WHEN ten of the twelve, who went to search the land of promise, brought in their evil report, and stirred up the people by it, Caleb sought to quiet them. He said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” But the ten said, “We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” When the children of Israel talked the matter over, their rebellion was strong; they said, “Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces, and Joshua and Caleb, who had searched the land with the ten, rent their clothes, showing thus their great grief. These faithful leaders and godly men, were distressed when they saw the sad state of the people. Joshua and Caleb told them that the land they had searched was “an exceeding good land,” and they assured them that the Lord would bring them into it if He had delight in them. They bade them not to fear the people of the land, for they said, their defense was departed from them and the Lord was with Israel.
Do you think the people heeded these faithful encouraging words? No; they were ready to stone Caleb and Joshua for seeking to lead them onto the promised land. Then the glory of the Lord appeared before them, and the Lord said He would smite them, and disinherit them.
Again Moses pleads for them, and again the Lord hears, and spares a people who had so often provoked Him.
But they must reap further sorrow; the Lord tells them they shall not see the land that He had promised to their fathers; they must die in the wilderness; but their little ones shall enter into the land. And Caleb who had followed the Lord fully, and who had a different spirit from them, should be brought into the land. For them, they should be turned back into the wilderness and should wander there for forty years. For each day that had been spent in searching the land that God had purposed to bring them into, a year should be spent in the wilderness. Think of it! forty years of weary wilderness wandering! “God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” These poor people were now to reap what they had sown.
Let us look for a moment at Caleb’s faith. The hearts of the ten were melted in the face of the difficulties that presented themselves, while Caleb, with true faith in God, said, “We are well able to overcome.” That which was an unsurpassable barrier to the people was no barrier to Caleb. And why? Simply because he counted upon God. Could they go against those cities “walled up to heaven?” Yes! with a word, God could lay those strong walls upon the ground. Could they meet that people among whom were giants renowned for strength? Yes! God was with them and He could make this very people to be “bread” for them. Ali! the faith of Caleb was beautiful.
How is it with my dear Christian reader? Do mountains of difficulty rise before you? Which is greater—God or the mountain? If God is with you, you have nothing to fear. Do you say, “Others do not have such peculiar trials as I have!” That is not the question; Israel might have said the same. The question is, is God with you? Is He for you?
May the faith of Caleb, which counted so surely on God, be your faith! Then will you overcome, and enter the glorious, heavenly Canaan toward which God is leading you.
ML 04/10/1904