Page 66 - The Prosperous Way _ (APRIL 2024 v3)

THE PROSPEROUS WAY

we should instead be moving forward in courage? I believe that what
keeps us back is that, deep in our hearts, we don’t fully trust God. It takes
faith to believe that God CAN, but it takes trust to believe that God WILL ..

THE TRUST FACTOR

At 1 Samuel 17:45-47 as David stands in the face of Goliath’s roaring
blasphemy, this is his declaration:

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come
against you in the name of the Lord Almighty… This day the Lord will
hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down… All those gathered
here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves,
for the battle is the Lord’s and HE will give all of you into our hands .”

Consider the similarities in this account from Numbers 6:6-9.

“Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among
those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the
entire Israelite assembly, “If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead
us into the land …. and will give it to us…do not be afraid of the

people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their
protection is gone, but THE LORD IS WITH US.”

David and Joshua had this in common; their courage was rooted first
and foremost in the knowledge that God was with them, God was for
them, and God would not fail them. In fact, as Joshua stands at the
edge of the promised land this is exactly what God says to him: “I will
not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble
or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you everywhere you go”
(Joshua 1:5&9).

What was it that set Joshua and Caleb separate and apart from the other
10 Hebrew spies who accompanied them in their exploration of the
promised land? All 12 had experienced God’s power in the wilderness.
All walked unharmed between the walls of the Red Sea; the towering
pillar of fire warmed and led them all through cold desert nights. By day
the cloud of God’s presence shaded them from the heat of the desert
sun and guided them on their way. They had all seen water gush from
a rock and manna appear with the morning dew. These men all knew

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