I can still remember the feeling of needing to climb the mountain and get to the summit. I was just entering high school and we had recently moved to the mountains of Idaho. Every afternoon around four our ranch would be in the shadow of the Sun moving behind the mountains and for someone that had lived much of their life in the plains of the potato fields, this was foreign and even brought a claustrophobic feeling. Therefore, I determined to get through the first week of school and then get up early on Saturday morning and climb to the summit of the towering mountain to get another perspective.

Even though I was quickly met with the realization that I was out of shape, my inner call to climb the mountain compelled me to make it to the summit. I achieved I stood in awe at the view, it was beyond spectacular, as well as, the air was so refreshing. What it did for my perspective was nothing short of miraculous! From that point on I never had the feeling of being claustrophobic or limited again!

The story of Caleb confronting his long time friend, Joshua the present leader of Israel, reveals his inner cry to achieve the summit of his mountain’s shadow that he stood in for the last forty-five years. In Joshua 14:12-13 we read Caleb’s passionate words to Joshua and all that could hear his voice. “Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; … And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb… as an inheritance.

Caleb had seen his inheritance 45 years earlier with his eyes and now he wanted to obtain it. To use a military phrase, he wanted to “put boots on the ground”. He wasn’t going to let another opportunity come and go. We can read the account in Num. 13 where God had instructed Moses years earlier to have a representative from every tribe go spy out the ground that He had given them. But, because of the negative opinion of the majority, an entire generation, other than Caleb and Joshua were coerced to reject God’s promise. Causing them to be plunged back into the wilderness that them came out of until they died and were buried in the sand never to experience the joys of living in God’s promises.

Now, after rewriting the wrong of the previous generation, Caleb doesn’t settle for what each different family is being handed, but he asks for more. Caleb wanted the whole mountain! It wasn’t because he was being greedy or selfish; it was God’s idea to begin with. I believe over time Caleb felt what was given to him by God had years of dividends coming. (Num 14:24, 30) Now this 85-year-old warrior which had plenty of time to make excuses, was determined to make a difference! Even with the haunting giants that stood between him and his victory, he still climbed to the summit of his promise. He wasn’t going to let anyone or their opinions keep him any longer from God’s promise for his life! It was now or never!

There’s a time that we need to step out of the shadow of the mountains that hinder and suppress us and begin to conquer them. It’s only when we reach the summit of that mountain that we will experience the incredible freshness of what God has intended for our families and us. God wants us to change our perspectives by changing our view! It’s time for you to start taking your mountain. Defeating any intimidating giant that might stand in the way of you acheiving God’s promise for your life.

Thoughts to Ponder:  

• Read over the two accounts of Caleb’s story in Num. 13 and Josh. 14 and see if you can see any other characteristics other than his whole hearted commitment to God, that might have helped him to not be a quitter or one that just settled short of God’s best. ?
• Have you ever felt you have been living in the shadow of a mountain? Maybe it was feeling like you played second fiddle to a sibling or you were not as athletic as some one of your friends? Explain?
• Think about a promise that God has put in your heart, that you haven’t seen come to pass as of yet. Is there some different things that you could do while your waiting to see them manifest? Write them down and then pray for God’s help to do them.

Quotes to Tweet:

• We might have plenty of time to make excuses, but instead we should be determined to make a difference!    –   billvirgin.com

• There’s a time that we need to step out of the shadow of the mountains that hinder and suppress us and begin to conquer them.      –   billvirgin.com
• God wants us to change our perspectives by changing our view! – billvirgin.com

#IamNotStayingInTheShadowOfThisMountainAnyLonger   #MountiansAreToClimb