
14:6-10 “And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were
of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7. And they spake unto all
the company of the children of Israel, saying, the land, which we passed
through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8. If the Lord delight in us,
then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with
milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people
of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them,
and the Lord is with us: fear them not.10. but all the congregation bade stone them
with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the
congregation before all the children of Israel.
Caleb was ready to die for what he saw
and believed. Caleb didn’t see himself as a very powerful person but he knew
that God can never forsake His people and thus he held unto the power of God in
his life. Is your heart like Caleb’s, which sees things from God perspective?
We are a chosen generation a royal priesthood, a people whose God is Jehovah,
the All Sufficient God. Nothing is impossible with our God, walk boldly;
possess your possession because Christ in you is the hope of glory. Have a
heart like Caleb’s and enjoy the good of the land which God has given you. You
can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, refuse to speak like
others; when men are cast down, you shall say there is lifting up (Job 22:29).
Be Blessed In Jesus Name!!!
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