Focusing Forward and Real Leadership

Caleb is mentioned in several places as being someone who wholly followed God.
(Numbers 14:24, Deuteronomy 1:36 and others) He was one of the 12 spies that were sent to scope out the land God promised them. Along with Joshua, Caleb was one of the only two spies that came back with glowing words. They were ready to take it on.  The other 10 spies did not feel the same way. They were full of fear.

Fear is a corrosive negative quality. It corrodes relationships with people as well as God. We don't ever need to be scared of God. God is love and only wants the best for our lives. Our relationship with God cannot be based on fear. Unfortunately, certain religious circles utilize fear to try and motivate people towards their particular theology. We've all been exposed to this kind of thinking in some form or another. Wherever fear is, it permeates everything. This doesn't do much for people to people relationships as well. It causes lots of problems.

We all know and recognize difficult relationships. Sooner or later it gets back to some basic fear that is involved that eventually shows itself. Perfect love displaces fear and replaces it with power, love and sound thinking. Caleb must have been a great person to be around. He had great trust in God and it showed in his peace and determination.

Caleb did not fear.  He stayed focus on God and prepared himself to eventually receive the promises of God. It s true when they didn't listen to his spy report, Caleb had to do the wilderness walk with the others for 40 years! At 85 years old, he got his opportunity and he had kept himself strong so that he could with God's help obtain his piece of the land for his family. He knew it would come. Actually the name 'Caleb' means 'full-hearted'.  He had no place for fear in his life, not one little cubbyhole! He was successful! He had no fear to move onward when the time came to do so.

Joshua and Caleb are true leaders. They didn't have to read books or go to conferences on leadership, they moved forward and were out in front naturally because of where their focus was. They were leading from the front and did not turn back to look at who was following them. Full-hearted people don't lead from behind.

The 12 Spies -The Edge of Believing

In the record in Numbers 13, the exodus sojourners were getting closer to the land promised them.  It appears in Numbers 13:1 and 2 that God told them to send in spies to scout out the land:

13 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.

However, flipping over to Deuteronomy 1:21-22 there is a slightly different slant on this:

21 Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.

It was the Israelites who requested a look-see at what was ahead. It sounds reasonable to plan but as one reads through Numbers 13, it indicates that some of them were not ready for the task ahead. God had led them with a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. He had gotten them through the Red Sea in a most spectacular way.  He had fed them with manna and quails . Water was provided from a rock. It becomes evident that throughout their trek, some of them continued to carry their fear, lack of trust and discontent with them. Fear must be counter-balanced with trust and believing. God let them send the spies and the results of their thinking and readiness was exposed.

Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, were excited and ready push ahead trusting the God who had not failed them. Eventually they led the younger generations into the promised land. The fear of the other ten spies and their influence on the population delayed this event. This fear caused them to wander and procrastinate and eventually kept them from what God wanted for them. They did it to themselves.

The edge of believing is always in front of us. Fear is a natural human emotion. Wisdom and healthy respect are benefits, but fear can shut us down when we don't take it to God. He is absolutely approachable with honest prayer and provides several means of reassurance through His son, His Word and  the spirit penetrating our hearts.