War Against Unbelief
Imagine yourself in this scenario for a moment. You have been wandering through the wilderness for 40 years, no one except two old guys (Joshua and Caleb) are still around that walked through the Red Sea as on dry ground, and you have been hearing your whole life that you will get to this place called “The Promised Land.” Gradual skepticism has tempted you to become cynical. You find it so hard to believe because you never experienced the deliverance that took place; you have only heard about it. The fact that the LORD promised us that we will be in a land flowing with milk and honey seems so unbelievable. Right now, all you see is sand, sand and more sand—oh, plus some manna every single day, which got very boring about 39 years, 11 months and 3 weeks ago!
You can see how hard it is to truly believe God’s promises, especially when you never experienced God’s miraculous deliverance and only rely on the words of two old guys who said we could conquer the land. Yet we are still stuck in the desert for 40 years as person after person who came from Egypt died.
But God…..
“So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:43-45).
Wow!! God knew what He was doing! The 40 years, though difficult, were necessary. God removed the faithless and the complainers from their midst because it takes faith and patience to inherit the promises (Heb. 6:12). At just the right time, God released the “GO NOW” word. And as they went out, they saw miracle after miracle after miracle take place, and they conquered all the land the Lord told them to take. He was FAITHFUL to His promises!
We must make war against complaining and unbelief!
If you are stuck in a wilderness season and are waiting for God to move, keep declaring the promises He’s given you, and do not be discouraged. We must remember that the encounters of the past will give us the hope for the future, because He is the same yesterday, today and forever!
Remember, He is FAITHFUL to ALL His promises, and don’t let unbelief and complaining creep into your heart. Picture His promises taking place in your life. Speak them out. And be encouraged to persevere in doing His will today with great expectation!
