Avoid Black Crabs


Read Numbers 11:1 through 15:41


A certain motivational speaker has painted a word picture of a bucket of black crabs gathered by a morning beach walker. One of the crabs dreams about climbing out of the bucket and escaping to a new life. He stretches, pushes up, and manages to get one claw over the edge. But just as the motivated crab is about to tip the balance and get out, a fellow crab from the bottom pulls him back down. Instead of working as a team to break out of the bucket deathtrap, the negative, whining personalities pull the positive thinkers down.

Let’s face it: Many of us live and work among black crabs. They dismiss our ideas and discourage our spirits. Avoid those who claim your visions will not work and who will not join you in working toward solutions.

Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30).


Caleb was a gift to Moses; he was an extraordinary, courageous encourager. Welcome Caleb-types into your life.


Prayer Suggestion:

Lord, please send Calebs into my life, and enable me to be an encourager too.

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