Numbers 13:27 - 30 

They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. ²⁸ But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. ²⁹ The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
 ³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

Friends, this is an interesting story for us to consider.  Moses had sent out 12 men to explore the promised land & see what it was like.  Moses knew that he needed a first hand account to encourage the Israelites to press on toward their goal; their vision of taking the promised land God had given them.  If he didn't have a firsthand account, the Israelites wouldn't have been so sure of going ahead with the great journey.  So he sent out a man from each tribe of Israel.  What he didn't know was that only 2 of those 12 men knew what God was like.  The other 10 allowed their circumstances to rule their emotions.

We pick up the story in these verses, where the 10 spies were indeed sharing how good the promised land was.  But!  There was a but.  There were powerful people already living there.  10 of the 12 men were overcome with fear by the size and power of those already inhabiting this beautiful land.  They suddenly doubted God's promises in all of this!

Caleb (a good friend of Joshua) couldn't believe what he was hearing!  He stepped in and encouraged the people to forget the facts of powerful people in the land, and instead remember that God has indeed given them the land!  God gave them the word, how could they notbelieve He would carry it out?

This is an interesting account for us to take hold of here.  It shows the unfortunate reality of the human condition.  There is something about humanity that tends to always look for the negative and allow it to swallow up our hope in God's ability.

I want to encourage you and remind you today, don't be like the 10 men who saw how powerful the inhabitants of the land were.  But instead, be like Joshua and Caleb, who, despite the blaring facts, knew how powerful God was, and knew His promises!  I want to encourage you, God has promised you a number of things in His Word.  Like healing, health, provision, peace, Love, acceptance, even His fruit to bear forth in your life!  These are all promises that He has made.  And no matter what you might face, if He said it, then He is faithful to see His Word fulfilled.

Will you look at the circumstances?  Or will you believe in the Goodness of your Father in Heaven?  I want to encourage you today to take your eyes and thoughts off the tough times around you that you may be facing, and instead lift up your head, and see the greatness and goodness of God!  For He is mighty to save!  And He is willing!  Look to Him, trust it is by His strength and Power (not your own), and be sure, as you rest in His Power, you will be amazed at what manifests in your life!  Be encouraged by the Truth that God sent His only son because He longed for you to overcome the world with Him.

Father we thank you today that you promised us so much.  We thank you that you are good, and you long to breakthrough into our lives in the most incredible ways!  And I declare right now over every person reading this a supernatural revelation of your Goodness, Powerful ability, and willingness; that this revelation would become so strong in their lives it wouldn't matter what they are facing, and instead they will have hope in Who You Are!  In Jesus' Name!  Amen!