(The group has just come back from spying out the promised land.)
2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" 4 And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." 10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites.
You see, before this, there's not much said about Joshua and Caleb; Caleb stands up and speaks when they are describing what they'd seen there, and their names are mentioned a few times, but that is pretty much it. But after this, they (at least Joshua, but also Caleb I believe) are considered bible heros. What did they do that left such a big impression? After all, they're just two members out of how many Israelites? They're just regular people up till now. But sometimes thats who has the best opportunity to act for Christ. Because we often view our leaders as far above us, but when someone from our numbers takes a stand for what's right, others are sure to follow. Like here, Moses and Aaron could only fall on their faces and plead in that way with them. Then, seeing that, Joshua and Caleb stood up and said what their leaders could not. Basically telling them to keep their cool and trust the Lord, because, since He was with them they had no reason to fear these people, no matter how big and strong they looked. Even in the face of death, they stood on the Lord's side.
And I got thinking, would I be willing to do that? If my friends started doing something like taking drugs, or practicing wikka or something, would I have the strength to tell them that what they were doing was wrong? I doubt it! I would have to pray EXTREMELY hard for God to give me strength then close my eyes and jump right in. That's just not my personality, I'm not what you'd call a leader.
Last year I went to a youth conference and they were talking about leadership. One thing the speaker mentioned which has stuck with me ever since, is that you don't have to have the personality of a leader to be one. You just have to set your standards high and not compromise, and vwala! You're a spiritual leader! Of course included in there is also seeking God's direction, and being totally on fire for him, because without that, you may be a leader, but you're not going to be leading people down the right path.
You may be thinking "yeah, sure Josh son of Nun and Caleb son of whoever-it-was stood up, but it didn't work! The Israelites still had to spend 40 years in the dessert." And you're halfway right. Sure the Israelites didn't listen, and they did get punished for that, but neither Josh nor Caleb got punished. If you read on to verse 24 you'll read that Caleb got blessed greatly. "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." So you see, not so useless after all! Caleb got blessed. And with Josh, he also received God's promise that he also would see the promised land. Just at this time God had different plans for him. Moses took him as his trainee and one day, he would become the leader of the Israelites, and there would serve his Lord farther. Also in verses 37-38 you can see another way which God showed his favor to them. 37 those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land. They were kept alive, I don't know about you, but I think that that's a pretty big blessing, don't you?
All that to say, serving God, and following His command to be strong and lead, does pay off. Even if it didn't, we should obey anyways, just because our God and King asks it of us, and we are at his command.
So, are you a Josh and a Caleb? Or are you more like the other spies? Think on it.
Assr lei∂r ykkarr or∂.
~ElizabethOfMena~
