If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey. (Num. 14:8)
Expanded Passage: Numbers 14:5-9
Movie-goers love a good battle scene, whether in a fantasy epic like Lord of the Rings or a futuristic film like The Avengers. These movies typically culminate in a final, climactic battle of good versus evil that will determine the future of the planet. We sit on the edge of our seats as we watch the characters prepare for the fight by strapping on armor, rallying their forces, and devising clever strategies to overcome impossible situations.
Joshua and Caleb took a different approach as they faced the Promised Land and the giants within. They didn’t place the outcome of the battle on “if they were clever/strong/fast enough” but “if the Lord was pleased with them.”
We spend far too much time asking God for a calling unique to us and not enough time asking if we are living lives worthy of that calling. If the battles of life are a chessboard, then God is the Grandmaster, and I am the novice. I would be a fool to take his place in the tournament. My contribution to the battle is how I conduct my own life. Make no mistake, our salvation is dependent solely upon Jesus’ righteous and not our own, but that doesn’t mean that our obedience—and disobedience—doesn’t have far reaching consequences.
God’s job is to control the outcome. Mine is simply to obey.
Live a life that honors God; leave the rest in his hands.
Meg Christian lives in northern Virginia and volunteers in her church as a Sunday school teacher and worship team member. She attended Roberts Wesleyan University (NY).
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
