Give Me This Hill

Joshua 14:12 (New International Version)
12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

I'm just a bill.
Yes, I'm only a bill.
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city.
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: You mean even if the whole Congress says you should be a law, the President can still say no?

Bill: Yes, that's called a veto. If the President vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress and they vote on me again, and by that time you're so old...

Boy: By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become a law. It's not easy to become a law, is it?

Bill: No!

But how I hope and I pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Congressman: He signed you, Bill! Now you're a law!

Bill: Oh yes!!!


We all remember this Dialogue from School House Rock when we were children; I never thought as an adult I’d be watching it play out last night with Healthcare Reform. What a monumental movement last night to see the House pass the legislature for the Health Reform bill. Next stop the Senate and then President Obama. There was so much tension and anger over this bill on Capital Hill but it finally got the necessary votes to go before the Senate. You could feel the presence of Senator Ted Kennedy who made this his life’s work even as Nancy Pelosi quoted him from a letter he had written President Obama before he died he said, “Healthcare Reform is the last great unfinished business of the United states.” What I heard Sen. Kennedy say was, “Give me this Hill!”

No matter how long the fight, in the case of Healthcare 100 years, we must stick to the vision that God has given us. Caleb reminded Joshua that when he was 40 years old Moses sent him to spy out the land:

Joshua 14:7-8 (New International Version)
7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.

When you see what God would have for the people don’t be surprised that you will be a minority and the majority will be against you spreading false reports to the people. The mission statement of Fox news ought to be, “Make the heart of the American people melt with fear.”

Caleb said, “I wholeheartedly followed the Land God and gave an honest report.” 45 years later Caleb is 85 and he reminds Joshua, “I haven’t forgotten about the vision. God still wants me to take this hill.”

Joshua 14:11 (New International Version)
11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

No matter how long it takes you don’t give up on what God showed you even if your colleagues speak false reports. You have to be sure in what God showed you.

I am confident that God will give me this Hill country because:

1. I gave an honest report. Whenever you stand for truth the truth will set you free.

2. I followed God with a whole heart.

3. I’m still strong today. I’ve still got some gas in my faith tank!

4. The Lord will go with me.

Dear God, give us this Hill Country, pass this Bill so that all your people who melt with fear may be able to possess the land and live in good health. Thank you for the Caleb’s that took the Hill. Thank you for Jesus who took the Hill called Calvary when His colleagues said He was crazy, a heretic, and a traitor to His country. Jesus took the Hill and had the compassion to look down and say, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” God please bring reconciliation to America. Heal your people, Heal this Land; give us this Hill country so you can heal our Land.

In Jesus Name,
Amen