The Testimony of Caleb

Study Notes

Joshua 14:6–15 KJV 1900

Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

What an amazing testimony of a man who indeed “wholly followed the Lord”!

What can we learn about this man as he receives his reward that was promised to him?

Notice his faithfulness- wholly followed the Lord

Notice his desire - I want that mountain!

Notice his determination- I shall be able to drive them out!

Notice his age- 85 years old

Notice his strength - “I am as strong this day as I was”

Why was his strength so enduring?

Notice His patience- he waited a long time to inherit what God had promised him. He endured the wilderness wanderings even though his lack of faith was not the cause of it! He endured with patience and finally did inherit what was promised to him.

Application: What is this text driving at? What is the message?