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The 2 to 10 Majority

Ever been outnumbered and overruled? You know that you know that you know the right thing to do, but it seems like the majority is against you. They make every effort to convince you that your position is wrong. Before long, if you're not careful you'll be second-guessing yourself and worse yet....God

Not so with Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 13. You know the story: 12 men (one from each tribe of Israel) were sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan. When they came back Caleb reported that the land was ripe for the taking. But the other men resisted. They complained saying, "And we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" (v. 33).

Talk about a defeatist mentality. Caleb must have felt all by himself in that situation. Even with Joshua standing with him, it could not have been easy to hold his convictions in the face of such opposition.

My pastor mentioned read this passage during a meeting on Saturday morning and all I could think was: an inconvenient Christianity. I wondered what I would do. I wondered if I would stand my ground and hold on to my convictions or if I would begin to see myself as a grasshopper like the majority. The convenient thing to do would be to acquiesce to the pressure. It's easy to go with the flow because it takes no effort. To go against the grain, though? That's the inconvenient path.

And that's the path Joshua and Caleb chose to walk (see Num. 14: 1-10). They did not bend. They were unwavering to the point where the children of Israel wanted to stone them (v. 10). It might have seemed hopeless, but God was with Joshua and Caleb for God himself had promised the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. Ultimately, the faithfulness of Joshua and Caleb was rewarded. God swore to the people that not one of them would enter into the Promised Land save Joshua and Caleb (vv.29-30).

When we take a stand for God, especially one as inconvenient and difficult as this one, God will stand with us. Though we might be outnumbered physically, with God we are ALWAYS in the majority. And yes, the giants might look formidable, but they cannot prevail against the Almighty God.*

*Patriots loss notwithstanding.

Lord, help to focus on You rather than on our circumstances. Grant us Your sight so that we may see our challenges as You see them, as but a light thing. And give us the strength to withstand the negative pressures that cause us to doubt Your ability. For we know that there is nothing too hard for You. Give us grace to trust You more. In Jesus name. Amen.

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