God’s people stood on the edge of the long promised land. But the next step to fulfilling it was going to be challenging. Most of the leaders Moses sent to scout the area saw not a land of abundance but giants that blocked the way. But in faith and with enthusiasm, Joshua and Caleb believed that the people were more than able to do the work necessary to make the vision a reality. In fulfilling the vision, there will be challenges, but God will equip you to do the work.

Human brokenness and jealous comparison can lead us to compare our lives to others rather than to God’s vision. Jealous of the attention their father gave their brother, Joseph’s siblings sold him into slavery. But over the course of his life in Egypt, Joseph rose in influence and at a critical time of famine was able to save the lives of his family. In spite of suffering, God can redeem the events of our lives and produce not only good things but abundance beyond our imagining.

From God’s first appearance to Abram, throughout the entire story of God’s redemptive work as recorded in the Bible and through the cloud of witnesses, the original vision has remained the same: that we would all together, from every race and every nation, be as one people, part of God’s household, a single nation blessed by God.