It's My Mountain

It's My Mountain

Introduction

As we start our time together in the Word of God let’s remember and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Their courage and dedication inspire us to live with purpose and conviction.

Today, as we reflect on their legacy, I invite you to journey with me into the pages of Scripture, to a passage that speaks profoundly to our theme: Joshua 14:6-14.

This passage tells the story of Caleb, a man whose faith, perseverance, and courage mirror the qualities we honor on this Memorial Day.

Caleb, at the age of eighty-five, approached Joshua and declared, "Give me this mountain" (Joshua 14:12, ESV).

He remembered the promise God made through Moses, a promise that despite the passing years and numerous battles, remained alive in his heart.

Caleb's mountain was not just a piece of land; it was a symbol of God's faithfulness, a testament to unwavering courage, and a reminder of the battles fought and the victories won.

In the same way, as we remember our fallen heroes today, we acknowledge the mountains they faced—mountains of adversity, conflict, and sacrifice.

Their legacy calls us to embrace our own challenges with the same determination and faith.

As we delve into Caleb's story, let us draw parallels to the spirit of those we honor this Memorial Day.

Let us be inspired by their resolve and find strength in our faith to face the mountains before us.

May we be reminded that, like Caleb, we are called to claim the promises God has given us, to live lives that reflect His glory, and to honor the legacy of those who have gone before us.

Today, as we remember and give thanks, let us also be encouraged to declare with faith and boldness, "It's my mountain!"

Joshua 14:6–14 (ESV)

6 Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me.

7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.

8 But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God.

9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’

10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.

11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.

12 So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.

Sacrifice and Freedom

In the heart of this scripture, we find a man named Caleb.

Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the Promised Land.

He was a man of conviction, a man of faith.

He was a man who, despite the fear and doubt that gripped the hearts of his fellow spies, chose to trust in the Lord.

He chose to believe in the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey.

He chose to follow the Lord wholeheartedly.

This was not a decision made lightly.

It was a decision that required sacrifice.

Caleb's sacrifice was not just physical, but emotional and spiritual as well.

He had to let go of his fears, his doubts, his insecurities.

He had to let go of the comfort and familiarity of the wilderness, of the life he had known for forty years.

He had to step out in faith, to trust in the Lord's promise, to believe in the unseen.

This was not an easy task.

It was a task that required courage, determination, and perseverance.

But Caleb was willing to make this sacrifice because he understood the value of freedom.

Freedom, in this context, is not just the absence of physical bondage.

It is the presence of spiritual fulfillment.

It is the ability to live in accordance with God's will, to walk in His ways, to enjoy His blessings.

It is the ability to live a life of purpose, of meaning, of significance.

It is the ability to live a life that is pleasing to God, a life that brings glory to His name.

This is the kind of freedom that Caleb desired.

This is the kind of freedom that he was willing to sacrifice for.

Now, let's take a closer look at Caleb's sacrifice.

When the other spies returned from the Promised Land, they brought back a report that filled the hearts of the Israelites with fear.

They spoke of giants in the land, of fortified cities, of insurmountable obstacles.

But Caleb saw things differently.

He saw the potential of the land, the richness of its soil, the abundance of its resources.

He saw the fulfillment of God's promise, the manifestation of His blessings.

He saw the possibility of a better life, a life of freedom.

This perspective did not come naturally to Caleb.

It was a perspective that was shaped by his faith in God, by his trust in His promises.

It was a perspective that required him to look beyond the physical, to see the spiritual.

It was a perspective that required him to look beyond the present, to see the future.

It was a perspective that required him to look beyond the obstacles, to see the opportunities.

This was a perspective that required sacrifice.

Caleb's sacrifice was not just a one-time event.

It was a lifestyle.

It was a daily decision to trust in the Lord, to follow His commands, to seek His will.

It was a daily decision to deny himself, to take up his cross, to follow Christ.

It was a daily decision to live a life of faith, a life of obedience, a life of surrender.

This was a sacrifice that Caleb was willing to make, a sacrifice that he made willingly and joyfully.

But Caleb's sacrifice was not in vain.

His faith was rewarded.

His obedience was blessed. His surrender was honored.

The Lord kept His promise to Caleb.

He gave him the land on which his feet had walked.

He gave him an inheritance that would last forever.

He gave him a legacy that would be remembered for generations.

This was the fruit of Caleb's sacrifice.

This was the reward of his faith.

This was the blessing of his obedience.

In the end, Caleb's story is not just a story of sacrifice and freedom.

It is a story of faith and obedience.

It is a story of trust and surrender.

It is a story of hope and promise.

It is a story that reminds us of the power of God's Word, the faithfulness of His promises, and the richness of His blessings.

It is a story that challenges us to live a life of sacrifice, a life of freedom, a life that is pleasing to God.

Shift in Leadership

As we continue to navigate the narrative of Joshua 14, we find ourselves in the midst of a pivotal moment.

The baton of leadership is being passed from Moses to Joshua, a transition that is both significant and instructive.

This shift in leadership is not merely a change in the person at the helm, but a transformation in the way God's people are led, in the way they perceive their relationship with God, and in the way they understand their role in God's grand narrative.

In the first instance, we see Joshua stepping into the shoes of Moses, a daunting task by any measure.

Moses was a revered leader, a man who had walked and talked with God, who had led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness.

Joshua, on the other hand, was a young, untested leader, thrust into the spotlight at a critical juncture in Israel's history.

Yet, Joshua does not falter.

He does not shrink back.

Instead, he steps up, he rises to the occasion, he assumes the mantle of leadership with courage and conviction.

This is not a mere change in personnel, but a shift in the paradigm of leadership.

Joshua's leadership is not characterized by his own strength or wisdom, but by his reliance on God, by his obedience to God's commands, and by his unwavering faith in God's promises.

Secondly, this shift in leadership brings about a change in the Israelites' perception of their relationship with God.

Under Moses, they had seen God's mighty hand at work, delivering them from the clutches of Pharaoh, parting the Red Sea, providing manna from heaven.

They had witnessed God's power and provision, but they had also grumbled and complained, they had doubted and rebelled.

Now, under Joshua, they are called to a deeper level of faith, a more mature understanding of their relationship with God.

They are called to trust in God's promises, to obey His commands, and to follow His lead, even when the path ahead is uncertain or the obstacles seem insurmountable.

This is not a mere change in perspective, but a shift in the spiritual dynamics of their relationship with God.

Thirdly, this shift in leadership signifies a transformation in the Israelites' understanding of their role in God's grand narrative.

Under Moses, they had been recipients of God's grace and mercy, beneficiaries of His power and provision.

They had been passive spectators, watching God's mighty hand at work.

Now, under Joshua, they are called to be active participants, to take possession of the land that God had promised them, to drive out the inhabitants of the land, to establish themselves as a nation under God.

This is not a mere change in role, but a shift in the narrative arc of God's redemptive plan.

The Hebrew word for "followed" used in verse 8 and 14 is "achar".

It is a verb that means to follow, to pursue, to chase, to aim to secure.

It is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often with the connotation of pursuing with intent, of following with purpose, of chasing with determination.

For instance, in Deuteronomy 13:4, the Israelites are commanded to follow the Lord and fear Him, to keep His commands and listen to His voice, to serve Him and hold fast to Him.

In 1 Samuel 12:14, the Israelites are admonished to fear the Lord, to serve Him faithfully with all their heart, and to consider what great things He has done for them.

In both these instances, the word "achar" is used to convey a sense of purposeful, intentional, wholehearted pursuit of God, a pursuit that is characterized by obedience, service, and faithfulness.

As we continue to unpack the implications of this shift in leadership, we see a fourth element come into play.

Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites are not just called to possess the land, but to inhabit it, to make it their own, to establish a society that reflects God's values and principles.

They are called to be a light to the nations, a beacon of God's love and grace, a testament to His power and faithfulness.

This is not a mere change in location, but a shift in their identity and purpose, a transformation from a wandering tribe to a settled nation, from a people on the move to a people with a place to call home.

Finally, this shift in leadership also brings about a change in the way the Israelites relate to each other.

Under Moses, they had been a ragtag bunch of slaves, a disparate group of tribes, a people without a land or a law.

Now, under Joshua, they are called to be a community, a family, a nation.

They are called to love each other, to care for each other, to support each other, to live in harmony and unity.

This is not a mere change in social dynamics, but a shift in the fabric of their community, a transformation from a collection of individuals to a cohesive, unified body.

Securing the Land

In the grand tapestry of God's Word, we find ourselves now at the threshold of a new chapter, a chapter that speaks of securing the land.

This is not just about a physical land, but also about a spiritual territory.

It's about the promises of God and our role in claiming those promises.

It's about the courage to step into the unknown, trusting in God's providence and His unfailing love.

As we commemorate Memorial Day, we remember the brave men and women who have fought and sacrificed for the land we call home.

They secured our freedom, our rights, and our way of life.

In a similar vein, the Israelites were called to secure the land promised to them by God.

This was not just a military conquest, but a spiritual undertaking, a divine mandate that required faith, obedience, and unwavering trust in God's promises.

The first aspect we need to consider is the role of faith in securing the land.

The Israelites were not stepping into a vacant territory.

They were facing formidable enemies, fortified cities, and an uncertain future.

Yet, they were called to step out in faith, to trust in God's promises, and to believe that He would deliver the land into their hands.

This was not blind faith, but a faith rooted in the character of God, in His past faithfulness, and in His unchanging promises.

As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).

This faith was not a passive acceptance of God's promises, but an active participation in God's plan.

The Israelites were called to fight, to struggle, to persevere.

They were called to be co-laborers with God in the fulfillment of His promises.

This reminds us of the words of the great Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, who said, "Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done."

The second aspect we need to consider is the role of obedience in securing the land.

The Israelites were not just called to believe in God's promises, but to obey His commands.

They were called to follow His laws, to uphold His statutes, to live according to His precepts.

This obedience was not a burden, but a blessing.

It was not a constraint, but a conduit of God's grace and favor.

As the Psalmist declares, "Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart" (Psalm 119:2).

This obedience was not just about following rules, but about aligning with God's will.

It was about living in harmony with God's design, about reflecting God's character, about embodying God's love.

This calls to mind the words of Jesus, who said, "If you love me, keep my commands" (John 14:15).

As we reflect on these truths, let us be challenged to secure our own spiritual territory.

Let us step out in faith, trusting in God's promises and His unfailing love.

Let us obey His commands, aligning our lives with His will and reflecting His character in our daily lives.

Let us be co-laborers with God, participating in His redemptive plan and advancing His kingdom on earth.

Let us secure the land, not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come.

Conclusion

As we close our time together today, let's carry with us the spirit of Caleb, a man of unwavering faith and relentless courage.

He stood firm in his convictions, followed the Lord wholeheartedly, and claimed the promise that God had made to him.

He didn't let fear or doubt get in the way of his faith.

Instead, he trusted in God's promise and in His power to fulfill it.

Isn't it amazing, my dear brothers and sisters, how God's promises stand the test of time?

They are as sure today as they were in the days of Caleb.

They are as relevant to us as they were to the Israelites wandering in the wilderness.

God's promises are not just words, they are the bedrock of our faith, the anchor for our souls, and the compass that guides our lives.

As we step out into the coming week, let's remember that we serve a God who is faithful, a God who keeps His promises, a God who loves us with an everlasting love.

Let's remember that we are not alone, that we are not forgotten, that we are not without hope.

We are God's chosen people, His beloved children, the sheep of His pasture.

Let's remember to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, just like Caleb did.

Let's remember to trust in His promises, to rely on His strength, and to rest in His love.

Let's remember to be bold and courageous, to stand firm in our faith, and to claim the promises that God has made to us.

And now, let's bow our heads for our closing prayer.