Joshua 14 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“As you see, the L_rd has kept me (Caleb) alive these 45 years as He promised, since the L_rd spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for going out and coming in is now as it was then.” Joshua 14: 10-11

How long would you wait on the L_rd? 5 years? 5 months? 5 minutes? I believe we wait on G_d, in direct proportion to our understanding of His promise.

Caleb and Joshua believed G_d’s promise. So when they returned from scouting the land, what they observed in Canaan was arbitrary to the fact that G_d promised they would take the land. The bad news for their generation was that almost everyone believed the faithless reports…everyone but Joshua and Caleb. This should be a lesson to us all: Live faithlessly, and reap the fruits of faithlessness. Live faithfully, and experience unseen things miraculously realized.

Caleb was 40 years old when he & Joshua scouted the Promised Land. At the age of 85, he was given the opportunity to take the land again. He could have complained, or blamed his fear on his old age, but Caleb was energized by the opportunity. How so?

Caleb understood faith. Faith says, “I can’t, but G_d can”. When he was a young man, he didn’t trust in his youthful strength. And when he was an old man, he wasn’t deterred by his physical limitations. Was Caleb endowed with supernatural strength? I don’t believe so. Caleb had faith.

If G_d promises victory, it really has nothing to do with your strength. G_d is your strength. You simply have to believe and work as hard as you can. He will supply what we lack. I say, “simply believe”, but the resolve to fight is more than intellectual ascent. It is faith-in-action. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by G_d’s Word, the Bible.

Putting G_d’s Word into action is your decision. G_d has already decided to give you victory if you faithfully follow Him.

Whether you’re 18 or 80, have faith and courage. G_d will be your strength!

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins
Daily Devotional, Wednesday, July 30, 2014