Another Spirit

Intro — “tempted me these ten times” is called by the Pulpit Commentary a “language of indignation.” Simply put, God had been fully provoked (; ).

13:30 - And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

I. Rescue

God was demonstrated His love for His chosen people by employing miracles. His messenger saw His glory in the desert in the form of the burning bush. The Hebrews saw miracles while they were in bondage and they saw His glory in the form of His presence. This was still not enough to influence or change the behavior of the Hebrews.

II. Rebellion

The Israelites’ practice of transgressing against God appears to be an effect of the Adamic sin within mankind. Despite God’s magnificent interference on behalf of Israel, they continue to disobey Him. Despite their crying out for Him over their centuries in bondage, they defied, as a community, the behavior God commanded for them.

The most intriguing part of this presentation for me is that God recognized the holiness of Caleb while sentencing the nation of 40 years of wandering. I see there is hope in in the fact that Caleb is singled out. We can know that God sees your individually even when there seems to be nothing good around you.

III. Reward v.24

I know it seems that you are included in the same morass of humanity that has no interest in loving or obeying or trusting God. The word spirit in the Hebrew is ruwach, which is breath or breeze or wind, much like the word pneuma in Greek. it also means, seat of the mind or “seat of moral character.” We have a spirit in us that must be developed to behave in a godly way rather than in a fleshly or demonic way. The world pretends to, but really is not concerned about our spirit. The world would have us to have a desirable seat of moral character so that we present ourselves as good citizens. We have to remind the world that this world is not our home and therefore our citizenship is sensitive to the desires of our heavenly Father, rather than, earthly concerns.

But I want to encourage you to continue to live like Caleb and know that God sees your example, your faithfulness, and has it in his plan to bless you.+