Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it (Numbers 13:30).
“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession [of the land], for we are well able to overcome it.’ But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we’” (Numbers 13:30-31). After the Lord had delivered the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, He brought them to the brink of His promises–the promised land, and there presented them with a test, a final exam. There should have been in them no doubt of His ability to deliver them from their present danger as He had done among them with mighty wonders and miracles from Egypt through to that moment. Nevertheless, they had not internalized God’s goodness and power on their behalf! They had enjoyed His blessings without coming to the knowledge of who He was. They saw His provision but not His love and providence. Through Him, they had become overcomers from Egypt through to that very moment, but most of them had not appropriated these victories, but had taken God for granted.
God brought the children of Israel through the ten plagues in Egypt and the Red Sea crossing where they saw Him overthrow Pharaoh. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night were their covering in the desert. He gave them the miracle of water, manna, and quail; they also experienced a great victory over the Amalekites and so much more, yet they only saw God’s acts, not His ways! How sad! Are we like the children of Israel who did not see God as He is? If only they had believed, it would have brought them into a settled confidence in Him as their Deliverer and Redeemer. Let us not fail the test that is before us as they did, for tests reveal what we have learned of God during our journey (in life). Jesus tells us, “these things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In this scripture, the Lord is saying our peace and overcoming victory are in Him alone. Let us make His words our present reality!
Overcoming-not overcome!