Faith Takes Guts (Num 13-14)

A friend once said that faith is not about having the right answers, its about having guts. All throughout the scriptures we see examples of men and women given the opportunity to step out... Noah building a giant boat on dry land, or Moses telling a king what to do, Ruth leaving her homeland to live with the people of God, Rehab risking her life for foreign spies, and who could forget Peter stepping out of a boat onto the rough waters... etc, etc.  All of these people have one thing in common, guts. They didn't know for sure what was going to happen after they acted. There was no committee to study their issue and present a position paper. They simply were invited by God into a relational act of trust and they all obeyed. 


Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." Num 13:30


This week at my home congregation I am teaching on God and circumstance. Circumstances are funny things as we can either see them as opportunities or barriers. I hear Christians talking all the time about doors and windows opening and closing, but rarely do I hear people honestly talk about "the thing" they are called to do but are afraid to do it. I am convinced that God loves an underdog. I think its because in using ordinary people to do extraordinary things  the world can't explain away, though it may try, the miraculous God is up to. 


Caleb had just returned from forty days of exploring the promised land. He and Joshua saw past the giants and walled cities. They saw God's invitation and promise. Ten others, whose names we never seem to remember even though they are listed with Caleb and Joshua, grumbled at the circumstances and stirred up rebellion among the people such that all of Israel was kept from living in the land. A forty year sentence in the desert, one for every day of exploration.


The question is simple, which are you going to be? Will we see past the circumstances, face our  fear, and step out of the... desert, boat, car, position, home, etc? Or, will we grumble at the circumstances, deny our fear, and stay home? May you be blessed with guts to hear and obey.


In Jesus' Name,
Amen