Remember the Good Reports of what God has done for you in the past.

Interestingly, as we look at Caleb’s words to the Israelites as he dissuaded them from disobeying God in Numbers 13:30 and Numbers 14:8-9, it makes you wonder where did he get his strong faith from? We are talking about giants here who are at least 5 times the size of us today. Who would not be afraid? There are people who are already afraid of mouse, cockroaches and insects that are smaller than the size of our palms. What’s more giants who are at least 5 times bigger?!

I believe that Caleb, when he talked about the ability to conquer the lands and the people, he definitely wasn’t referring to any super tankers, war helicopters or nuclear bombs. The Israelites definitely did not have any superior weapons against giants. But Caleb knew that he has one supreme weapon that would defeat the giants. He has the Great I Am, the God of Israel was with them.

But knowing that fact was not good enough. How many of us know that there is only one God and yet we do not have enough faith to believe that God will and can deliver us out of the problems and part the Red Sea in our life?

When Caleb said that the Israelites were able to take over the lands and the giants, he did not say it out of foolishness. Remember he was a great fighter, too. He battled many lands before they reached Canaan. He was the leader of the tribe and chosen by the people to lead. He was far more than a fool. He was a man of wisdom and knowledge. But to the Israelites, he sounded like a fool sending his people to death.

No, Caleb wasn’t a fool. He was a wise man. He was a man who remembered the God who has delivered them from the Egyptians. He remembered that God who provided the manna and the water for them in the deserts. He remembered the God who led them by day through a cloud and by night through pillar of fire. He remembered the God who did not abandon them but delivered them from every battle and they won. He was a man who is full of gratitude to God. He was a man who remembered the goodness of God and because of his memories, he knew that God would fulfil His promises to bring them to the promised lands.

Caleb did not forget what God has done for them unlike the Israelites. Their fear made them forget who God was and what He had done and could do for them. Caleb focused on the good reports of the pasts and this gave him the faith knowing that God would continue to deliver them.

Are we like Caleb or the Israelites? Do we forget the goodness of God in times of trouble and temptations? Are we ungrateful people or faithful people in the face of trials? Caleb remembered God and this gave him a heart of courage and boldness to speak before thousands of people who were against him, even the possibility of being stoned to death in the wrath of the congregation.

Remember that we serve a God who is faithful even when we are unfaithful. He promised that He would never leave or abandon us. He will carry out His promises in spite of our faithlessness. Remember God.