Joyce Meyer tells us that the Israelites took 40 years to make an 11 day journey; that’s not a winning attitude. They spoke and saw fear, not faith. They weren’t tuned into God’s vision for their lives; they saw what they felt was lacking in the moment. 12 chieftains who were 12 leaders from the tribes of Israel could have all been 12 hero chieftains guiding their people. 10 chieftains weren’t viewing their experience through God’s knowledge. 10 chieftains saw fear, felt fear, spoke fear to their eager tribes.
In contrast Joshua and Caleb only saw God’s plan. I think Joshua stayed in the company of Godly positive thinkers, Caleb and their wives. If their wives were mumblers would they have had the courage not to think like the other 10 chieftains? If Joshua had no grounded best friend or no supportive spouse, I hope Joshua would have just talked to God all the more for encouragement.
If you are ready to be a Joshua; you have to be a Joshua in every cell of your body. Every expression of your life, your thoughts, words, what you listen to, what you look at, your deeds and habits destroy or contribute to the Winner inside of You.
Joel and Victoria Osteen, Joseph Prince, Tony Robbins, Charles Stanley and the late Norman Vincent Peale all have Joshua qualities. We each have a Joshua inside of us, waiting to be honed. When you see the time 11:1 think of Numbers 11:1 – the people mumbled.
We don’t have a cloud to follow now a days; God promises to guide us through the spirit and his sheep hear know His voice. The hardest mistakes for me are when I did get it correct that God told me something and I talk to others and their motivations influence their advice. My advice to others is influence through what I want as well. When know we hear from God we need to let every aspect of our lives agree with His ways.
Key scriptures:
Numbers 11:1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. {Niv}
Joshua 1:7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” {Niv}
It’s fun to see God in serendipitous ways.
At 11:01 – Don’t mumble. {Numbers}
At 1:07 – Be strong {Joshua}
At 5:30 – Be obedient to God & prosper.
{As Deuteronomy is the 5th book in the Bible and chapter 30 is very cool about obey and prosper.}