Joshua 2:22-24 "And they went, and came
unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were
returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them
not. (23) So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain,
and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things
that befell them: (24) And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD
hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the
country do faint because of us."
Without going back and placing the verses in this devotion, I would encourage you to take a moment and read the portion of Numbers chapter 13 when forty years earlier the 12 spies came back from this same land. Their report was quite different than the report given this time by these two men. The ten spies gave a report that caused many of the Israelites to faint. These two men gave a report that told of the Canaanites fainting. Both reports were the result of the same promise. God had promised to give the land to Israel. That promise had not changed. But the manner in which it was received had changed. What was the difference? The Word of God teaches us the difference came as a result of faith exercised by those who received the promise.
Forty years prior to this, Joshua and Caleb received the promise by faith. They were about to enter the land. Those who did not believe the power of God to fulfill His promise perished in the wilderness. Let me take a sidenote here. This has nothing to do with whether they went to heaven when they died, but it has everything to with doing the right thing (righteousness), having peace while obeying the Lord, and the joy that comes when you see the hand of God on your life in a mighty way. Paul describes this as the Kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God, which is experienced here in this life as we walk in humble submission to our Lord. Faith is the key element in enjoying the blessings of the Lord. Joshua, Caleb, Rahab, these two men, along with those who followed, exercised their faith and were about to experience the power of God in a mighty way.
Today as we think about the manner in which we live our lives. God's promises are still true and very vibrant in our lives. When we receive those promises by faith and walk in them, there is much peace and many joys to be experienced in life. Know the promises of God. Trust the promises of God. Seek to walk by faith in the way He has laid before you. Trust Him.
Without going back and placing the verses in this devotion, I would encourage you to take a moment and read the portion of Numbers chapter 13 when forty years earlier the 12 spies came back from this same land. Their report was quite different than the report given this time by these two men. The ten spies gave a report that caused many of the Israelites to faint. These two men gave a report that told of the Canaanites fainting. Both reports were the result of the same promise. God had promised to give the land to Israel. That promise had not changed. But the manner in which it was received had changed. What was the difference? The Word of God teaches us the difference came as a result of faith exercised by those who received the promise.
Forty years prior to this, Joshua and Caleb received the promise by faith. They were about to enter the land. Those who did not believe the power of God to fulfill His promise perished in the wilderness. Let me take a sidenote here. This has nothing to do with whether they went to heaven when they died, but it has everything to with doing the right thing (righteousness), having peace while obeying the Lord, and the joy that comes when you see the hand of God on your life in a mighty way. Paul describes this as the Kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God, which is experienced here in this life as we walk in humble submission to our Lord. Faith is the key element in enjoying the blessings of the Lord. Joshua, Caleb, Rahab, these two men, along with those who followed, exercised their faith and were about to experience the power of God in a mighty way.
Today as we think about the manner in which we live our lives. God's promises are still true and very vibrant in our lives. When we receive those promises by faith and walk in them, there is much peace and many joys to be experienced in life. Know the promises of God. Trust the promises of God. Seek to walk by faith in the way He has laid before you. Trust Him.