Q1. Following Wholeheartedly

[Pastor Ralph]

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord “wholly” or “wholeheartedly”? How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does fear in leaders keep God’s people from doing his will? Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

[ducminh]

Following the Lord, God of Israel, “wholly” or “wholeheartedly” means to walk with Him faithfully, abide to His commandments and His laws in obedience, with all our hearts and all our souls, so that is having faith in Him as our Father, Creator, and Saviour.  This definition brings us to the word of Christ:

Mat 17:20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

The metaphor that Christ gave above implies the meaning of “following the Lord wholly, or wholeheartedly”.

The majority of Christians have failed in following God of Israel because they have discredited God’s commandments and His laws.  Therefore they are not following Him; they are professing a false faith in God, a faith that is built on sand, as Christ has said:

Mat 7:26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Mat 7:27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Christian do hear the Word of God, but they do not abide to His commandments and His laws, therefore their faith does not have the rock to stand on.

Caleb and Joshua differ from the rest of the house of Israel in the following prerequisite condition:

Deu 30:10  If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

Jos 1:7  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Jos 1:9  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Claiming to have faith in God is not a statement pronounced on our lips.  It must be a living faith, a faith that is expressed through our thought, our words, and our actions.  It requires a daily practice.  So it is not simply a faith expressed in prayers and songs on Sunday worship service.

Fear comes from doubt, because the person does not have a strong support in spirit.  The Israelites have given us ample of examples of fear and doubt and unfaithfulness in their observance of God’s commandments and His laws.  Their unfaithfulness has brought them destructions and made them scattered around the world and become an unknown people as it was said:

Deu 32:26  I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

God has been angry with Israelites not in this single account of the conquest of the Promised Land, but their faithless attitude and unfaithfulness are also the reasons for Him to send Christ into the world as the last resort.

Psa 78:10  They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

Psa 78:11  And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

Mat 15:24  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

[haar]

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord "wholly" or "wholeheartedly"? How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does fear in leaders keep God's people from doing his will? Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

It means to completely walk with God, believe and put our faith in His ability to deliver us despite the intimidating challenges that confront us.

Caleb and Joshua saw the same giants that the other ten spies saw but the looked beyond the giants and saw the Awesome Omnipotent God fighting with them and for the to conquer the giants. He did.

Fear in leaders can be contagious and also put fear in the followers and thus prevent the whole group from moving forward to the promised land.

God was angry with the Israelites because they failed to remember that He had delivered the from Egypt with His Mighty power and miraculous signs and wonders and could do it again and again.

[van]

To follow the Lord wholeheartedly means there is no doubt in your mind who to follow. Following the Lord in good times as well as bad, wholeheartedly. Your mind and soul completely rely on the Lord. Fear in leaders cause everyone around them live in fear that something bad is going to happen. Fear will cause you not to do God's will. Because of their unbelief, the Lord was angry with the people of Israel and vowed that none of their generation would enter the Promised Land, only Caleb and Joshua.
 

[Commissioned]

On 6/10/2016 at 4:01 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord “wholly” or “wholeheartedly”? How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does fear in leaders keep God’s people from doing his will? Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

 

To follow the Lord “wholly” or “wholeheartedly” means to submit fully to His commandments with strict observance of all that God requires of you. With faith fully trusting in His power to complete what He has promised.

Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies because they knew their God and that He would deliver them no matter what the obstacle or challenge might be.

Fear in leaders keep God’s people from doing his will because the trust in God is faulty, they begin to question God and when the answers don't come when they think it should  they make their own provisions.

God was angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land because they had forgotten all that He had done for them in the past, delivering them out of the hands of Pharaoh and providing for them as they journeyed through the wilderness.

[Gladys E.]

To follow the Lord "wholly" or "wholeheartedly" is to have full faith in God and be fully obedient to Him.

Caleb and Joshua has faith in God and believes that He would fight for them and give them the land.

When leaders fear, the peopke also becone afraid and don't follow God's leading.

God was angry with the Israelites because they forgot all He had dobe for them and they don't truly believe in God.

[charisbarak]

wholehearted--no doubt--complete trust that God is in control.

the other spies came to their own conclusions and thought only the worst--forgetting that God's power was behind them.

people look to their leaders to lead!  If they lead with fear--they are followed with fear.

God was angry because they had forgotten all He did for them--led with many miracles.

 

[JanMary]

Q1 lesson 7 (Joshua lesson 7: Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8.) 

What does it mean to follow the Lord "wholly" or Wholeheartedly?

It means to follow completely, fully. To me it means to lay down my agenda every day and to ask Him what His agenda is, and then to ask for the power and wisdom and will to carry out what He shows me. No half measures, complete obedience.

How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies?

Joshua and Caleb believed that God would give them the victory regardless of who or how big the people were. When the spies balked, Caleb quieted them and said let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it, emboldened by trust in God. Joshua 14:8 "I brought Moses a report as it was in my heart, but my brethren who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt.

The spies saw that the land was flowing with milk and honey and showed Moses the huge fruit cluster, BUT they said the people are sons of Anak, the giants. We are not able to go up against the people for they are stronger than we are. In fear and trembling, they saw themselves as "grasshoppers" and therefore believed the Anak saw them the same way.

How does fear In leaders keep Gods' people from following His will?

Leaders are to lead and inspire trust. But if fearful, intimidated and hesitant, those who would follow a strong leader will hang back in cowardice behind "the skirts" of the coward. 

Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

The people's hearts melted in fear and rebellion. They tried to recruit leaders to take them back to Egypt where they'd been delivered, preferring slavery to following God into the destiny He had prepared for them. Unbelief, even though they had seen the miracles God had performed on their behalf as He was revealing Who He is to them.

 

[blezed]

(Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord “wholly” or “wholeheartedly”? How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does fear in leaders keep God’s people from doing his will? Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

To follow the Lord "wholly" or "wholeheartedly" means to follow him completely.  Not when it suits us but when things get tough too. we cannot allow fear to dictate our faith. 

Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies because they had faith, and the obedience to follow God's directions. They sincerely believed with the Lord on there side there was nothing they could not do. 

Fear in leaders will cause their faith to weaken and not do God's will.

God was angry with Israel because they were not willing to put the faith in him.  He had brought them to the promised land and they allowed their fear to take over and not believe they could conquer the land.

 

[Delivered]

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord "wholly" or "wholeheartedly"?

Wholeheartedly means following God with all of one’s heart, (heart represents ones whole being) Caleb had another spirit, a heart circumcised with that of faith, a servant who heartily walked in the LORDS statues and His ordinances “To Do Them”

 

Q. How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies?

The spies attitude was the opposite of that of Caleb and Joshua, in that they “Did Not” have a servant heart to follow after the LORD their God, to keep His commandments and His statutes, thereby, their confession spoke “Slanderous” words of defeat, hearts that “Rebelled” against their LORD.

 

Q. Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

To me it wasn’t so much because of their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land, as it was their unwillingness to obey his voice wholeheartedly, instead they turned their hearts away from their LORD, they refused to hear, to understand set before them was life and death, blessing and cursing, if they would only love the LORD their God, and would obey his voice and cleave unto him: for he is life, and the length of their days that they may dwell in the land which the LORD swore unto their father, but their hearts turned away and cleaved to go back to Egypt, to worship other gods to serve them, is why God was angry and denounced them.

 

 

[Ganti Vivek]

1.  Wholeheartedly means complete faith in God that he will definitely make them enter the promised land come what may, they trusted in God's commandments and walked accordingly.

2.   When Caleb and Joshua with other ten spied, they had complete undoubted  faith in God and when they have seen the Giants in that land they did not see their strength but trusted the mighty God's strength which they have been seeing from the time they are in Egypt till now.

3.  A leader should never fear, it will make his people timid and walk away from God and doubt God's promises. The fear of God is more important to lead proper life.

4.  God was angry on Israelites because He had performed several miracles from Egypt till now but they are still doubting in their faith when ever the problem or enemy is big they are not seeing God's mighty power which they experienced, but wanting to go back to Egypt instead, that's why He had made them wander for 40 years in the wilderness to remove all those who lacked faith but allowed their children to inherit the promised land except Joshua and Caleb. 

 

[Susan B]

On 6/10/2016 at 4:01 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord “wholly” or “wholeheartedly”? How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does fear in leaders keep God’s people from doing his will? Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

 

It is interesting that even a nation who could experience God on such a personal level did not have faith. I think fear is the Devils best weapon. It is easy-to-use,  effective and can be applied to anyone and used in any situation. Caleb and Joshua had a military mentality...they didn't questioney obeyed. their minds were free of distraction as they dedicated themselves to God's mission. you would assume that every thing God led them through the obedience God ecpected would be natural but even after all that time Israel was reluctant

[Eilen]

1. To follow the Lord wholeheartedly, means to give your life on God; to follow him with your heart and soul without any reservation.

2. Joshua and Caleb were very spiritual and had faith and trust in the Lord.  They knew that God could move mountains.  They had seen him part the red sea, conquer their battles for them.  They were not afraid of the giant Anakites because they knew that God would help conquer them.  They were courageous.  The other spies did not have the faith and trust in God as did Joshua and Caleb and were afraid of the giants.  Their fear was transferred to the other Israelites who rebelled, not wishing to battle with the Anakites.

3. Fear in leaders as seen in the other ten who were sent to spy out the land, caused a rebellion against Joshua wanting to claim the land of the Anakites.  The Israelites thus disobeyed God’s command to claim the land because they were so afraid of dying in battle. 

God was angry with the Israelites because of their rebellion, disobeying his command and not having faith and trust in him

[Debra Grant]

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to

follow the Lord "wholly" or "wholeheartedly"? How did

Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does

fear in leaders keep God's people from doing his will? Why

was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter

the Promised Land?

1.To follow him with complete fidelity. When he asks us to

do something we do it with our whole heart.

2.They both had faith and was willing to trust God.They tried

to encourage the other men.

3.The people will have fear because of their leaders and

will not be willing to cooperate as they should.It also

cause unbelief which spreads throughout to other in the camp as

a result of disunity and rebellion.

4.The LORD was angry with the people because of their unbelief

and vowed that none of their generation would enter the Promised

Land.

[hanks]

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) 
What does it mean to follow the Lord "wholly" or "wholeheartedly"? 
How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? 
How does fear in leaders keep God's people from doing His will? 
Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land? 
We are to follow Him fully. 
We must acknowledge Him as the only true God, and obey Him without reserve.
Caleb and Joshua saw the Promised Land from God’s point of view.
They would be able to conquer the land, whereas the other spies did not trust the Lord, and saw the giants as a massive problem.
They thought it was impossible for them to be victorious in battle against these giants, and they all would die.
Fear paralysis a person and can prevent us from thinking and acting rationally.
Fear also brings unbelief, robbing us of the promises the Lord has made. 
God had promised the Israelites that He would drive out the inhabitants from before them.
He had also brought them right to the border of the Promised Land.
What made our Lord angry was the fact that they failed to enter because they allowed fear to dominate their hearts instead of faith.
They did not put their trust in Him, despite what He had done in the past for them. 
 

[lighthouse2014]

On 6/10/2016 at 3:01 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord “wholly” or “wholeheartedly”? How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does fear in leaders keep God’s people from doing his will? Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

 

To follow the Lord wholeheartedly means to have faith and be obedient to him.

Caleb and Joshua were different from the other 12 tribes because they had seen and remembered the miracles God had done for the Israelites to bring them out of Egypt and care for them in the desert. They had faith in God, the others had only fear in their hearts and were not depending on God to bring them into the promised land.

Fear in peoples hearts keep them from having faith in God, they do not know how to have and depend on him for their needs. If this fear is in the leaders hearts they will not be able to do the Lords will.

God was angry at the Israelites because they rebelled against the Lord by not having faith and taking possession of the promised land. Therefore he said they would wonder in the wilderness until all the rebellious ones were dead.      

[PrayingMan]

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord “wholly” or “wholeheartedly”? How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does fear in leaders keep God’s people from doing his will? Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

I so appreciated this study on Caleb.  We hear a lot about Joshua, who served the Lord whole-heartedly, but seldom hear about Caleb. Caleb served the Lord with all his heart and trusted the Lord, even in a land of the giants.  Joshua and Caleb saw the opposition in the Promised Land, not as an impossible task, but as a task that God was more than sufficient.  They believed God could bring them in and deliver them from any enemy.  The other ten spies only saw through their weak, human eyes.  They did not regard the power of the Lord.   Fear keeps leaders from stepping out in faith and trust in the Lord when He leads.  We fear rejection, failure, ridicule, or being inadequate for the task.  Caleb knew he was inadequate, but God is more than adequate and God leading them, would lead them through to victory.  God was angry with Israel because they failed the trust lesson time and time again.  They refused to trust the Lord for provision and protection, now they wouldn't trust Him for fulfilling HIs promise to enter the Promised Land. 

[Stanley Tavaziva]

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8) What does it mean to follow the Lord “wholly” or “wholeheartedly”? How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies? How does fear in leaders keep God’s people from doing his will? Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

Like Caleb, he received his inheritance in the Promised Land. Caleb followed God with all his heart and was rewarded for his obedience. ATthis is a example following wholeheartedly and commitment to obey God? Caleb was faithful from the start. As one of the original scouts sent into the Promised Land, he saw great cities and giants, yet he knew God would help the people conquer the land. Because of his faith, God promised him a personal inheritance of land. Forty five years later, the land was given to him. His faith was still unwavering. Although his inherited land still had giants, Caleb knew the Lord would help him conquer them. Like Caleb, we must be faithful to God, not only at the start of our walk with him, but throughout our entire life. We must never allow ourselves to rest on our past accomplishments or reputations.

 

[Irmela]

Q1. (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:8)

What does it mean to follow the Lord "wholly" or "wholeheartedly"?

How did Caleb and Joshua differ from the other spies?

How does fear in leaders keep God's people from doing his will?

Why was God angry with Israel for their unwillingness to enter the Promised Land?

To follow the Lord wholly and wholeheartedly means to put ones trust in Him. Regardless of circumstances or what others are doing around us, to remain focused on following Him and doing His will.

Caleb and Joshua were different in that they believed that God would see them through these problems that were facing them. He had proved to be faithful in meeting their needs in the wilderness, He sure would help them overcome whatever they would face in conquering the Land He had promised them.  They saw God in the overall picture whereas the other spies saw the problems in the picture and forgot about God.

Fear is contagious, especially if it is detected in leaders. Then instead of following God and being over-comers, they follow the leaders and give in to fear and doubt.

God had proved over and over to the Israelites that He was there for them. The problems were ironed out as they came up. They were fed, the clothes did not grow old and wear thin, the sandals did not wear out.  Their needs were met.  Now they showed how little their trust actually was.  They turned away from God.