Israel decided to listen to the naysayers, not to the Yahweh. “Who says we should be able to win? We cannot take this by ourselves.” How true. So God fulfilled their worst nightmare, fulfilled their own, self imposed, self condemning limitations. “You will wander forty years. Those who had no confidence in me shall not reach the blessing at all.”
Yet two men saw the reality, that this land was a gift, go out and receive the blessing. And so God fulfilled their confident vision and loyalty to Yahweh. Joshua led them, took the land. Caleb, because he had a different spirit and followed fully was promised, and received the blessing.
Purposefully the Creator told Israel His name was Yahweh, for some Hebrew speakers a verb that essentially means, “He will cause it to come about.” Now they learn, some painfully, some blessed, in experiencing the power of their faith on the one hand and others their distrust on the other: God made their dreams, and nightmares, come true.
Jesus turns the tables. “Who do you think that I am.” Peter says much more than he can fathom, but he will learn later. “You are the Christ.” On the heels of his great answer and statement of confidence, Peter hears, perhaps, some deflating news: It’s gonna cost you, everything. But then, as if to bolster their confidence to empower them for the next step, they witness that wonderful transfiguring, that divine meeting of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. They hear that tremendous voice of the Father, “This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him.” The Creator begins to fulfill their clearing view and confident expectations. This would not play out the way they thought it would in the beginning, but later it would be better than they could have imagined.
When you encounter God each day, what do you expect? Our confidence in Him and the resurrected Lord Jesus will bring blessing and power for living, and promise of life to come. To expect anything else, as a result of lack of faith, well, that may be fulfilled,too. Be careful of what you ask for.