By Bishop Jerry Pena, God’s anointed Servant

 

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,   to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive          in the Spirit.”-1 Peter 3:18.

 

There are times when the righteous are forced to endure hardship, not because of their own choices, but because of the sins and unbelief of others. The story of Joshua and Caleb is a sobering reminder of this truth. They were faithful, they believed God, yet they too wandered in the wilderness for forty years—not because of their failure, but because of the unbelief of the majority.

 

The Different Eyesight of Faith

When the twelve spies returned from scouting the Promised Land (Numbers 13–14), ten gave a fearful report: “We cannot do it.” But Joshua and Caleb stood apart. They saw the same giants, but with a different eyesight—eyes of faith. For them, it was not about the size of the giants but the size of their God.

Yet, despite their faith, the crowd believed the majority. Their unbelief provoked God’s judgment, and the entire generation was sentenced to forty years in the wilderness. Joshua and Caleb, though innocent, had to endure that wilderness season as well.

 

When the Innocent Suffer with the Guilty

This principle runs through Scripture:

• • Daniel was exiled though he was righteous.

• • Jeremiah wept for a nation that ignored his warnings.

• • Jesus Christ Himself bore the sins of the world though He was sinless.

Sometimes God allows the righteous to share in the consequences of the unrighteous—not as punishment, but as a testimony of endurance, faith, and hope.

 

The Pain of Lost Years

Joshua and Caleb lost forty precious years of their lives in the desert. They could have entered the land immediately, but instead, they were delayed by the unbelief of others. Likewise, today believers often suffer delays and hardships not of their own making:

• • In families: a believing spouse suffers because of an unbelieving partner’s choices.

• • In workplaces: Christians face hardship because of corrupt systems or ungodly policies.

• • In society: God’s people endure pain and injustice because leaders and communities reject God’s truth.

Like Joshua and Caleb, we too often “wander” in situations caused by the resistance of others to God’s Word.

 

The Hope Beyond the Wilderness

The wilderness is not the end. God preserved Joshua and Caleb, kept them strong, and in the end, they received their inheritance. Caleb could boldly declare at 85 years old: “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out” (Joshua 14:10–11).

For us, the message is clear:

• • What is delayed is not denied.

• • God will keep His promise to the faithful.

Your inheritance is secure, even if others delay its fulfillment

 

Life Application

1. Stay Faithful Even in Delay – Don’t let the unbelief of others weaken your trust in God’s promise.

2. Endure with Hope – Know that God keeps record of your faith, and He will not forget. 

3. Use the Wilderness to Grow – Like Joshua and Caleb, prepare yourself for leadership, service, and greater responsibility during the waiting. 

4. Trust God’s Timing – Even if others’ actions slow things down, God’s plan for you cannot be stolen.

 

Short Prayer

Father, when I suffer because of the unbelief or disobedience of others, give me the spirit of Joshua and Caleb. Help me endure the wilderness with faith and hope, knowing that Your promise will never fail. Keep me strong until the day I enter into the inheritance You have prepared for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.