Joshua and Caleb

       Oshea, whose name Moses changed to Joshua (Num 13:16) served Moses since he was a youth.  This would have put him in the limelight.  He led the army to fight against Amalek.  He had many opportunities to be in God’s presence in the tabernacle of congregation with Moses where he stayed even after the leader left. (Ex. 33:11)  As a ‘prince’ of his tribe (Ephraim) he was sent to scout out the Promised Land with 11 men, and he was one of two men to return saying Israel was more than able to take the land with God’s help (Num. 14:6-10) and was almost killed for it.  After Moses death, Joshua took over leadership, brought the people into and conquered the Promised Land, then helped to divide it between the tribes. (Jos. 14+)  He was honoured by the people as Moses was. (Jos. 4:14)  He died at the old age of 110. (Jos. 24:29)

       Caleb was from the tribe of Judah.  The first time he is mentioned is as a ‘prince’ in his tribe when he was sent along with 11 others to scout out the Promised Land.  He was one of two men to return saying Israel was more than able to take the land with God’s help (Num. 14:6-10) and was almost killed for it.  It is  noted that he tried to silence the negative talk and encourage the people to go fight. (Num 13:30)  Also God said he had another spirit (different from some of the others) Num. 14:24 Then Caleb disappears for 38 years into the crowd and we don’t hear about him again until the land is ready to be allotted.  Read what he says at age 85.  Talk about faith!

And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, …and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. (Jos.14:10-12) Then he did it. (Jos. 15:14) 

       After his take over of the land, Caleb isn’t mentioned but briefly.  His death is not listed in the Bible.  Two men, two different lives and purposes: one in the limelight, one in the background.  One in a position of great power and responsibility and one documented as standing out only a couple of times.  Was one more important than another?  I think not.  The Lord planned their paths to be distinctive, yet He used each of their lives.

       Both Joshua and Caleb were greatly used by God.  They believed God was able to help His people conquer Canaan.  Joshua and Caleb tried to change the people’s minds from giving up. (Num. 14:7-9) though they were almost killed for it.  The Lord said they both wholly followed Him.  (Num 32:12)  They had full confidence in their Lord.  They had similarities of faith but diversity of paths and purposes, each to the glory of God.

       These two men could have fought the paths God wanted them to follow, they could have been jealous of someone else’s position.  They could have thrust themselves into the forefront or background where God didn’t want them.  Instead they fulfilled God’s plans in their individual lives.  I would say, both men were highly successful.  Wouldn’t you?

Mercy

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines mercy as:

That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves…  (this is also compassion)

       If original sin through Adam had never happened, would we still need mercy?  After all, if there is no sin, there is no offense and therefore no judgment.  But I know unequivocally that I could have never gotten to my teen years without sin of some kind, let alone to my forties. (Rom. 3:23)  Man was given free will and that free will leads us to sin simply because we want what we want.

       We still need the mercy of God.  We need it because no matter how hard we try we still sin by action, word, or even lack of action (Jam. 4:17).  That sin would condemn us to an eternity separated from God in Hell (Luke 13:3), but for the mercy of God (Ps 103:8) which is everlasting (v. 17).  He shows us benevolence and forgives us of our sins though we don’t deserve it.  He sent Jesus, His precious Son, just for that purpose, to be the payment for our sins.  That is the act of a merciful God, and I, for one, am eternally grateful that I won’t receive the punishment I deserve.  (Thank You Lord!!!)

       The thing is, that which we’ve been given by God, we are supposed to give out again.  Some examples are comfort (2 Cor. 1:4), love (John 13:34), and mercy as shown below:

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matt. 5:7

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36

       The second one here is a command and not a suggestion.  We are to be merciful.  That means we are supposed to overlook injuries, or treat others better (than we think) they deserve.  It doesn’t seem right, does it?  I mean, Christians are supposed to know better than to injure us!  And since we feel that injury, they are most definitely aware that they caused us that pain, right?  As pointed out this weekend, we are all human, and we all make mistakes.  Dealing with problems head on (not behind backs or with others who weren’t even involved) is the honourable way to deal with injury, but we must show mercy to those who may not deserve it remembering that we received great mercy from the Lord which we did not deserve. 

If we do not show mercy to others, then why should the Lord show us mercy?

Peace in the Storm



ChristArt.com



       It was about 7 km. into my bike ride to church when my pedals refused to budge.  I realized my bearings were shot so I locked up my bike to walk the last 3+ km. in to church.  For maybe the first time in my life I didn’t throw myself a pity party or start thinking how ‘all these things’ were going wrong in my life.  I simply started walking and carrying my 10+ lb. bike bag.

       On the long walk I had time to contemplate why God would allow this literal journey.  By the end of it I found no rhyme or reason, except I realized that before God healed my lungs I couldn’t have walked so far as fast as I did.  It wasn’t until I walked in my church to the washroom that I understood: the peace of God had remained with me… and I wasn’t mad at Him for anything!  My post on April 14, 2011 spoke about a woman whose peaceful demeanor I desired to have no matter the struggles of life.  Yesterday, I felt that peace.

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he (Jesus) went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? Luke 8:22-25a

       How much more peaceful can you be than to be sleeping in a heavily rocking boat while winds rage and others are panicking and rushing to bail out all around you?  Yet there slept Jesus most peaceful in the assurance of the Father’s protection… right up until the disciples woke him up!  He simply rebuked the wind and surging water, and they ceased.  Where is your faith? he asks them.

       How often when the storms or struggles of life come do we start rushing around trying to solve the problems on our own?  How worried and panicked do we become, and how fast do we lose our peace?  For me that answer would be too fast.  Almost every struggle I’ve been in, I was able to trust God for a short time and then when He didn’t do what I expected in my timing, I would bail on Him or get angry at Him.  My basic problem was that I lacked faith/ trust/ confidence in Him, and that He would do what His word promised:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28

       I hope what happened yesterday is a new trend for me; that I won’t ever go back to my old ways.  It’s funny, as I was walking with neither the smallest of blame or frustration, I just knew, “Okay Lord, You’ll work this out for good somehow.”  Truth is, I’m not sure how I got to this place, but I’m pretty sure it was my Lord’s doing.

Thanks Lord… please don’t stop changing me.

And thanks for putting up with me this long.  I love You.