Faith vs. Trust . . . . hmmmm

Listen here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2ce50a1c/faith-vs-trust...

What is the difference between faith and trust?

One of the things I love about reading the Bible is rediscovering people or events of which I have read before but suddenly see through a brand new lens. While the Bible does not change, our lives change - circumstances press in--our perspectives are tweaked. On a given day, we read something from Scripture and it hits us exactly where we live! Such is the case with this Old Testament figure...

The man? Caleb.  A contemporary of Joshua in the Old Bible (as my mama called it),  I am quite taken with him, and can't wait to meet him when I get to Heaven! Faithful, courageous, reliable, tenacious, gutsy and in for the long haul: Caleb.

Caleb did not just have faith in God, he believed him, and he trusted him. 

Aye, Caleb did not just say he had faith in God; his faith translated into action.

Application? Oh sure. While Christians place their faith in God, I am convinced that not too many really trust him. And there is a tremendous difference in the lives of those who truly trust God because he is faithful and true.

Enter Caleb, an Israelite born a slave in Egypt, until God delivered his people.  Remember God commissioned Moses to go to Pharaoh and say, ‘let my people go!’  Eventually, Pharaoh did, and the Lord miraculously parted the waters of the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross on dry land, and then … God closed up the waters again, drowning the Egyptians. Why do I recount this? Caleb never forgot this.  Indeed, Caleb had a front row seat to this miracle and he remembered God’s faithfulness.

Then God faithfully provided for the Israelites while they were in the desert 40 long years.  Caleb never forgot; yes, Caleb. remembered. God’s. faithfulness. And then, Moses records in Deuteronomy that at a particular time, God told the people to ‘go and possess the land he had promised them’.¹ God told them to immediately go and possess the land², but the people wanted to first send in spies to look over the area so they could come back and plan their strategy. They sent in the spies—one from each of the tribes of Israel-- who were in the land for forty days.

Stay with me here -- Caleb was one of the twelve, along with Joshua.  Of those 12, Joshua and Caleb were the only two who brought back a good report [why? because they trusted God!!]  ‘Caleb said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” He said that because Caleb believed God when He said He had given them the land … Caleb did not just have faith in what God said, he trusted God because he remembered how God had been faithful in the past.  

On the other hand, the 10 remaining spies were moved to fear and doubt because they saw what was impossible for man, and forgot what was more-than-possible for God, particularly a God who had already promised them the land.

Think of it—all 12 spies had the same background—captivity in Egypt, release from captivity, Red Sea crossing, desert provision … yet only two believed.  The majority wanted to forego Paradise, they wanted to forego God’s best, and that which he had promised. You and I must be careful of following the majority--the voices of the Ten.  On the other hand Joshua and Caleb through Eyes of Faith saw no reason to delay but to immediately go and take the land.

Choice:  see with eyes of faith what seems impossible for you, but not God . . .

or see with finite eyes what is possible for you only to accomplish.  

Choose well, or you will forego the miraculous work of God.  God gives us the choice.

Sure enough, of the 12 spies, only two saw the promise realized: that is, to physically see the Promised Land with their own eyes—Caleb and Joshua—because they had trusted God.  “Caleb wholly trusted God, and followed him…”³ a man who remembered the God who was faithful, and on that basis, plus God’s promise, he trusted him.  That trust readied him for action.

Oh, this is good; it is so good, my friends.  We must not stop at a faith that involves mere mental assent!  Our faith is meaningless unless it produces the confidence in God that would cause us to rest in Him, and also to act when called … to take on giants in the land. 

Listen: oh please listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_iob6lOUOI

I do so love Caleb, and I do trust in God!

Do you?

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 Genesis 15.18 

2 Deut. 1.20-22 

3 Joshua 14.8,14