“For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.”
Joshua 2:10-12 (NLT)
The first time the children of Israel had the opportunity to enter into their promise, they received negative feedback from the men sent by Moses to explore the land. The land was one of abundant provision; however, it was also reportedly one that was well guarded and occupied by men too fierce for the Israelites to fight (Numbers 13). The negative perception of the majority was so infectious that as a result, a whole generation lived short of their promise. Israel roamed the desert for 40 years until Joshua sent out spies who returned with a different report.
In the second chapter of Joshua, we see a Canaanite citizen revealing the folly of Israel. All the years Israel was too afraid to enter into Canaan, the promised land, the people of Canaan were terrified of Israel for the supremacy of God. In other words, Israel was afraid of an enemy who was likewise incapacitated with fear of Israel.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
A surefire way to keep the children of God from fulfilling their destiny is by making sure they never get started. This is done by influencing our imagination with the “what if’s” and “but how’s” that try to bully us from living in God’s promises.
Growing up, I made a silent vow to never get married. My parents are still married and have been for many years, but it wasn’t without many struggles. Also, I saw multiple failed marriages and witnessed the collateral destructiveness of those relationships. I allowed those examples to mentor me, and I allowed a negative perspective of relationships to contaminate how I viewed all relationships. Before I experienced something for myself, I assumed it would never work. Consequently, it took significant encounters with the Holy Spirit to understand that isolation was the plan of the enemy to keep me from fulfilling my role in the Body of Christ.
I took a faith step and have been married for ten years and counting. I could have wasted many years wandering in isolation if I had allowed fear to inhibit God’s plan for me. Thankfully, God’s grace leads us out of the fruitless deserts of fear and intimidation into His abundance and blessings. (Lacey Vasquez)
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I am full of courage and refuse to be intimidated out of receiving God’s promise.”
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
- Old Testament: Isaiah 1-2; Proverbs 18
- New Testament: Luke 20:27-40; Hebrews 1:1-9
