Facing the Giants?

If you've never met my Grandpa, you are missing out! He is a mess going to cause one, and is always the life of the party. He blows his train whistle in crowded restaurants, and talks to everyone in the room, never meeting a stranger! Whenever his invisible dog, Spot, comes up missing, rest assured he'll start calling him....even in the middle of Walmart. He is unique to say the least. And another thing, he's rearing to go.....and has a temper to go with it. He tells us stories of his days in the Navy and on the job when he settled things with a swift punch to the mouth of whomever wouldn't listen to reason (uh, his reason, that is). And, he's always been so strong! He was throwing bales of hay over the fence when most men his age were watching from the front porch. One thing about him sets him apart though, he loves the Lord... I've heard him pray the house down many times!!! He has even been known to give an altar call at a birthday party! My favorite story to hear him tell is about the guy at work, who didn't believe in God, and how "God showed him"....but that's a story for another day. The point is, he doesn't back down from much, and at the young age of 85 I doubt anyone would want to settle things in a fistfight with him! Grandpa's "of a different spirit" you might say.....

Our man, Caleb, reminds me of my Grandpa. He too, was "of a different spirit". When Moses sent 12 spies to scout the land of Canaan, 10 of them came back with a scaredy-cat report. The people all around Caleb trembled and wallowed in fear of the "giants" in the land God had promised to them. But, not Caleb! I can just hear him now, "Oh, we can TAKE 'EM! Let me at 'em!" Caleb knew if God was for them, who could be against them? Joshua was faithful, too. From the time Caleb and Joshua laid eyes on the Promised Land, they knew it was theirs. God's judgment to see that all the unfaithful people, those who didn't trust Him, would die in the wilderness was swift. However, Joshua and Caleb remained focused through the many years in the desert, and never doubted that the next time they entered the land of Canaan that they would take it because God had promised it to them! Sometimes, we Christians can let fear immobilize us....we become afraid to fail, afraid to get hurt, afraid to offend or make mistakes and end up missing out of what God had for us. He has promised to go with us, we must trust He can handle whatever comes.

I wonder if it was hard for Caleb, and for Joshua, to see an entire generation die? I wonder if they got up every morning with renewed determination to follow God, or were they often bogged down by life around him? Think about it.....Caleb had to stand strong for the Lord, when friends and family chose the opposite direction. How could he be so strong of mind? ...and body? You know how I think men like that stay young? They keep loving the Lord and His people, they never stop learning, they always find reason to laugh, they keep listening for the voice of God, and they never stop laboring. We would be wise to follow this example.

My Grandpa will be 86 this year. I've seen him pray for everything from a good parking spot at Golden's Restaurant to the peaceful passing of his beloved wife. He's a leader. He's the patriarch. He loves the Lord with all his heart. I love him for it all. I hope I'm like my Grandpa when I'm his age because something tells me, this world's gonna need it.