July 7 - Wholly Follow.

Joshua 14:8
“Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.”
 
Standing for Truth is rarely easy, but doing right is always the right thing to do. 
Often there are times in our lives when we must choose whether to follow the crowd or the Lord. 
 
This was the case when the spies came back with their report of the land of Canaan.
 
When 10 of the spies chose to let their fearfulness fuel their perception, they brought up an evil report. Rather than a land flowing with milk and honey, they chose to focus on the people. They saw giants of great stature instead of what God had intended for them.
 
Caleb and Joshua saw the exceeding good land the Lord wanted to give the children of Israel. They knew that the Lord could give them the victory.
 
The majority tried to stone them because of their faith. 
But the Lord promised to intervene on their behalf and allow them to see the land He had reserved for them. 
 
Numbers 14:30
“Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”
 
Caleb was 40 years old when Moses sent the spies out, and now he was 85.
He waited 45 years. 
 
His testimony throughout those years of waiting is that he wholly followed the Lord. 
The Lord gave him what was promised.
 
Joshua 14:13-14
“And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.”
 
Throughout the many years of waiting, he was faithful to wholly follow the Lord.
Can the same be said of us?
 
The land of Canaan is a picture of the victorious life of God’s children.
Most of the children of Israel who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years never stepped one foot in Canaan. They missed out on the victory of the Lord’s blessings.
 
While we are now waiting there will be some around us who choose not to follow Him. Will we follow the majority and miss out on what He has in store? Or will we stay faithful to follow the Lord wherever He leads? 
 
Victory is found in Him, but we must be willing to follow Him in order to find it.
Choose to wholly follow Him today…no matter how long you have to wait.
 
 
Bible Reading:
2 Chronicles 1-2   |    2 Thessalonians 2