A FAITH-FILLED PERSON
How often do we get close to seeing a dream realized only to back out at the last minute, because it all seems too overwhelming. We know that God has put that dream upon our hearts, and we have had to travel along a bumpy road to get there; and we can honestly say that He has been faithful to us in that journey; providing miraculously along the way.
Human nature is human nature; nothing much changes with the passing of time. We should learn from the past; but we don’t. We should have more faith, because we have seen the hand of God, so clearly in our lives in the past; but we don’t. 6,000 years of human existence has not changed humanity that much.
The one group of people we love to shake our heads at, in dismay, when we read their story in the Bible, are the Israelites. Here they are, teetering on the edge of the Promised Land, after having being delivered in such a mighty way, and they are ready to stone men of faith, who want to lead them into the Land that has been promised them!
They are 2million + strong, with almighty God on their side, have witnessed the mighty Pharaoh and his army defeated, had the sea parted for them, wore clothes that didn’t wear out, there were none feeble among them, were fed miraculously for 40years, witnessed God’s judgment on their rebellion against leadership in their midst; now, here they are, on the precipice and they are terrified of a few giants! Go figure!
The Land is lush and producing abundant food, finally they can have a change of diet, finally they can settle down and own some land; but no, they have forgotten all the wonders, that have brought them to this moment, and fear grips them, rather than faith. Their fear is irrational, it is unfounded, it is not Godly, and they want to stone the very leaders, who are leading the charge to take the Land. The faith of Caleb and Joshua, was a cause of irritation, it was so offensive to them, that they wanted to kill them! Their rebellion was not against the leaders, it was directly against God Himself! Not a good place to be. And so judgment was declared from the Lord, and for all their wondering for 40years, all the hardships they had to endure in the wilderness, they would fail to see the realization of the promises of God…what a tragedy!
A people that should have been faith-filled, were faith-less. They had every reason to move forward but fear paralyzed them, from realizing the promises. A faith-filled person can be a source of irritation, to those around those who are faith-less, jaded by their own disappointments; metaphorically they will want to stone them. These people need to be cut loose from a faith-filled person’s life, perhaps only for a season. Yahweh severed from their midst, those who were faith-less, so that the faith-filled, could take possession of the promise.
Are you faith-filled or faith-less? Are you journeying a difficult road, to see the promise of God’s word to you realized? Do you feel like giving up, because those around you are metaphorically stoning you? Have you neglected to reflect on God’s hand, in your journey thus far, and now want to throw in the towel? Do you need to cut some faith-less people, loose from your life, for a season, so that you can move forward with God?
To be faith-filled or faith-less is a choice…choose today to be a faith-filled person and take your Promised Land; if God is for you, no person, nor devil, can stop you!
NUMBERS 13:30-14:11
