Except Joshua and Caleb

And the LORD'S anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed. – Numbers 32.10-13

Israel proved themselves through the years. They never did get it. They never learned to trust God to meet their needs. So, since they never got it God let them suffer the consequences. He did not forsake them. He met their needs. He protected them.

But none of them would see the Promised Land. God had them wander for forty years until a whole generation died off.

Except Joshua and Caleb.

Joshua and Caleb were different than all the rest. They followed God. They trusted God. They looked at the promises of the land instead of the problems. They believed that God would do what He said would do.

And they were rewarded. While everyone else would have to die off before they could see the Promised Land Joshua and Caleb would be allowed to enter the land because they alone believed God.

Things don’t change a lot. Those who really trust God and ‘wholly follow’ Him are going to be few. That kind of stand might be lonely, but it is the stand that honours God and a stand that God will honour.

We need more Joshuas and Calebs. May I be one of them.