A Wild and Crazy Faith
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“But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24, NLV)
What would cause someone to go against the tide of social influence? What would make them stand up against a vast amount of their peers and refuse to go along with what they believe? Peer pressure is a powerful force and few can stand against it. However, there were two men in the Bible who did just that.
Caleb and Joshua were chosen, along with ten other men, to explore the promised land and give a report to Moses and the people. When they returned ten of the spies were against conquering the land. This is what they said, “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” (Numbers 13:32-33 NLV)
Caleb and Joshua disagreed! This is what Caleb said, “Let’s go at once to take the land, we can certainly conquer it!” (Numbers 13:30 NLV) “But all the people began to cry and weep. Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron.” (Numbers 14:1-2 NLV)
Why were Caleb and Joshua different?
What is amazing is Joshua and Caleb’s response to all of this. By this time, you would think that they would have given in to this incredible amount of pressure but they didn’t. Listen to what they said:
“The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Number 14:7-9 NLV)
What caused Caleb and Joshua to stand against the tide of social influence? When everyone else was trembling in fear because of the vast fortified cities and the giants in the land, they were ready to march ahead.
They knew who God was!
They had seen over and over again God’s mighty work on their behalf. They had witnessed His constant faithfulness and they believed! They saw the promised land through different lenses. They understood that the God who created the Universe, who hung the stars in space and formed the land would stand with them, go before them and they had nothing to fear!
In the eyes of the Israelites, Caleb and Joshua had an outlandish faith! Their faith was wild and crazy and completely illogical. But this wild and crazy faith was rooted in an amazing, outlandish God who had proven Himself over and over to them.
An outlandish God!
What kind of faith do you have? How big is your God? Do you trust Him when things seem impossible, when you can’t see what He is doing? Are you viewing your life through earthly lenses or through heavenly ones? Do you believe you have an outlandish God?
The only way to develop this kind of faith is to KNOW your God. So I challenge you to get into His Word and discover who He is. He will not disappoint!
“This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLV)
Questions: How big is your faith? In which areas of your life do you need to put your hope and trust in God?
7 Responses to “A Wild and Crazy Faith”
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This is a tremendous devotional and one that speaks right to my heart this day! The first thing I noticed in the statement of fear by the ten scouts who were terrified is that they said, “Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” (Numbers 13:32-33 NLV) What was so striking to me was that they went on their FEELINGS and that they ASSUMED how the enemy viewed them. For how could they possibly KNOW? Surely, in their horror, they did not speak to any of these people who appeared as giants to them!
I have a long history of looking through my feelings, and also of assuming what others think of me and how they see me based on my own fearful emotions. Today I am ready to stand on the Word of God and face my enemies with the power and strength of God infused into me, knowing that, “13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].” I long to be a Joshua or a Caleb for God, and not a fearful grasshopper!
Thank you so much for this powerful devotion, Kristi!
Thanks for the article!… I can’t help but think of my family and our present situation. I am the only sibling of 4 who doesn’t want to move my mother into an assisted living “villa”… I think it’s too soon, and I’m not feeling “wild and crazy” about it at all. My hope is that she will not run out of funds. She is 82, and is in great health! I thought we would be moving her to assisted living, when she needed it…. and so, like Daniel, I am living in my total and complete faith in my Lord Jesus; consulting Him w/ my every word! I am not wavering,and I’m walking through this fire in faith…I have told them all that I hope they are not offended, and I love them all, but it is my feeling on it. In the midst, they (my sibs) are already fighting w/ each other, over mom’s “things”. Oh, my goodness…. they’ll have it a mess… but there must be something they need to learn from it, and it’s obviously out of my hands. I’ve explained why I feel the way I feel, and God has given me a a wonderful peace. PTL… I won’t be helping them move her out of her home on Sept 6th, but I will be the first to visit her once she is moved in. It really is a total wild and crazy mess in my opinion, but one that I will trust God with. His Mighty Arm is never too short. You ask “How big is my faith?” I seek His face… In Hebrews it says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, bc anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that HE rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Praise God, I hope the reward is for mom, and in this case, I hope my sibs will find a closer walk w/ Thee in the end. Thanks for allowing me to vent this morning! It’s so fresh on my mind and my heart. God is so good!
I LOVE this bible story ,Divine Truth. It’s so dear to me. God first used this
in my life at a very difficult time. I needed to hear from Him .This was the first
of many revelations in His beautiful Word He lead me through during many trials. I was
needing to continue to preserve and be made strong. This was a challenge.But He is near
the broken hearted .He is so close.
I was so filled with courage as I listened to the Holy Spirits leading. This devotional
is so encouraging. I have put my whole life in Gods Everlasting Hands.
I trust Him more than ever before and know there is much more to come.
Until we are face to face with JESUS !
What a great reminder of perspective. How often I view my life through earthly lenses and forget all that God has accomplished and promised. This article causes me to pause and ask the questions, “What has God aleady made clear to me is His purpose?”, “How can I trust Him to accomplish that in my life today in the midst of my struggles?”, and “Will I choose to have the faith of Joshua and Caleb, remembering that I too have an outlandish God?”.
Thank you Kristy for the call to renew our faith in our outlandish God!
God bless each one of you for your wild and crazy faith! I am inspired by both the devotional and by your responses to it. Lori, I am praying for your mom and for you as you go through this trying time; it is tremendous to know that the Lord is always with us and ready to fight our battles for us when we surrender to Him in and with love.
I am impress concerning the topic but brethren I have a serious problem with my faith.what I hated before is what I see my doing now, please I need serious help in prayer
NC Kenneth,
One of our mentors would love to hear from you. If you walk alone in your faith you will fail with others you become strong. Your answer to your question is in Romans 8: 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
God bless