High Walls

From: Faithful Follower: Practical Meditations on the Life of Caleb By: James Nelson Hyland

• 2 min. read • grade level: 6

“The cities are great and walled up to heaven” (Deuteronomy 1:28²⁸Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. (Deuteronomy 1:28)).

The first difficulty was the “high walls.” Not only were they high, but without faith they seemed right up to heaven. Isn’t that the way we often look at things? We tend to measure the obstacles in comparison with ourselves, and our own strength. We feel that the situations are just too great, and that we will never be able to overcome. This is because we look at it from a human standpoint. It is true that we can never overcome in our own strength. “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall” (Isaiah 40:30³⁰Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (Isaiah 40:30)). Natural strength, even of youth, is not enough to meet the problems of life today. In fact, there are many young people giving up, feeling that the pathway of faith is just too great.

Now we don’t want to underestimate the “high walls.” Caleb and Joshua, the only two that brought a good report, didn’t ignore the fact that there were such walls. The difference was, that they saw them in relationship to the Lord. They knew that the walls were high, but they also knew that heaven was higher still. King David said, “By my God have I leaped over a wall” (Psalm 18:29²⁹For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. (Psalm 18:29)). A few verses further he says, “He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places” (Psalm 18:33³³He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. (Psalm 18:33)).

Have you ever seen a hind (deer) when it comes to a fence or wall, give a spring with its back legs, and jump over the barrier as if it weren’t there? The Lord can help us to do that! There is no wall so high that we cannot surmount it with the strength that comes from Himself. As Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)). There is One who is greater than all the problems, tests, and trials, and greater than any and every roadblock that the enemy continually seeks to throw in our way.

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