8月3日

標　　題：求山地

經　　節：求你將耶和華那日應許我的這山地給我；那裡有亞衲族人，並寬大堅固的城，你也曾聽見了。或者耶和華照祂所應許的與我同在，我就把他們趕出去。（約書亞記十四章12節）

迦勒對神的信心從不動搖，雖然他周遭每一個人都在懷疑。神使迦勒確信，除了那些害怕巨人及堅固城邑的人以外，所有以色列兒女都會進入應許之地（民數記十三：28∼33）。其他人的不信迫使迦勒留在曠野，等了四十年，才進入應許之地。即使在那麼多年以後，迦勒仍然對神滿懷信心。

當神分配土地給以色列百姓時，大家都要求分配青草茂盛的山谷和草原。迦勒卻要求一塊山地。以色列人要把敵人趕入山地，在那兒，他們的敵人創建許多要塞。然而，這些堅固的要塞並不能威脅迦勒！他所倚靠的不是自己的力量，乃是神的同在。迦勒渴望看見神大能的作為，他清楚知道，如果住在安逸的環境裡，自己可能較不會倚靠神。他選擇一個非得信靠神的處境，拒絕讓困難阻止自己享受神所賜的應許。

倘若你總是選擇輕省之道，祈求平靜的山谷，你將永遠沒有機會看到神的大能，領你征服山地。找出山地，你將會親眼看見神大能同在的奇妙作為，施展在你的生命中。

Asking for Mountains

"Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said." (Joshua 14:12)

Caleb’s faith in God never wavered though everyone around him doubted. God convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the Promised Land, but the people were intimidated by giants and fortified cities (Num. 13:28–33). Their disbelief forced Caleb to wait forty years in the wilderness before he finally entered the Promised Land. Even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in God’s power.

When God was dividing the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains. Caleb asked for a mountain. The Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains, where they had built fortresses. This did not intimidate Caleb—he asked for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God’s presence. Caleb longed to see God work in power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he dwelt in the easy places. He chose a situation in which he would have to trust in God. Caleb knew his inheritance from God was on the mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.

If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God’s power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can be explained only by His mighty presence.