Caleb Had a Different Spirit
ICS Daily Devotions
Numbers 14:24 (NKJV) But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
God took notice of Caleb because Caleb was different. Caleb possessed the Promised Land when he followed God wholeheartedly and had the spirit of faith necessary to take the promise of God “by force”. We should be like Caleb and take hold of what belongs to us in the abundant life with the spirit of faith that comes with following God wholeheartedly. When we have the spirit of faith, we are someone who knows God. Because we know God’s plan and promises, we are convinced that all that He has for us is good.
Besides Joshua (who later was called to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land), what set Caleb apart from the rest of the ten spies was his faith in God. Caleb and Joshua differed from the ten spies and the one million people who murmured, complained, and desired to return to Egypt. It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. Therefore, if we believe in the Word of God, we will speak out of our convictions. Both Caleb and Joshua spoke out about their faith in God. Because they believed, they spoke out of their conviction although it seemed stupid in the eyes of the rest of the people.
Faith doesn’t look at our abilities but has its foundation in the ability of God to act and to fulfil His promise. Everything that God has promised us or called us to do has to be done in faith because it is often beyond human abilities or impossible in the natural. This way, God gets the glory and it keeps us humble and reliant on Him.
Faith is built on a personal promise established in the Word. We must not be presumptuous that we have God’s blessing when we step out to do something without having consulted Him or sought a Word from him. In Joshua and Caleb’s case, their faith was built on God’s promise that He would bring them to the Promised Land and instruct them to possess it.
Numbers 13:30 (NKJV) 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.”
Caleb spoke out in faith. His confidence was founded on God’s promise to give them the land that was flowing with milk and honey. They brought back grapes which needed two spies to carry. This was evidence that it was a good land, but there were obstacles in the form of giants. What helped them to overcome this was their faith in God. Similarly, we need the spirit of faith to walk out the newness of life so we can take hold of the abundant life in Christ.
Sermon Series: Having a Different Spirit
