February 13, 2019
Numbers 14:5-9
Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there.  Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes  and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.  If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.  Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
New International Version (NIV)
                Who is the leader of your tribe?  A few nights ago we gathered in Dallas with my three brothers.  Our eldest brother is the only first-born in our nuclear family.  Our dad whom we affectionately call “Dad” or “Jake” is the patriarch, the pater familia.  Our eldest brother was full grown when the rest of us were born.  I am convinced if you dropped him in a room of a thousand before long he would be their leader.  He celebrated his 60th birthday so the brothers converged with friends to tell him what we think of him. 

                When the people of Israel had to choose one leader from each tribe, Caleb and Joshua were two of the twelve.   Without looking at chapter 13, who were the other ten?  I have forgotten.  Why?  They feared, they failed and they were forgotten.  Not so Joshua and Caleb.  These leaders saw the opportunity and the challenge and trusted God.  When the role was called as the people entered the promised land, these two men alone of the twelve were still alive.  They figured prominently in the work of receiving God’s gracious gift of the land to Israel. 

                From time to time we believe that the majority is right just because they are the majority.  83% of the Israelites voted not to receive the inheritance of the land because they feared giants and numerous enemies.  The people cried and looked for a leader to take them back to Egypt.  They didn’t go forward into God’s promise, and they didn’t ever get back to Egypt.  They took laps in the wilderness with 70 funerals a day for forty years until they were all gone.  Again, we don’t need a leader to go back to the past.  Joshua and Caleb led the people boldly into God’s future.  Pray for the leader of your family, your church, your city, your state and your country today.  They all need your prayer.  Pray that they will treasure Christ above all else and obey him no matter what.   Pray that they will hear God’s voice above all others to lead us into a better future.  

Pray with me:    
Father, we come to you.  Where else can we go?  With Moses and Aaron we fall on our faces.  With Joshua and Caleb we grieve over the sinfulness of our people.  We mourn the sins of your people.  What was done in secret is shouted from the rooftops.  Let your people not miss this opportunity to repent and to follow you in the future you have for us.  Lead us forward, because taking laps in the wilderness is a terrible way to die.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.          
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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