Slideshow image

Today's Scripture

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. 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. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 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.” 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.”
—Numbers 13:26-30 (NIV)

Additional Scripture
-John 14:10-14
-Matthew 17:14-20

 

Reflect on the Word

The Israelites stand at the threshold of the Promised Land. God has delivered them in so many ways on their journey from Egypt. They send spies to scout out the land God has promised to them. It is everything God told them it would be.

But they think giants will keep them from possessing it. Caleb (and elsewhere we find out Joshua) is alone in being confident that God will do what He has promised.

How often are we like the Israelites? We easily forget the things that God has done in the past: in our own lives, throughout history and in the Bible.

But we serve a God who does miraculous things. We serve a God who is in total control of everything. There is no reason we should doubt God or think that any request is too big for Him. Jesus assures us in John 14 that if we offer our prayers in Jesus’ name (if they align with God’s will), it will be done. We, like Caleb, should confidently declare that God will do what He has promised.

It might not be done in the way or the time that we expect, but God’s kingdom will come. His will will be done. We can ask big kingdom things in faith, and God will hear. God will act. No giant or scheme of the enemy will keep us from possessing the land God has given us.

 

Prayer + Contemplation

  1. Reflect on John 14:10-14. How do these words of Jesus strengthen your faith or encourage you to pray boldly?
  2. If there are barriers in your heart to fully trusting that God hears your prayers and will act on your behalf, present these to God. Ask Him to grow your faith and trust in him.
  3. Think about your family, church, government and world. Is there a seemingly impossible prayer that comes to mind? Commit to presenting it to God regularly.