Monday, 7 June 2021

A different spirit

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What was that "different spirit" that was in Caleb? Numbers 14:24 "However, My servant Caleb, because a different spirit is with him and he is wholeheartedly behind Me, I will bring him into the land where he went--his offspring will inherit it." God describes that "different spirit" as being "wholeheartedly behind" Him.

The contrast is with the people who were grumbling. Numbers 14:2-3 "All Bnei-Yisrael grumbled against Moses and Aaron and the whole community said, 'If only we had died in Egypt! If only we had died in this wilderness! Why is Adonai bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be like plunder! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?'"

There they are (I got this from Dean Briggs who spoke at the Tikkun Conference at the end of May), enjoying the blessing of mana and water in the desert, with their stomachs still full, they complain bitterly, without gratitude or recognition of the goodness, love and provision of God. That was them, and this is us.

How have we failed to walk in faith before the Lord Who offers us such great grace? When will we come to the place of realizing that God has not brought us here to abandon us? The writer of Hebrews asks another relevant question. Hebrews 2:3a "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"

The answer is, "We won't." Another verse comes to mind ... Luke 12:48b "From everyone given much, much will be required; and from the one for whom more is provided, all the more they will ask of him." My friends, we have been given much. Let's walk in faith and lead others to join in that walk. Shalom.