Today's readings are Psalm 119.97-104, Numbers 13.1-3, 17-33, and Luke 18.1-17.
There's a striking parallel between our passage from Numbers and from Luke today. In Numbers the Israelites send twelve spies into the land of Canaan, where most are afraid of the inhabitants and suggest that Israel should not attempt an invasion. In Luke we see the parable of the persistent widow. How are these related? Consider Joshua's attitude. He, knowing that God had promised the land of Canaan to Israel, expected that an invasion would be successful. After all, God is far superior to any of the Anakim. The widow, knowing that God supports just causes, did not fear to approach the unjust judge.
How do we approach the challenges in our life? Do we let odds which look insurmountable stop us from believing God's promises and his character as shown in the person and work of Jesus? Do we not know that Jesus says in Luke 18.7-8 that God is the opposite of the unjust judge, for he meets the needs of his people against all odds? Whatever our Lord has proclaimed to be so is so. We should make no mistakes about it. Has he promised a substitute for sin? Then there is one. Has he promised to create faith in the hearts of people who are dead in sin? Then he will do so. Has he promised that he is actually present with his believers? Then he is there. We have no reason to doubt our Lord. He is just as true now as he always has been.
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