The Fortunes of Faith

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage they would have to cross the Sinai Peninsula to reach the promised land of Canaan, a journey of about 130 miles. They numbered between 2 and 3 million people with an army of 600,000 fighting-age men. They brought with them all their earthly possessions including livestock, tents for homes, and as much food and water as they could carry. They took everything families would need to survive the trip. It was a monumental task that only God could orchestrate. Moses made it clear to the people, they had only one responsibility to be successful, take God at His word. The caravan arrived at the border of Canaan two years after departing Egypt. Throughout the first two years, the Israelite's faith wavered and slowed the procession but Moses would intercede on behalf of the people and God would honored his faith. Upon arriving at the border, Moses followed God's instruction and selected twelve young commandoes to spy out the land of Canaan before the people entered. “And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:  And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many” So the young rangers set out to investigate the land of milk and honey and see what it was all about. After 40 days they returned with their report. “ We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel”(Num.13:17-33)

Ten of the twelve spies agreed with the negative report. The bad report caused a great rebellion among the people and all the children of Israel turned against Moses and rejected God's promise of a new life in the land He promised them. “And all the congregation lifted their voice and cried, and the people wept that night  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses. Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness?  And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? was it not better for us to return to Egypt! (Num. 14:1-4) Two of the twelve young warriors Joshua and Caleb had a good report full of faith believing God would do as He promised. “And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is exceedingly good.  If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.”(Num. 14:7-8) Because of the Israelite's rebellion and their refusal to enter the promised land, they were destined to wander for 38 more years in the wilderness of the Sinai desert. Of the 3 million people that left Egypt only those that were under 20 years of age at the time were able to enter the land of promise. There were two exceptions, Joshua and Caleb. They believed God and made it to the other side after 40 years in the wilderness. “Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me. Doubtless, ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. (Num. 14:29-30)

Joshua and Caleb are renowned in the hearts of Christians and Jews alike for their courage under fire in the line of duty. But, their story is much broader than that, it’s a lesson in how faith works. They believed what God said, yet, they were still subject to the tribulations of this world. Spending 40 years wandering in the wilderness was not pleasant but they didn’t waver they kept the faith. In the end, God kept His word and they both made it to the promised land. For more about God's plan for your life read “Beam me up Commander”. It's free!