“But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.”
Numbers 14:24 (RSV)
When the Israelites arrived at the border of the land God promised them, God told Moses to send one man from each tribe to check it out and come back with their reports. Twelve men were sent, as Moses instructed, but only two out of the twelve returned with positive reports. The other ten saw only the negatives and reported to Moses that the people in that land were too big, strong and powerful for the Israelites to overcome. This put the remainder of the people into a panic.
Joshua and Caleb returned with all the good news about the land, but Caleb, seeing the response of the people, quieted their fears, by telling them,
“If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. You need not be afraid of the people of the land.”
Numbers 14:8-9 (NAB)
Sometimes the opinion of the majority is wrong if they don’t know that God is in it with them. God praised Caleb, saying that he had a “different spirit” in following Him fully. God is not looking for people who are crowd pleasers to win popularity as politicians do. Caleb, although in the minority, was fully committed to what God promised, and he had a gift of being able to encourage others to do the right thing.
Joshua also had a different spirit, and his leadership gift led him to later become Moses’ successor.
The two men used their gifts to fulfill God’s purpose when the Israelites were at a major crossroads of their future and destiny.
Moses, Joshua and Caleb together were like three pillars of faith. They believed in God’s promise and each one did their part and fulfilled their purpose, in bringing their people into the promised land.
The majority of the Israelites feared the challenges involved in going into the new land. Fear brings strange thoughts to mind, and the people started to convince themselves that their old lives were better in Egypt, living in slavery. It’s hard to imagine, but most of them rejected the faith filled messages of Moses, Joshua and Caleb.
Moses was concerned for the fate of
the people who were in rebellion. He prayed, asking God to forgive them. God heard his request and He pardoned them. We learn so much from Moses, who was a humble and compassionate shepherd to his people. His compassion led to prayer, and prayer brings results. Moses was the life mentor to Joshua and Caleb, and they carried on in all his ways.
It turned out that Joshua and Caleb were the only adults among their generation, who lived long enough to enter that promised land, but through their faith, leadership and encouragement, they led the entire younger generation of their own ancestors, who entered the promised land with them.
God is looking for believers with the compassion of Moses, who have a different spirit, who wholeheartedly believe God’s promises and inspire others to do the same. God wants to make whatever changes are needed so that we begin the new year with a “different spirit”, like Caleb and Joshua.
With a different spirit, we can face every challenge with faith, over fear, using the gifts God has given us to inspire others and put our trust in God to help us move forward at every crossroad of our lives.
Jesus taught this when He said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.” (Matthew 7:13)
Lord, we pray to start this year with a different spirit, to follow you with hearts full of faith and compassion, encouraging others to walk with us on the narrow path, that leads to our promised land and eternal life. Amen