Choose faith over fear

Thousands of years ago, thousands of miles away, in a world not as different as we might think, two men named Joshua and Caleb stood out among their peers because they chose faith over fear.

That my eldest son Joshua shares a name with one of these biblical heroes and my nephew shares the name of the other has always made this story feel personal. But watching my Joshua, a newly minted United States Marine, begin months of demanding training just to be eligible for specialized reconnaissance missions, I find myself reading this ancient recon story with fresh eyes and renewed relevance for us today.

Moses sent Joshua and Caleb into the Promised Land of Canaan with ten other men, one from each of the Israelite tribes, and ordered them to return after 40 days with a report on the land. Moses did not send untested men to explore; he sent leaders, “heads of the people of Israel” (Num. 13:3).

Before the mission was ever assigned, the Lord had already spoken to Moses, declaring that He was giving the land to the people of Israel (Num. 13:2). While the mission was dangerous, it was directed and covered by the Lord Himself. Yet, as we will see, only two chose faith over fear. Here is the report of the other ten:

“At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, ‘We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.’”

— Numbers 13:25–28, ESV

Their “milk and honey” report matters because God had already used that exact picture to describe the land He was giving them. He first promised it at Moses’s burning-bush calling (Ex. 3:8), proclaimed it to Israel at the Exodus (Ex. 13:5), and pledged it again after the sin of the golden calf (Ex. 33:3).

None of the twelve spies could deny that the land fit the description of the land God had promised. Witnessing these things and reporting them to the people could have—and should have—been a major faith-builder.

Unfortunately, the ten scouts did not stop there in their report. As they continued, the reader today can almost see their hearts turn from faith to fear: “However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large” (Num. 13:28).

Large, strong cities. Large, strong men.

But Caleb saw Someone stronger.

Caleb saw the tenor of the report souring and stepped in with the courageous assertion that the Israelite people could indeed take the land. He was not denying the facts. He was interpreting the facts through God’s promise instead of fear’s perspective. That is what courageous leaders do: they choose faith over fear by seeing the situation through what God has said, not merely through what they can see.

Rather than taking heart, the ten dug in their heels, rebutted Caleb, and proceeded to spread their poisonous, panic-producing prognosis all over the camp until it infected nearly everyone with fear. Soon, the people collapsed into unbelief and rebellion against the Lord (Num. 14:2). As I told you at the beginning, these were effective, well-trained leaders among men. So, unfortunately, it is understandable that their fear transferred throughout the camp.

Let’s bring this back to modern day. John Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence. Nothing more and nothing less.” Do you have influence on anyone? Of course you do! You might say, “Wait a minute, I don’t have near the influence those leaders of Israel had!” Granted. But we all have influence in some capacity.

And since that is the case, may I offer three practical ways we can choose faith over fear as leaders?

1) Choose the right inputs

Zig Ziglar used to say, “I read my Bible every day and the newspaper every day so I can know what both sides are up to.”

That clever quote is funny because it is uncomfortably close to the truth. Every day, we are choosing which report will shape us most. Which report carries more weight with us: what we see, or what God has said?

Spend so much time filling your mind with the good, the clean, the pure, and the positive that you don’t have time to focus on the negativity of the world.

2) Speak life

When you talk about the struggles a family member is going through, be optimistic that he or she can grow beyond this. When you’re requesting prayer for your own challenge, ask knowing that God will help you overcome.

Reports are rarely neutral. Whether we are talking about our family, work, church, or the daily news, we are rarely simply passing along information. We are helping shape how others see the world. We all know the world isn’t perfect. Let your words become medicine that helps others move toward faith and faithful action.

3) Act

Caleb proactively interjected when he saw the report devolving into fear, and we have opportunities each day to take meaningful, right action. What is a small act of faith from which you’ve been shying away—a difficult conversation, a project you’ve been delaying, a step of obedience you know you need to take? Do it now. The “giants in the land” are conquerable, but you must take action.

Friends, let us be like our biblical heroes and choose faith over fear. Today, be one of the few who is filling up on and acting on God’s promises, speaking life-giving words of encouragement, and taking decisive action on what you know to be right.

We do not choose faith over fear because the obstacles are small. We choose faith over fear because God is greater. The truth is, we need not fear, for greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Faith over fear!