Reflection
Today's readings reveal a stark contrast between faith and doubt, obedience and rebellion. In Numbers, we witness challenges to Moses' leadership and the tragic consequences of Israel's lack of faith following the spies' report. Psalm 28 offers a heartfelt plea for God's help and celebrates His strength. Finally, in Colossians 2, Paul warns against empty philosophies and reminds believers they are complete in Christ.

The key insight we can draw from these passages is this: True faith requires us to trust God's promises even when circumstances or popular opinion suggest otherwise.

Let's break this down into a simple principle we can apply:

Choose faith over fear by anchoring your life in God's promises rather than human perspectives.

Here are five practical steps we can take to apply today's readings:

1. Examine your response: When faced with challenges, do you respond more like Joshua and Caleb with faith, or like the ten spies with fear?

2. Guard against grumbling: Notice any patterns of complaint in your life. How might these reflect a lack of trust in God's provision or leadership?

3. Seek God's perspective: When making decisions, intentionally ask, "What does God say about this?" rather than only considering human opinions.

4. Root yourself in Christ: Following Paul's teaching, identify one area where worldly philosophy or empty deceit might be influencing your thinking.

5. Express trust through prayer: Like the psalmist, bring your concerns to God in honest prayer, affirming your trust in Him regardless of circumstances.

As you go about your day, reflect on this question: What "giants in the land" are causing you to doubt God's promises, and how might you respond with faith instead of fear?

Conclusion
Thank you for joining me today. These passages remind us that faith is not the absence of obstacles but the choice to trust God despite them. As the Israelites learned in the wilderness and Paul emphasized to the Colossians, our God is trustworthy and fully sufficient for every challenge we face. Until tomorrow, may you walk in the fullness of faith, rooted and built up in Christ.