Title Joshua and Caleb/Numbers 26:63-65
Content Title: Joshua and Caleb
Text: Num 26:63-65
Key Verse: (Numbers 26:65) For the LORD said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. Therefore there was no one left, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Moses counted the people twice. The first was with Aaron when he began his 40 years in the wilderness, and the second was with Eleazar. The census presented in this chapter is the second census. This event occurred in the 40th year of the Exodus, when the Israelites were in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River opposite Jericho. Jehovah commanded Moses and the high priest Eleazar to conduct a second census.
The purpose of this census was to organize Israel into an army for the conquest of Canaan, and at the same time to distribute the promised land after the conquest. Israel's wanderings are now over. And the Israelites stood in front of the Canaan they had dreamed of. However, only two of those who were counted at the time of the first census survived. Only two men, Joshua and Caleb, who positively followed Jehovah God, survived. God treated a nation as he treated individuals. God treated a nation as he treated individuals. God did not miss anyone.
1. God does not miss anyone.
God never loses his chosen people. God does not sleep, and through his omniscience, omniscience, and omnipotence, he fully examines his people. When the Good Shepherd comes down to the ward, with the hope that he will not pass it by and find it, if the sick child puts the hand of the eggplant out of the bed before going to sleep, God's flame-like eyes will never let go of the child's hand. Therefore, we do not need to fear that he may miss us under any circumstances. He seeks the lost sheep and lost coins. “He loved me and gave Himself for me.”
However, God did not miss out on Joshua and Caleb who followed Him, but also did not miss out on all the people over the age of 20 who were the subject of the first census. As it was said that all the people except Joshua and Caleb would die in the case of the Kadesh rebellion, no one could be counted in the second census without exception. Of the population at the time of the first census of 603,560, only Joshua and Caleb survived. No one was left but them. If you have faith like a mustard seed, it will attract His attention. Even if your hand becomes weak and sick, if you surrender yourself to His Spirit, He will fill it. If you wish to receive the gift of Pentecost, it will fall on your head, even if you are as obscure as the old shepherd psalmist. All those who did not follow God died, but Joshua and Caleb believed in God and were able to survive and enter the land of Canaan. God leaves those who believe and trust in Him.
God needs servants of faith who trust and rely on Him in order to fully expand His kingdom. The mist of doubt destroys all things, but faith makes the invisible visible and the impossible becomes beautiful with the help of Almighty God. Faith is the rope that connects man and God, nature and the supernatural, and the earth and the kingdom of God. Without faith it is impossible to please God, nor to remain in God's heart.
2. Death and judgment do not miss anyone.
God's judgment was carried out on every individual unbeliever. One or two may remain, like the autumn leaves on the highest branches of a falling tree. But ultimately they share the fate of their fellows. If Christ does not come first, our turn will come. Like Adam, everyone dies. We must all be in Christ's court. Each of us was born alone, we must die alone, and we must explain ourselves to the king alone. My soul, prepare to meet him!
apply
1) God is still examining people today. Let's think about what we will be like in God's sight today.
2) Let's imitate the upright images of Joshua and Caleb, whom God protected and led to enter the land of Canaan.
3) Let's try to have the right faith, remembering that without faith we cannot please God or enjoy the life of eternal joy.
4) Let's prepare for this by remembering death and judgment that no one can avoid.