As I continue my quest this morning on just pursuing God, the Lord took me to Joshua 14 and taught me a lesson there. My goal is not to pursue my next sale this week or really to pursue a new job. My goal is to continue to pursue God. My first sentence in my journal that I penned was, “I want to know God.” Well in chapter 14 God spoke and I listened. I want to share it now with you.
When Moses sent the twelve spies into the land only two came back and said that the Israelites should go forward and take the land. Those two were Joshua and Caleb. The people of God murmered and complained expressing a will to go back to Egypt. Seems like they were always forgetting that Egypt was harsh and there they were enslaved. God punished them and they would spend the next forty or more years in the wilderness wondering around. One by one all of those adults who murmured would die in the wilderness. All the adults would die except for two-Joshua and Caleb.
On that day that they showed so much faith and confidence in God, they were promised land in the new territory. In chapter 14 Caleb asks for his land. He begins by recounting the Lord’s goodness to him. And then he says:
Joshua 14:12 (ESV)
12 So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”
This is what is interesting to me. The country that he asks for is filled with the Anakim. Those were the people who looked like giants to the spies. It also was filled with great fortified cities. But he knew that God had promised him the land and so he asks for it knowing full well that he was going to have to fight for it. He is 85 and he asks for the land that is filled with giants and fortified cities. Most 85 year olds are looking for a golf course and an easy chair.
Notice he doesn’t twist the arm of God. He doesn’t say that I’m going to go up and I know the Lord will be with me and we will conquer. He just simply says, “It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out…”
Pursuing God does not obligate God. There is no such promise. What it does do is place us in a position where God can bless. It makes the “It may be…” possible. Whether God allows us to conquer the land, get the new job, get the next sale, or any other obstacle that you may be facing right now is totally up to God. You fill in the blank. When you pursue God and obey Him then you place your self in a place where it just may be.
Pursue Life! Follow Me! – Jesus, Matthew 8:22 (MSG)
There is also a shirt somewhere saying that! I think!
Like the new look!