“But all the congregation bade stone them with stones” (Numbers 14:10).
To stand against the crowd is a great test of how real and genuine our faith is, and how much we value the truth. Caleb was more than willing to take that stand, even in the face of death. To stand with the Lord, and not with popular opinion and general consensus, has never been easy in any age. Are we willing to take a stand even if it means standing alone?
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled” (1 Peter 3:14). Caleb suffered, not for some wrongdoing, but because he stood for that which was right. This is the hardest kind of reproach to bear, especially when it comes from our brethren, and those closest to us. It is the path of least resistance to go with the crowd and just drift along, but what would happen if the salmon never swam up stream? There would soon be no more salmon, for their propagation depends on their making it to their spawning grounds. There is always a cost when we fail to take a stand for the Lord and the truth, a cost that is not worth the price.
All Caleb’s brethren turned against him and Joshua. Have you ever felt that way? Perhaps you did something for the Lord and no one appreciated it. Maybe you tried to be faithful in a certain situation, and you were misunderstood, and worse yet, ridiculed and reproached, even by brethren closest to you. Never mind, just leave it with the Lord, as He is the one that has the record down properly. He places a proper value on what is done for Him. It should be His approval and commendation that we rightly seek and covet. When Mary of Bethany poured out her ointment at the feet of the Lord Jesus, all the disciples spoke against her. But the Lord gave His approbation by saying, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me” (Mark 14:6). Too many times Christians are more concerned with what others think than with what the Lord thinks.
The Apostle Paul was questioned and misunderstood by the Corinthian brethren. They questioned his authority as an apostle, his ministry, his gift, and even his ability to present the truth, and so on. But he says to them, “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). He had to say at the end of his life, regarding his first appearance before Nero, “No man stood with me, but all men forsook me” (2 Timothy 4:16). He had taught things that had stirred up the hatred of the Jews, and things contrary to the heathen Roman system, and had to answer for his life, and that alone. We read of the Lord, “Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to take pity, but there was none” (Psalm 69:20). Then again in Psalm 102:7, “I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop.” The truth has never been popular and never will be. Furthermore, those who have stood for the truth have never been popular, and never will be either. As we have said, the hardest kind of reproach to accept is from our fellow-Christian, and especially those with whom we are in fellowship and with whom we break bread from week to week. They are those whom we are closest to, and feel that they should know better, or that they should share our exercises. Remember, if the believer tries to please everyone, and as the saying goes, make the best of both worlds, whether with the ungodly or in Christian circles, he will find that his testimony has lost its effectiveness and power. He will start to question in his own mind, the truth and convictions that he himself once held. No, we want to please the Lord and stand firm for truth at all times and at all cost. Are you afraid to stand alone for what you believe? Are you afraid of losing some popularity among the world or your brethren, or losing some advantage, either real or imaginary? We read two outstanding things regarding Enoch:
• He “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22).
• “He had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).
The world has a saying, “If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything!” When it comes to the truth of Scripture, we must stand firm or we leave ourselves open to fall for “every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).
I am told of a man who used to preach for two different fellowships of believers who did not agree on certain fundamental principles of Scripture. A sister asked him how this could be? He assured her that he was careful not to say certain things depending on which group he was addressing, and that there were certain Scriptures he never spoke on in either place. Her response was to quote him James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
The real question is, whose acceptance are we really seeking in our pathway through this world? If we are truly seeking the Lord’s approval and acceptance, then we can quietly leave with Him all the misunderstandings even of our brethren, knowing that there is a day when it will all be manifested, commended, and rewarded according to His perfect understanding. This helps us to “judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
We also have the perfect example of the Perfect Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom we read: “Who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). What an example! Knowing that all He said and did was done to the satisfaction and glory of God His Father, the Lord could leave all in His hand, and wait for that day of vindication, which incidentally, is still future. If the Lord has waited for over two thousand years for the moment of His exoneration in this world, should we not be content to wait a little time as well? Not everything is going to be straightened out this side of glory and the judgement seat of Christ, but it will most certainly be at that time. What a thrill it will be to hear His, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). Are you and I content to wait for that time? Caleb had the Lord’s approval and acceptance, and isn’t that what we really covet and desire too?