16 December Joshua 2

Taken the Land

Joshua 2:24 (NIV) They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

When reading the story of Joshua, this verse stood out. It immediately took me back 40 years—to the time when Joshua and Caleb believed they could take the land. While everyone else was afraid of the giants and overcome with fear, Joshua and Caleb stood firm in faith, convinced they could take the land.

The key passage in which Caleb and Joshua express their faith that God will help them take the Promised Land is found in Numbers 13–14. Here is the central part:

Numbers 13:30 (AMP) “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it!’”

Despite the other ten spies spreading fear, Caleb spoke with confidence and urgency.

Numbers 14:6–9 (AMP) “And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes [as a sign of grief],

and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, ‘The land through which we passed as spies is an exceedingly good land.

If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey.

Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.’”

Caleb and Joshua stood in faith while others were gripped by fear. They didn’t rely on their own strength, but on God’s promise and presence. Their faith became a distinguishing mark, and God later said Caleb had “a different spirit.”

Now, 40 years later in Joshua 2, the words of Joshua and Caleb are confirmed: they could have taken the land.

Joshua 2:8–12 (NIV) 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof

9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.

10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign”

Joshua 2:24 (NIV) They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

What is so sad about this story is that Israel could have taken the land 40 years earlier, but due to the unbelief of the ten spies, they had to wait four decades for God's promise to be fulfilled.

The story of Joshua and Caleb reminds us that God’s promises are sure, but our response in faith determines how quickly we walk into them. Forty years of delay wasn’t because God changed His mind—it was because the people chose fear over faith.

God had already gone before them. The enemy was already afraid. The land was already theirs. But they missed the moment because of unbelief.

Let this be a warning and an encouragement to us:

When God speaks, believe Him. When He calls you to move, step out in faith. Don’t allow fear, doubt, or the opinions of others to rob you of what God has already prepared.

May we be like Joshua and Caleb—people of a different spirit, full of faith, who say, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we will certainly conquer it!”

The land is still before you. Don’t wait another 40 years. Take the land.