The Characteristics Of The New Generation Of Fighting Men: #2 – What We Need To Keep

Posted by rfathers on December 21, 2009

In the previous post we looked at Deuteronomy 1:26-46 to see where Moses recounted part of Israel’s history in the desert. Moses described how the old generation of fighting men had failed and thus were not able to enter the Promised Land. That was a list of what we should leave behind – or eliminate from our lives today.

In those same verses in Deuteronomy 1, Moses also showed three points of what was acceptable to God for being able to go into the Promised Land. This is a list of what we need to keep.

Please read these two chapters to help get a full understanding of the notes below:

Numbers 13
Numbers 14

After God made it clear that the whole generation of fighting men had to die in the desert, He made three exceptions:

You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised. But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness. (Numbers 14:29-32 NLT)

Here are the three things we need to keep (See Deuteronomy 1:36-39):

v. 36 – Spirit of Caleb – Caleb was obedient, he believed God, he had a different Spirit (v. 24) , followed God wholeheartedly (Numbers 13:30; 14:24, 30, 37);
v. 38 – Spirit of Joshua – Joshua was a loyal servant, a fighter and a leader (Exodus 17:9-13; 33:9, 11), he was the future leader of Israel, he had boldness and was obedient, he believed God (Joshua 24:15)
v. 39 – Be Like Children – innocence, not know good from evil, Jesus told us we should be like little child if we wanted to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3-5)

In the next post we will discuss “Characteristic #3: Be Radiant – Like Moses.”

Did you gain anything from today’s post? Was it informative? Please pass this post along to others and please give us your comments and questions below.