Following Fully

O. T. #332 "Following Fully"
July 30, 2014
Numbers 14-Part 5
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. Numbers 14:24

LET IT GLOW


You will recall that Caleb and Joshua did not agree with the ten spies' report. They believed Israel could conquer the giants in the Promised Land because God gave it to them. They stood up against these ten and in front of the two million gave a report contrary to the ten. What courage and faith!

It's one thing to read about what happened at Kadesh-Barnea; it's another thing to experience it. Such was the case when we were making plans for our new sanctuary. There were some people who questioned how we could build it when we didn't have the money in the bank for such a huge task. Others believed it was God's will and He would provide what was needed. So far, the latter is true. God has provided the money, so we are debt free, and He receives the glory for the accomplishment.
(We only lack the ceilings and doors installed, floors painted, and restroom fixtures.) How wonderful, powerful, providing our God is!!!  We are walking by faith, following fully our God and seeing Him provide!

What an honor to have God describe a person like He described Caleb:

• God's servant
• had a different spirit
• followed God fully (wholeheartedly).

God promises to bring Caleb into the land where he went to spy and his descendants would inherit it. In Joshua 14 we read of it happening. Caleb was as strong and capable of being a soldier at age 85 as he was at age 40, when this promised was made to him.
In verse 12, Caleb boldly claimed his inheritance: Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day.
Because of Caleb's faithfulness to the Lord, Moses swore that day, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance.

Not only was Caleb a bold, generous, courageous, noble, and heroic spirit, but the Spirit and influence of the God of heaven thus raised him above human inquietudes and earthly fears, therefore he followed God fully. It literally means he filled after Me: God showed him the way he was to take, and the line of conduct he was to pursue, and he filled up this line, and in all things followed the will of his Maker. (Clarke's Commentary)

How many of us fall short of the blessings of the Gospel when we distrust the power, faithfulness, and goodness of God. Joshua and Caleb took God at His Word. How many follow God fully?

LET IT GROW

Verse 34, NIV, states: For forty years-one year for each of the forty days you explored the land-you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have Me against you.

The whole wicked community that banded together against God would meet their end in the desert, where they would die. In less that eight weeks the ten unbelieving spies died.

Although the Israelites were at the edge of the Promised Land, they were commanded to turn back into the wilderness where all who were twenty years of age and older would die (except Joshua and Caleb), and where they would wonder forty more years, and where they would wander for forty more years. (Rye Study Bible)

There are times that the majority of the people are not right in their decisions. We must seek God's will in matters, then stand for it, whether we are in the majority or minority. Follow God fully so His will is accomplished through us.


LET IT GO

Trust God's power, faithfulness, and goodness.

Fully follow God's Word and Spirit.