Caleb, the Magnificent

Joshua 14:6-15 HCSB The descendants of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD promised Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me. 7 I was 40 years old when Moses the LORD's servant sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land, and I brought back an honest report. 8 My brothers who went with me caused the people's hearts to melt with fear, but I remained loyal to the LORD my God. 9 On that day Moses promised me, 'The land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have remained loyal to the LORD my God.' 10 "As you see, the LORD has kept me alive these 45 years as He promised, since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old. 11 I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then. 12 Now give me this hill country the LORD promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the LORD will be with me and I will drive them out as the LORD promised." 13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as an inheritance. 14 Therefore, Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he remained loyal to the LORD, the God of Israel. 15 Hebron's name used to be Kiriath-arba; Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. After this, the land had rest from war.

Some characters in Scripture make only cameo appearances, yet they are well worth our scrutiny. One such is Caleb. Without doubt, the most outstanding quality in his life was his unswerving faith that made him an unshakable optimist in the midst of a pessimistic people.

Background/Narrative:

The Israelites had escaped Egypt by God’s outstretched arm. He led them through the Red Sea and into the howling wilderness, to Mount Sinai where they remained about a year before marching toward Canaan. From Kadesh Barnea, Moses sent 12 men to spy out the land. They returned with conflicting reports. The majority said in effect: “Indeed, it is a great land flowing with milk and honey, BUT…,” and they discussed the frightening presence of the Amalekites, the Jebusites, the Amorites. They were especially alarmed at the Anakim – giants in the land.

Leaping to his feet, Caleb said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome” (Numbers 13:30). However, the negative majority caused the people’s hearts to melt, and they grumbled against Caleb and Joshua. The people might have stoned them but for the intervention of the Lord, who sentenced the nation to years of wandering.

Finally, the new generation entered Canaan and waged war. When time was near for allocating the conquered land, Caleb approached Joshua and said, in effect: “Before this allotment begins, I have something to say. A promise was made. Though it may not be written in stone, it is engraved in my heart.” He rehearsed the events of years earlier, and explained how God had made a promise to sustain him and bring him into the land his seed would inherit.

Caleb intended to collect on that promise because he was a man of faith – a faith that made him an inveterate optimist. However, did he want fertile plains and sloping hills? A lovely pasture? The choices spot in Israel? No. He said, “Give me this mountain (of Hebron.” What was in Hebron? The Anakim – the giants before whom most of the Israelites trembled. “Give me this mountain…the Anakim were there…It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out” (Joshua 14:12). And he did just that!

1. Caleb’s faith was based on the promises of God. Five times in today’s passage, Caleb said, “The Lord said…The Lord said…The Lord said….” Faith is the personal appropriation of the promises of God.

2. Caleb’s faith produce Godly living. Five times we’re told that he “wholly followed” the Lord.

· Numbers 32:11-12 HCSB 'Because they did not follow Me completely, none of the men 20 years old or more who came up from Egypt will see the land I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—12 none except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, because they did follow the LORD completely.'

· Deuteronomy 1:36 HCSB except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD completely.'

· Joshua 14:9, 14 HCSB On that day Moses promised me, 'The land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have remained loyal to the LORD my God. 14 Therefore, Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he remained loyal to the LORD, the God of Israel.

3. Caleb discovered through faith the secret of perpetual youth

· Joshua 14:10-11 HCSB "As you see, the LORD has kept me alive these 45 years as He promised, since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old. 11 I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then.

In the spiritual realm, through faith, we find eternal life in Jesus Christ. However also, as we follow God and turn from the sins and vicious habits that debilitate life, we find we’ll live to an older age much healthier. The fervent faithful Christian, however old in years, dies young, even as Caleb did.

Conclusion: Have you appropriated that promise of eternal life as a free gift by the grace of God through faith in Christ? If not, please do! If you have, then I challenge you to join the army of Calebs. Look the “Anakims” squarely in the eye and by the Spirit of God and by faith in our Lord, say, “We are well able to overcome them.” Together as the army of Calebs, may we say, “Now, therefore, give me this mountain.”