By Christopher Dryden
24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.
30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 14:24, 30 (ESV)
Those who have reached the Arctic or the Antarctic. The first person to run the mile in under four minutes. The first person to conduct a successful blood transfusion. Those who devised technological breakthroughs that turned a world upside down with the internet, mobile devices and so on.
What made them exceptional?
It’s not just the scriptures that are full of stories of a select few who emerge from the crowd. Their persistence, their commitment, their excellent spirit marks them out as opposed to others who would fall away. They would have a lasting legacy and enjoy the fruits of their efforts.
Where Caleb was concerned, God found Him to be exceptional, In Caleb, God saw a man who saw what God could do, rather than what circumstances dictated. Caleb’s approach was not to consider the opposition. Caleb’s approach was to look at what was in store – the prize that awaited, especially in the light of the one who promised. If He was faithful in delivering the people out of slavery, surely, He would be faithful in delivering the people into the land of promise.
It should not be exceptional faith and yet there have been plenty of times when the mainstream trends point to reasons for fear and doubt rather than opportunity to exercise faith. This is just as prevalent among those who profess to follow Jesus today as it was in the days of those who professed to be the delivered ones from Egypt.
What marks out the exceptional is the ability to look to the hills from where help comes. What marks out the exceptional is the ability to remember and recite that if God is for us, who can be against us? What marks out the exceptional is that while everyone is taking cover to avoid defeat, there’s a confident trust in the Father to embrace victory.
Reports may give the impression that things are not working out for God’s people. Scandal after scandal and setback after setback can give the impression that the church is on a downward trend. As God reminded Elijah, however, and as history continues to reinforce, God still has His remnant of those who believe, of those who exercise that which makes them exceptional in a world of doubt and fear.
The challenge that rests with us today is to consider whether we are exceptional. We don’t have to worry too much either, because the faith that allowed Caleb to be noted as having a different spirit is ever available to us. The connection to God through His Son Jesus Christ grants us access to His Spirit and being full of that Spirit we can commit great acts of trust and faith, just walking in the promise we’re assured in Him.
History books may not note your name for future generations, but there is a book even more important than those history books – the Lamb’s book of Life. In it are noted those regarded for that quality that makes them exceptional. We have an opportunity today to live as though our names are in that book.
Ask – Why did God only mark out Caleb as having a different spirit?
Seek – What can you do today in line with the different Spirit that lives in you that would make you exceptional?
Knock – In prayer, remember the promises of God for His gospel and His Kingdom and ask that you and those in your crew of faith would be marked out for having that exceptional faith to trust Him for His promises.
(Upper Photo by Rupert Britton on Unsplash)
(Lower Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash)
