24 “But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” -Numbers 14:24
This “different spirit” that Caleb had either caused him to “follow God fully” or because he “followed God fully” it caused him to have a “different spirit”. I believed it was the latter, so because Caleb “followed God fully” he had a “different spirit” other than his own which led him. Either way, Caleb had a spirit that was not the same as the others who were with him and the LORD took notice of it and blessed him because of it.
Going back a bit, when Moses selected those who would spy out the land, he selected men who were the leaders from their individual tribes just as the Lord commanded him to do. So these weren’t just random men. These weren’t just available men. These weren’t unqualified men, these were leading men. These were men who were best suited to go out and return having accomplished the mission.
When they all returned, ten of the twelve spies came back and shared with the people of Israel a “bad report” filled with fears and what could not be done despite the Lord telling them that it was their land to possess and that He was giving it to them. The remaining two leading men came back and shared a “good report” of what could be done.
The reality is that they all physically saw the same things in the land but only two saw them as they ought to see them. Caleb and Joshua were able to see things differently because they believed in their God; the word that He spoke, and that became their focus.
That’s what “fully following God” will result in. Not only will we see things in a different way than those who aren’t “fully following Him”, but we will speak of the things we see differently than those who aren’t “fully following the Lord”.
That belief produced a “different spirit” in Caleb. And the “different spirit” was recognized and honored by God as he delivered his scouting report to Moses and the people of Israel.
Numbers 13:30 But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” |
What this really is is an example of how to walk by faith and not by sight.
The ten spies, the ten leading men from their tribes, simply put all their confidence in their sight; they allowed the things that they saw to dictate their behaviors when it came to them going in and possessing the land that was promised to them by God. On the other hand, Caleb and Joshua depended on, with full trust in their faith; faith in what God said, allowing that to dictate their behaviors in hopes of taking the land. Caleb was confident that they could “conquer” the land because he was confident that God could and would deliver.
That’s what faith will do for us. That’s what “walking by faith” will do for us. That’s what having a “different spirit” will do for us.
Numbers 14: 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. This is a land flowing with milk and honey! 9 Don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will devour them like bread. They have no protection, and the Lord is with us. So don’t be afraid of them.” |
Here in verse 8, you find the two speaking to the people of Israel and saying, “If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us.”. Well, we know what “pleases God” and that’s our faith, and as long as we are operating by faith we too can be assured that God will give us all that He has promised us.
So here's the question(s),...
Do you have a “different spirit”; a “spirit” that differs from those who “walk by sight” and not “by faith”?
Do you have a “different spirit”; a “spirit” that differs from those who are “rebelling against the Lord” versus those who are “fully following Him”?
Be encouraged, and always remember that God is good and He is able.
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