He Will Bring Us Into This Land
Faith • Sermon • Submitted
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· 16 viewsReference to Caleb and Joshua (the book of Numbers) is often quoted when faith is being discussed or preached. But have we stopped or paused to think if Joshua and Caleb were acting out their faith in God? As I read this text and pondered over it, as well as debating this with others (dare I say, inquisitive minds!) here in this church, I concluded that Caleb and Joshua were not acting out faith when they said what they said.
Notes
Transcript
Bible Verse
Bible Verse
26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.
27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.
28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.
29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
30 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.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”
32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.
33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there.
6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes
7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.
8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.
9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
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The Human Need This Passage Meets
Have you been in a position where you have exercised faith in serving God, but the situation remains the same?
How do you carry on serving God of hope? Do you give up and pack it all up, or do you draw on some inner residual hope that things will somehow pull through?
Where do we go to exercise our constant and continued belief in God?
Use my situation before the passing of my mother how I preached, taught and did other things in church
A Different Point of View!
A Different Point of View!
There is no doubt we have heard this story told to us on numerous occasions. It is a constant refrain from preachers and pastors and many Christian motivational speakers.
More often than not, this verse is often used to encourage us and used as an insignia of demonstrable faith. Thus, reference to Caleb and Joshua (i.e. the book of Numbers) is often quoted when faith is being discussed or preached.
But have we stopped or paused to think if Joshua and Caleb were acting out their faith in God?
You don’t have to believe me or take me for my word, but when you perform a critical study of scripture, especially the events that led to the bold claim of Caleb and Joshua, you will, I hope, inevitably, come to the same conclusion as I did.
The Giving that Never Stops Giving
The Giving that Never Stops Giving
This text is a text that never stops giving.
The Revelation within it is so profound that it affects all that we do and what we can achieve in our lives as Christians.
Our full God-given potential is summarised in this text!
Problem of Interpretation!
Problem of Interpretation!
When we come to this text, we come at it with an actioned packed thought.
Like a Movie
We see the two sets of characters in this text, a protagonist (the 2 Caleb and Joshua) and antagonist (the 10 others).
As usual, 10 reported the facts that were observed, which was accurate and precise, while 2 reported the same fact but caveated it with the possibility of overcoming the situation.
Make reference to Bro Yemi teaching!
The 2’s report and caveat has often been seen as a symbol of faith. This is where the first problem comes in, FAITH!
Elaborate <move to next slide on faith>
Faith!
Faith!
The word faith means; “...Complete trust or confidence in someone or something…”, “…belief that is not based on proof…” (English dictionary meaning).
Jesus Christ was big on faith. His ministry on earth was centred on faith:
20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
What the book of Hebrews defines as faith:
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
In this text, faith in Hebrew is rendered as Pistis.
This is defined as that (the thing) which gives rise to belief.
Paul defines pistis as a full conviction of God’s ability to do what he has promised (Rom 4:21).
21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Thus, faith, belief, and trust generally indicate the entire human personality leaning upon God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness.
When we look at the context of the verse in Hebrews and the meanings of provided, we can define faith as;
“the complete reliance of the human personality on the conviction of God’s ability, power, wisdom, and goodness to do what he has promised (substance of things hoped for), which is not based on proof that He can do it (evidence of things not seen)”
To make this clear, Hebrews 11:1 views faith as an action not based on proof.
Otherwise, if it were based on proof, then it is not faith but something else.
The ingredient that makes “faith” “faith” is the lack or absence of proof! If there is proof, then it is not faith; if there is no proof, then it is faith!
Joshua Not Acting Based On Faith!
Joshua Not Acting Based On Faith!
Now, by applying the concept of faith to Joshua, God did not require the 12 to go into the land and spy this out in order for them to take it.
<not that faith is to be discounted>
If it were to be by faith, then God would have just said;
“Go, move, march into the land I am giving to the children of Israel, to whom I, the God of their ancestors, have promised. For you will defeat the inhabitants and utterly destroy them, and I will cause you to settle in the land that I, the Lord of your ancestor, have so promised”
God would have otherwise given it to them either on a platter or with minimal effort.
Thus, for the act of Caleb and Joshua to be considered faith and meet the criteria of faith, they:
would not have seen the land (the substance of things hoped for) from the outset, as the text states and,
would not have uttered the statement in verse 9; “9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them”, which is an indication that they, Caleb and Joshua, had seen or figured out how they were able to possess the land thereby negating the clause – the evidence of things not seen
So, the two significant foundations of faith had been violated in this text.
But how was it then that Joshua and Caleb could have such a conviction that the others did not have?
Such was the frustration, resentment, and anger exerted towards their mates and fellow spies, leading them to the point of tearing off their clothes!
6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;
7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
If Not Faith, Then What?
If Not Faith, Then What?
tell your neighbour “It Did Not Start Today!” (3x)
To understand the conviction of Joshua, you must first understand where is was coming from.
When I read this text, I wrongly assumed that Joshua first came to the scene in the book of Numbers. How grossly inaccurate was I!
Joshua is not first seen in the book of Joshua, not in the book of Deuteronomy, not in the book of Numbers, not in the book of Leviticus, but in the book of Exodus! Wow!
The ever first appearance of Joshua in the Bible is in the book of Exodus where he is mentioned. And this is where it begins to get interesting.
Exodus 17:8–14 (NKJV)
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”
10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
Where Did Joshua Get His Confidence From?
Moses Chooses Joshua
ver. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Joshua Fight Amalek and Wins
10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Joshua Is Reminded Of God’s Word
14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
Joshua Is Invited And Goes Up The Mountain With Moses
13 So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.
14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.”
15 Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.
16 Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
17 The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.
18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
It Is About The Experience!
It Is About The Experience!
Exhortation!
We can see that Joshua’s experience convicted him of the incredible power of God.
It was this profound experience of winning the battle against the Amalekites and the meeting of God on the mountain that gave Joshua a categorical, unequivocal, unimpeachable, uncompromising confidence in God!
But guess what, whom did Josuha meet when in spied out the promised land…the Amalekites! (Numbers 13:29 (NKJV) 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South).
These were the same Amalekites he fought and won on the battlefield at Rephidim.
His experience of winning the Amalekites by the hand of God gave Joshua the extra confidence that he could win them again and God will stand by him.
Use boxing illustration
This was not faith but experience!
If your faith cannot carry you, let your experience carry you!
If your faith cannot deliver you, let your experience do it!
If you don’t have faith as tiny as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), let your experience be the evidence.
And when Joshua conquered and settled in the land what did he say at the end:
1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.
3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,
4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.
5 “ ‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.
6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea.
7 But they cried to the Lord for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.
8 “ ‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.
9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you.
10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.
11 “ ‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands.
12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.
13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua recounts his experience with God on how God help him
I Pray and Declare that God will bring you into this land, not because of your faith but because of your experience (Exodus 17:8–14) with God awesome, mighty and unimpeachable power!
Hezekiah drew on his experience with God when it came to saving his life:
2 Kings 20:3 (NKJV)
3 “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Joshua was not the strongest of them all. His voice was drowned out by the multitude.
He and Caleb were unable to make a convincing case because they were little in the sight of the multitude.
But the book of Revelation states;
8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Joshua and Caleb kept the word, they did not deny God’s name.
You might be little, but keep His word,
You might be the least, but keep His word,
You might be considered a minority, but keep His word,
They said you are tiny, but keep His word,
Your voice may not be the loudest, but keep His word,
You may not be the best, but keep His word,
He will bring you into this land, not because you are the most qualified, most intelligent, superior but because he said to me:
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Recount my experience/testimony of getting my job at Capgemini
He brought me into this land, not because I had what it took but because He has open the door…and no one can SHUT IT!
If you believe it shout a big, loud AMEN!
Joshua experienced the power of God on the battlefield
Moses went up the hill to intercede for Joshua!
I have Jesus who went up the hill called Calvary to set me free on the cross!
When Moses prayed and lifted up his hands, Joshua won,
When Moses prayed and his hand was weak and falling, Joshua lost
But you see I have a Jesus who has an outstretched hand, my battle will never be lost!
Conclusion and Prayer