Throughout the Scriptures, there are certain people who demonstrated tremendous faith in spite of unbearable circumstances they passed through. One of such people I cherished and respected so much is Caleb.
In Numbers 13: 1-33, Caleb was one of the 12 leaders of the Children of Israel sent to spy Canaan. At the end of the tour, the 12 men brought back report concerning what they saw. 10 of them attested to the fact that though the land was such that flows with milk and honey (as evident by the fruits they brought), however, they lamented that the people that dwelt in the land are very strong; that their cities were walled; that the walls were very great; and that they saw the Children of Anaks (giants) there. They also mentioned the 5 predominant warring nations that occupied the Promised Land: Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites and Canaanites.
In their own words, they further explained the scenario they saw: That the land is such that eats up its inhabitants! That all the inhabitants are of great stature. That they were like grasshoppers in front of the giants that dwelt there!
However, Caleb brought back a different report which was seconded by Joshua. He first asked the people to shut up! Then he declared, “Let us go up at once and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it”.
As I began to meditate, the questions that kept coming to my mind are: Did Caleb not travel with the rest men for the 40 days? Did he not see the walls around the cities? Did he not see the giants? Was he not aware of their own lack of arsenals and armaments? Was he not aware of the military might of the five nations in the land? Was he sensible enough to know that he had a family to protect? E.t.c.
If he knew all these things, the question then is, despite all what they all saw, what gave Caleb the audacity to declare the command for advancement and the assurance that they were well able to seize the land? It is his faith in Jehovah God that wavered not.
If we demonstrate such faith this month of August as individuals and collectively, we will possess what seems impossible and overcome that which seems un-surmountable in Jesus name.