When Jesus hung on the cross dying the priests and teachers mocked him: “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” [Mark 15:31-32]

The world teaches us to see before we believe. However the Lord expects us to believe before we see.

When the twelve Israelites scouted the promised land ten returned proclaiming that they had seen giants and victory was not possible because of their strength. They assessed the situation based upon what they could see: giants, cities and walls that were more numerous and powerful than them.

However, two of the scouts Joshua and Caleb returned proclaiming that they had seen giants yet victory was possible because God was with them. They assessed the situation based upon what they believed: that God would give them the land because He said He would.

As such, Joshua and Caleb were the only two the Lord allowed to enter the land and see the victory. The other ten men who did not believe that God was able to overcome the resistance were struck down by a plague.

For we must believe before we see and then we will see.