After being sent into the land of Canaan to survey the land and its people, the Israelite spies return with a report (and some good fruit). The majority give a report full of unbelief, while Caleb and Joshua give a report full of faith.

Caleb said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

The majority said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”

Notice: faith speaks with a confidence that we can overcome, because of the One who is with us and fights for us. Unbelief, on the other hand, focuses only on the strength of the obstacle and forgets the power of God.

This is true not simple for the Israelites, but for all of us, all the time. We are either viewing things in faith or unbelief. One or the other is winning out. The key seems to be to continually keep in view the power and promises of God. To make sure that your entire understanding of things is clouded, as it were, with His presence and His power. For the moment you lose sight of Him, all you can see is the greatness of the obstacle that stands in your way.

Right now, the Lord may have a ‘promised land’ for you, some sort of dream or desire of your heart. Is unbelief standing in your way? Do you see only the obstacles that keep you from that land? Or, while noting the strength of the obstacles, do you remember and rejoice in the power of Almighty God? Do you believe it can be yours? Or are you like the majority who forget God and therefore, lack faith?

No matter which side you may be on right now, there is still only one thing to do: fuel the fires of faith. Think only and continually of the power and promises of God. Seek Him until you believe. Then seek Him all the more.