Full of Hope

Joshua and Caleb were among the twelve spies sent to spy out the Promised Land. They didn't shed tears, bemoaning the conditions they had found. Rather, they rejoiced after searching out the land and came back full of hope, faith and vision.

Do you know Christians like this? They are always rejoicing. You know they are enduring awful trials, yet they seem to know how to get hold of God in the midst of their situation.

What about you? Are you always down, always complaining? Perhaps your personal problems or family situations have possessed you and eaten up your soul. Beloved, no matter what you are going through, you are precious to God. If you come to Him with a repentant heart and a hungry soul, He will give you His vision and hope.

Joshua and Caleb had a revelation of their value in God's eyes and they knew Israel was special to the Lord. That was the key to their hopeful, victorious spirit. Joshua said, "If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us" (Numbers 14:8). In other words, "Because He delights in us, we are as good as in the land already."

This is the same revelation David had: "He brought me out and delivered me because He delighted in me." Likewise, every victorious Christian today has this same revelation of the loving heavenly Father: "We can't fail! All our enemies are meat for us, because we are precious to the Lord. He delights in us."

Let me reveal to you the great mercy of God in the preaching of Joshua and Caleb. Israel had spent the night in rebellion, wallowing in unbelief, weeping as though God had forsaken them, and finally appointing a captain to lead them back to Egypt. Yet the Lord sent Joshua and Caleb to them and they told the people, "In spite of your night of confusion -- in spite of all your misery and complaining -- God delights in you. He will lead you forward. Fear not, for you are precious to Him" (see Numbers 14:9).