Break the cycle. Just because a decision was made the last time in a similar situation doesn’t mean it has to be made the same today. The cycle can be broken.
Joshua has just became the leader. Prior to this Moses led the people out of Egypt, across the Red Sea and through the wilderness. Moses sent out spies from every tribe 40 years earlier to spy out this same land. Do you remember what happened?
“Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.” Numbers 13:27-28
10 of the 12 spies said “no way” to claiming the land God had given them. Who were the two spies that said yes to the Lord? Joshua and Caleb, and the people almost stoned them for wanting to take the land. So the Israelites stayed in the wilderness until this time. Now, Joshua sends spies and they report back, “And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”” Joshua 2:24
You think these spies didn’t know what Joshua had said years before after spying out the land? Absolutely, they knew. We know and it has been thousands of years since then, for sure they knew! Joshua’s decision helped to break the cycle. It may have taken years but his decision led others to “be strong and of good courage”. The same with you. Your decision to follow Christ even when it’s hard, even during tough moments, even in seemingly defeating moments will do the same. Will you choose today to break the cycle of fear, defeat, or negative circumstances? Choose faith and watch as others lives are impacted. The enemy of our souls wants to fool you into thinking that because a decision was made a certain way the last time that will always be the case. But each of us today have the choice to break the cycle... so break... break it in the name of Jesus and give glory to His name.
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.