o, ye of little faith

on sunday we covered a passage from hebrews 10 that led us to numbers 13 where moses sends the spies into canaan to report on the condition of land before they go in to possess it. upon their return the spies give two different reports:

"then caleb quieted the people before moses, and said, "let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (vs. 30)

and..."but the men who had gone up with him said, "we are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." (vs. 31)

here is the distinction between the eyes of faith and the eyes of the flesh. the eyes of faith see only victory because they judge Him who promised faithful and understand that with God all things are possible. the eyes of the flesh only see human limitations and look no higher than human capabilities. caleb is so bold because he sees with the eyes of faith- he sees only victory because of the promise of Jehovah. caleb simply took God at his word. consequently, he and joshua were the only ones of that generation to enter into the promised land.

"for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. and this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 john 5:4-5