“Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Numbers 14:3 (NLT)
Any time I get serious about using my life the way God wants me to use it, some people will oppose me. Satan will throw everything he can at me to keep you from fulfilling my calling.
One reason why so few people actually fulfill God’s calling is because they are unwilling to go against popular opinion. If I want to follow God’s calling on my life, I must be willing to reject negative advice—no matter who it comes from.
The Bible says in Numbers 14:2-3, “Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. ‘If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!’ they complained. ‘Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?’” (NLT).
When faced with difficult circumstances, the Israelites decided they preferred captivity in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Rather than doing what God had called them to do, they wanted to go back to their old way of life.
But one of their leaders, Caleb, had uncommon courage. He decided he was going to face their challenges with God’s help, even if he was scared. He was willing to reject negative advice to follow God’s calling.
In fact, Caleb didn’t just receive negative advice; he was also physically threatened. Numbers 14:10 says, “The whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle” (NLT).
God’s presence saved Caleb and Joshua. This will happen in my life too.
When I go after God’s calling for my life, I’ll always come across naysayers. So make the decision now to reject negative advice. And count on God’s presence to see you through.
In summary:
When I commit to living out God’s calling for my life, I will face opposition—sometimes even from those closest to me. Like the Israelites in Numbers 14:3, fear and discomfort can tempt me to retreat to familiar but limiting places, rather than trusting God’s promise. Many people miss their calling because they’re unwilling to go against popular opinion or reject negative advice. Caleb stands as an example of uncommon courage—choosing to move forward with faith, even in the face of fear and threats. His trust in God’s presence gave him strength, and the same is true for me: if I stay faithful and reject discouragement, God’s presence will guide and protect me as I walk in my purpose.
Bottom Line:
To fulfill God’s calling, I must reject fear and negative voices, stand with courage, and trust that God’s presence will lead and protect me—even when the path is unpopular or difficult.
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