Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” Numbers 13:30-31
God made a promise to Abram (whose name would later be changed to Abraham) concerning a land that He would give to him and to his descendants after him. This land was in Canaan and is known as the Promised Land. As is often the case with a promise from God, the revelation and the realization of the promise were not simultaneous. It would be hundreds of years before Abraham’s descendants would take possession of the land God had given him.
Once God sends Moses to Egypt to deliver His people, they set out on a journey which is supposed to end up in Canaan. What actually happens is an entire generation of people, except for two men, die in the wilderness and never enter into the land promised to their ancestor, Abraham.
Moses had sent twelve men, leaders from among God’s children, to spy out the land of Canaan and bring back word of what they saw there. We see the result in our verses for today; Caleb (along with Joshua) bring back a good report and confess what God said about their situation. Notice that Caleb references taking possession; his perspective of the situation is based on the promise of God. The others, however, bring back an evil report, referring to the people that have to be dispossessed; their strength and their accomplishments, even mentioning the presence of giants in the land. Their assessment was based on people and not on God’s promise.
What can keep you from taking possession of the promises of God in your life? The Bible is full of promises for His children, but they generally have a little two letter word attached to them — if. God is always faithful to do His part, but you have to come into agreement with Him and do your part.
Keep in mind, as it was with Abraham, that God has a time for the realization of the promise and there may be a period of time between the revelation of the promise and the possession of the promise. This calls for patient endurance and faith. Another thing that is important is your confession during this time, for when God gives you a promise it is yours; even if you have not taken possession of it. When God gave that land to Abraham, it was his regardless of the fact that he did not yet have possession of it.
Finally, do not let people hinder you when it comes to possessing the promises of God. The challenges Israel faced in finally entering the land of Canaan serve as a reminder that there will always be resistance to God’s plan and provision for your life. Even if you believe God’s word to you and the time is right for that word to be fulfilled, it does not follow that the enemy is just going to step aside and let you enter in without a battle or two or three. You will have to slay a few giants along the way to take possession of the promise!
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