Expecting Your Expectations

“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, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them.

Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

But the whole assembly talked about stoning them.

Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.”

Numbers 14: 6-10

When you read the account of Joshua and Caleb and compare it to the report brought by the other ten spies you might be inclined to think they had spied out an entirely different land.

They hadn’t.

Why the big difference in their reports?

So much of it had to do with their expectations.

Joshua and Caleb spied out the land with great expectation.

They knew it was the land God had promised them and so their confidence was not shaken by the size of the enemy or of its army.

Instead they spied it out knowing that God was well able to give them the land.

They were not shaking in their boots because their expectation was in God keeping His promise to them.

They spoke boldly...

“...we will devour them...the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Needless to say their confidence was not well received nor was it contagious.

Nonetheless it was true and God would eventually honor their expectations while also honoring the expectations of the ten spies too!

It is a good thing to examine your expectations.

You can expect to receive them!