Returning to our story in Numbers 13 and 14 – the returning of the spies. You may want to review this passage.

I see this bad report/good report as a focus issue.

Ten of the spies focused on the people, their size and strength. They saw giants.

Caleb and Joshua, on the other hand, saw the same but they focused on God. They knew that God was bigger, He had promised, and He would give them the land.

Who had the most influence on the community (Numbers 14:1-4)? What happened?

It only takes one or two people to stir up a crowd. In this case, it was ten leaders. Their negativity was so strong that the whole community grumbled in disbelief.

If you are a believer, then you are a leader. And it is our responsibility to lead the people to God, not away from Him. Therefore, we need to be careful how we react in certain situations, what we say, and what we do.

Negativity spreads fast.

We are not expected to be perfect—that’s impossible—but God wants us to reflect Him in everything.

So, let’s choose to walk like Caleb and Joshua even if it goes against the crowd.

This story certainly reflects the dark side of unbelief, but it also illuminates the glorious result of faith.

Let’s look at these together. Write down your findings below:

The dark side of unbelief (Numbers 14:20-37):

The glorious result of faith (Numbers 14:24, 38):

Their unbelief caused them to wander aimlessly in the desert for forty more years, and it excluded them from entering the land. Every person that exited Egypt twenty years and older died in the desert, except Joshua and Caleb. Imagine how many graves were dug. The freedom they thought they had won quickly turned into confinement. Oh, the dark side of unbelief.

Write out Numbers 14:24:

This verse is tucked in the middle of such dark stuff that you can easily miss it if you’re not careful. My spirit was moved when I read what God said about Caleb. I want the same kind of heart as him. Do you?

Will you join me and pray that God would give us a spirit that follows Him wholeheartedly? Without a doubt, this is the kind of heart God looks for and the kind that brings such honor to Him.

Let’s not follow the crowds—the crowds of people who are not following God—even if they are believers. Let’s seek to honor Him. Let’s choose to walk by faith.

Skim through your notes on what you’ve learned about Joshua so far. You may need to go back to previous blog posts.

How do you think God prepared Joshua to become one of heaven’s mightiest warriors?

There’s still so much more we need to learn, but I trust that you already have a good handle on what God looks for in a warrior. It’s not about how well we fight, but it’s about letting God fight for us. Remember that our God is bigger than the toughest opponent.

Let’s stay engaged and ready.

Love and Blessings,