Daily Devotional | Don’t Follow the Majority

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” is one of my favorite choruses. The title statement is firm and filled with faith. “No turning back, no turning back.” For me, the highlight is the uncompromising third verse: “Though none go with me, still I will follow… No turning back, no turning back.”

I have always associated this song with Joshua and Caleb. Out of 12 spies, the majority recommended against obeying God and entering Canaan. Their evidence and arguments sounded rational: The enemy had stronger armies, fortified cities, and physically impressive warriors (13:27–29, 31–33).

But disobeying God is always the foolish choice. That’s why Joshua and Caleb urged the people to obey and move forward (13:30; 14:6–9). How did they frame their counterargument? First, based on God’s commands, and second, on His promises. God had already promised success—the land would be theirs. It made no difference how powerful the enemy was.

When the feelings and choices of the majority oppose God’s commands and promises, they’re part of the temptation to be resisted. The majority was responding in fear, whereas Caleb and Joshua spoke in faith. The majority was so afraid that they absurdly thought they’d be better off dead or returning to slavery (14:2–3). Faith, by contrast, often swims against the mainstream. This is why Joshua and Caleb boldly proclaimed: “Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us” (14:9). “We will devour them” is literally “they are bread for us,” or reframed for today, “we’ll eat them for lunch because God is with us.”