“But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.’” – Numbers 13:30
We get so easily distracted and discouraged by the things in the world that seem so much bigger than us! Pandemics…war…chaos…division…. These things are truly terrible, but we can’t let them distract us from the work prepared for us by God.
The people of Israel were given a task – follow God into the promised land. However, when their spies reported all the obstacles that were bigger than them – the cities…the fortifications…the people… – that report froze the people of God in their tracks. Given a task and the promise that God would accomplish it, the people refused to move. They were distracted and defeated by the difficulties that loomed so large.
However, they forgot how much bigger God is than any earthly obstacle! They failed to understand that no matter how strong the fortifications or how fierce the resistance, God would make His people succeed in His work. Out of all the leaders who’d seen the distractions and dangers with their own eyes, only Caleb and Joshua had the faith to trust and follow God in the task He’d given them. For this, they were blessed and the rest of the nation cursed.
We too have a task. Make disciples of Jesus Christ by going, baptizing, and teaching (Matthew 28:18-20). Yes, there are difficulties, dangers, and distractions that can easily paralyze us in these Turbulent ‘20s. Yes, they’re bigger than anything we can handle ourselves. However, we don’t go alone and we don’t face them in our own strength. Jesus Christ, Who has all authority in heaven and on earth is with us always! Don’t get distracted by the news – just do the work God’s called you to do!