Day 55

Today's reading: Num. 14-16;Mark 3
 

Numbers 14 tells the story of the Israelites' response to the report from the 12 spies who went into Canaan. As we remember reading in Numbers 13, ten spies reported that the land was full of giants and the city was surrounded with high walls. Only Joshua and Caleb said they could take the land because they trusted God. And what was the response from the Israelite people? "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt" (Numbers 14:4). God had delivered them from Egypt for something great, yet they wanted to go back and settle for less because of their fears. As a result, they missed an opportunity to enjoy God's promises to them and spent the next 40 years wandering in the wilderness.  

 

How often do our fears keep us from receiving God's promises for our lives? Often these promises are on the other side of high walls. We must not choose to turn back to a life of unfulfilled promises or despair. Are we going to be like the 10 spies and let difficulties and fear rob us of our promises? Or will we be like Joshua and Caleb and trust God, saying, 'We can do it!' These challenges may seem insurmountable when based on our own strength, but with God all things are possible! 

 

Let this be our prayer: God, I submit every challenge and difficulty in my life to You. I trust You even when the giants are making me look like a grasshopper, and the difficulties seem like a wall too high to climb. I know I am able because You are with me!