Eyes of Faith
This week I have been reading the book of Numbers. This Old Testament book gets its name because it counts the number of Israelites who came out of Egypt and how may went into the ‘Promised Land’. Chapter 13 is the story of 12 Jewish spies who sneaked into the ‘Promised Land’ to check it out. They reported back to the rest what they saw...
“‘We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’ But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’ And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored.”
The land was great, lush and spacious - perfect for the Israelites. God’s promise was true. However, most of the spies were disheartened when they saw the people living there, believing that they could not be defeated. Only one man, Caleb, saw things differently! The majority looked with their natural eyes and did not take into account that God was with them! However, Caleb saw with the eyes of faith, trusting in God! Later on, we read that Caleb’s faith was rewarded as he, and not the others, moved into the land! What kind of a Christian are you? Do you see situations and people with your natural eyes or do you see them with the eyes of faith? Are you someone who trusts God and encourages others to do so, or someone who spreads negativity? Let me encourage you today, to be a person of faith. That’s what God is after and he rewards those kind of people!
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader