From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

If we forgo, or refuse to accept what has been freely given to us in Christ, we then imagine we’ve excused ourselves from being accountable for it.

The children of Israel wailed because there were giants in the land God called them to possess. There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.

But Caleb said , Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it. Caleb received God's command to go into the promised land. Implicit in the command was God’s empowerment to accomplish it. In other words, God would not command them to do something that their faith and His power could not accomplish.

The giants stood between Caleb and the promised land. Too bad for the giants. They would have to go. God said so! Caleb’s confidence in God’s word fueled a thunderous fire of faith. The giants themselves had become grasshoppers in Caleb’s eyes.

In himself, Caleb had a readiness to see God’s commands as encouragement for certain triumph. He was predisposed to take them as his own blessings and promises and enablement. Whereas, most of the children of Israel were predisposed to look for every reason why they could not accomplish the call of God.

One took the natural view, the other chose faith. Faith looks at God’s commands and promises and presumes his favor. The natural view looks at oneself and projects failure, and presumes God's displeasure.

Some of us make assessments from our present anemic position and determine not to make the effort. Others believe the command (and the promise it implies) even though we do not yet see the results. Believing, they fully engage, without which it is impossible to know whether or not the word of God will come to pass.

Later in Israel’s journey, when the faithless generation had passed away, the Lord gives His people a new opportunity to fight an old enemy.

Hear, O Israel:you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak? ’ Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

I love that God says, I will destroy them and subdue them before you. But then He says, So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly. In some piercing, invigorating mystery, God will not do it without us. And we cannot do it without Him. However, in concert He assures us, nothing shall be impossible.

With so high a calling, such magnificent promises, and so fearsome a Captain, how can we refuse?