Synopsis

DAY 2- TRAIL OF DEEP FAITH - GOD RESCUES

Joshua and Caleb

Memory Verse: 1 John 5:3

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

In today’s session we will be learning about two faithful, brave and courageous men from the book of Numbers who obeyed God – Joshua and Caleb.

Story of Caleb and Joshua

The Lord said to Moses “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders”.

Moses chose twelve men to spy out the land-north, south, east and west. Two of those men were Joshua and Caleb. Moses asked the men to explore all the below mentioned points:

• What the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak.
• Whether they were few or many.
• Whether the land looked good or bad.
• Were the walls of their towns unwalled or fortified?
• Was the soil fertile or poor.

He advised them to bring back some of the fruit of the land. The twelve men spied the land for forty days. They cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them!

They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community and showed them the fruit of the land exclaiming that the land was indeed good and flowing with milk and honey.  

The spies also said that the people who live there are powerful giants, and they felt like grasshoppers next to people in the land; the spies felt they were tiny.

Ten spies told Moses not to go into the land. Joshua and Caleb said God was with the people and they should go into the new land. Joshua and Caleb wanted the people to obey God.  The Israelites grumbled and chose not to obey God.

Later, the Israelites tried to go into Canaan without asking God to lead them. The people in Canaan fought them and the Israelites ran away. The Israelites travelled in the wilderness for forty days.

What do we learn about Caleb and Joshua?

Joshua and Caleb had trusted God. They had deep faith that God would fulfil his promise and lead them safely to the promised land when all others had lost faith. They never doubted God’s promise. They were confident that Lord will help them overcome the giants.

How did God Respond to Joshua and Caleb’s Obedience?

God honors Joshua and Caleb for trusting him by making Joshua the leader of Israel after Moses dies and awards a piece of land to Caleb. And, God allows only Joshua and Caleb to enter the Promised land. Joshua and Caleb are rewarded for their faith in God. God punishes those who lack faith and rewards those who obey God fully.

Application to our daily life

Joshua and Caleb – Chose to obey God even when others were afraid. They put their trust and faith in God thereby God rewarded them.

Israelites and the 10 spies – Chose to disobey God and were punished.

We too should choose to obey God even when we are afraid. Every time you face a fear, choose to have faith.

Conclusion

God made people able to make choices. Do we daily make the choices God wants us to make? Out of the 12 spies sent into Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb made the right choice.

We should choose to put our faith and trust in God (like Caleb and Joshua) all the time and especially when we feel threatened or frightened.