As we seek to follow Jesus, we will be faced with both blessings and challenges. The question is, will we respond in obedience? The response to that question is largely dependent on our view of God.

In this morning’s reading we see Caleb and the crowd. Caleb and the crowd have experienced the power of the same God and are presented with the same blessings and challenges. Yet they choose to act in very different ways. Caleb says, ‘we can take the land.’ The crowd say, ‘no we can’t.’ I think that the differences in their two responses is shaped by what comes into their mind when they think about God.

1. Caleb and the crowd see the same God in action.

At this stage in the Bible’s story God’s people are the wilderness and they are being invited to enter the Promised Land. These people have witnesses God rescue them from slavery in Egypt through the Passover and the Red Sea. They have been led by the cloud and the fire going before them. They have been fed manna and quail. They have the tabernacle in the centre of their camp reminding them of God’s presence.

They can have no doubt about the reality of God, His desire to rescue them, His presence with them and His ability to save them. Now God calls them to send twelve spies into the Promised Land. Why does He do that? Why doesn’t He just lead them straight in? I think He wants to show them the blessings and challenges and let them see if they are willing to follow Him.

One commentator points out that while the spies went through the whole land, they focused especially on the area around Hebron. Why is that important? Hebron was where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were buried. They are being reminded that God had promised this land to their forefathers hundreds of years earlier. Surely, they can trust God to be faithful to His promises?

It is the same for us. As the risen Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into all the nations He accompanied His commission with a promise: ‘and I will be with you to the very end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20).

Sophie was finding it hard as a young Christian. Her father was not impressed with her new faith. He was suggesting that he was losing her and that she was involved in a cult. She needed to be remined that God was faithful and that He is with her. She faced into a hard week, after having a hard week, encouraged that Jesus goes with her.

2. Caleb and the crowd see the same blessings and challenges.

What did the spies find in the Promised Land?

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