The Win Streak
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Introduction
Introduction
Great Win Streaks
Great Win Streaks
There have been a lot of great win streaks. Probably, not surprising to you, many of those win streaks have their home in California.
· The UCLA men’s basketball team won 88 straight games under the leadership of Coach Wooden. I think Burt Frisby played on one of those teams.
· The Los Angeles Lakers won a record 33 straight games with Wilt Chamberlain at the helm.
· However, the longest streaks belongs to the UCONN women’s basketball team with 111 consecutive wins under the coaching of Geno Auriemma.
· One of the most impressive to me is Oklahoma’s football team won a consecutive 47 games in the 1950’s, a streak that spanned years and against tough competition. And I am no fan of Oklahoma football.
· The movie Moneyball made famous the Oakland A’s unlikely win streak. It has a particular appeal because it defied the logic of the time.
For that reason, that might be the best comparison to the nation of Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan.
Israel’s Win Streak
Israel’s Win Streak
As we open our Bibles to the book of Joshua, starting in the second half of chapter 10, we see the accounts of victory after victory by the people of Israel.
Key words in those passages is the phrase “Joshua and all Israel.” This was a collective effort.
Not Cupcake Wins
Not Cupcake Wins
And these were not cupcake victories with lopsided odds. If anything, Israel was at the disadvantage.
Listen to this:
When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on the west, to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”
When we hear the phrase “like the sand that is on the seashore,” we tend to think about God’s promise to make his descendants like that. So when it is used here to describe the forces opposed to Israel, I believe the intention is to let us know that Israel was not at an advantage.
Sand of the Seashore
Sand of the Seashore
When we hear the phrase “like the sand that is on the seashore,” we tend to think about God’s promise to make his descendants like that. So when it is used here to describe the forces opposed to Israel, I believe the intention is to let us know that Israel was not at an advantage.
The passage also indicates that the enemies of Israel had weapons of war that the nation of Israel did not, specifically horses and chariots. Now, what you may not know is that cavalries were a decisive tool.
Horses and Chariots
Horses and Chariots
In the movie Braveheart (my favorite), one of the English officers claims that no army has won a battle in two centuries without a cavalry. Of course, that isn’t the same as ancient Israel, but the point is that cavalry was intimidating. The Bible often notes the enemy’s access to horses and chariots as a source of confidence and fear to those they faced.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Even in this passage, we see God telling Joshua not to fear their cavalry, for He will defeat them. God even describes exactly how that defeat will play out.
Even in this passage, we see God telling Joshua not to fear their cavalry, for He will defeat them. God even describes exactly how that defeat will play out.
My point in all of this is that Joshua and all of Israel faced formidable enemies but just kept winning.
The Checklist
The Checklist
In , the list of victories sounds almost like a check list:
the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goiim in Galilee, one; the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.
In my slightly off imagination, I am picturing Joshua at the grocery store checking out defeated kings.
[Maybe he was one of those collectible guys.]
I want you to notice something fairly subtle about this winning streak. When the Bible talks about it, it begins with Moses’ victories before crossing the Jordan, tells of Joshua’s victories on the Western side of the Jordan, but also mentions that there is more to be done than will be able to be done in Joshua’s lifetime.
,
Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess.
all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out from before the people of Israel. Only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”
The assumption here is that Joshua would do what he could but then appoint others the responsibility to do what he wouldn’t be around to do himself. The win streaks I mentioned at the start of the message may have spanned a few seasons or years, but God wants our win streaks to span generations.
The assumption here is that Joshua would do what he could but then appoint others the responsibility to do what he wouldn’t be around to do himself. The win streaks I mentioned at the start of the message may have spanned a few seasons or years, but God wants our win streaks to span generations.
[I am looking at our students in the room and putting that out there. We don’t a few successful years, we want generations of success. That means a successful worship service, a successful youth ministry
We all want a win streak
We all want a win streak
So the key question to any win streak is “How?” How did they do it? Win streaks don’t just happen by chance. UCLA wasn’t just lucky
Do you care? One of the most common wishes I hear from people is that they wish they would have gotten in on something before it took off, like buying stock in Apple and Google when they were still trying to get started. The old movie “Back to the Future” had the part about going back in time with all the sports scores. We joke about things materialistic like that, but what about life in general. Wouldn’t you want to know how to win in business, marriage, and family?
Caleb- God’s How
Caleb- God’s How
Well, in order to answer that question, the Bible tells us the story of Caleb. He is the answer to the question, “How?”
Let me give you a couple of fun facts about Caleb.
His name means “dog” and he saw that as a compliment.
He was not Israelite by blood (he is called a Kenizzite), but rather his family apparently chose to become a part of the house of Abraham at some point prior to going to Egypt. Do you remember when Abraham had a servant who was to be his heir before having a son of his own? That servant, Eliezer, was Caleb’s ancestor.
Not Joshua
I appreciate that the model given to us for this successful campaign is not Joshua.
Not size and strength
I also appreciate that the Bible mentions nothing about Caleb’s size, strength, or military prowess. The only things we know about him are his convictions.
Which indicates that the key to success isn’t so much our natural giftings as it is our character… our attitude.
A Man of Few Words
A Man of Few Words
If you remember, Caleb was one of the men who spied out the land back when Israel first came to the Promised Land. He and Joshua were the only ones who gave a good report of the land. When the spies tried to dissuade the people of the goodness of the land, Caleb was the first to speak out.
But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”
We don’t hear much more about Caleb until now.
My guess is that he was a man of few words.
Caleb’s Story
Caleb’s Story
We pick up in , verse 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.
And just in case you don’t know, he goes on to state it.
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. But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God.
Caleb restates the situation at the time and the promise of God. ( & Deuteronomy 1)
He then reveals that it has been this promise that has sustained him. He has not forgotten a word of it.
He wasn’t Impatient
He wasn’t Impatient
I can imagine that Caleb lived for 40 years with the clear memory of where his feet tread when he briefly had the opportunity to walk in the Promised Land.
“Those rolling hills will be mine…. That fertile valley is mine…”
Still Passionate
Still Passionate
He is as eager today as he was when he was 40.
[Pictures of Caleb]
We talked about that at our last elder board meeting. Shouldn’t our passion for Christ and His mission increase as we mature?
If I had to put it in a statement, Caleb had an uncompromising boldness to wholly believe and live by the promises of God and do his best for his people. Scripture says, “He wholly followed the Lord.”
An Uncompromising Boldness to Believe in and Fully Pursue the Promises of God.
Uncompromising - Wouldn’t go anyway but straight… only spoke when that was questioned.
Boldness - He was at the front, unafraid, and ready
Believe - Didn’t question God’s faithfulness
Pursue the Promises - He didn’t want to look forward to something that he might have today
He is the “Tread Boldly” poster boy.
After stating the case, he makes the ask.
[Kids take note]
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.”
Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. 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.
There is that boldness
Not Selfish, but Strategic
Not Selfish, but Strategic
Now, I have heard some people try to paint Caleb as selfish and asking for the best land for himself, as if he was privileged. However, nothing indicates that Hebron was better than other places.
I have a different theory, that I believe aligns better with Caleb’s character. As Brandon layed out the geography last week, the reason why the Hill Country was desirable was because it was defensible. With its hills and valleys, it would be far more difficult for an enemy to invade.
I believe two things:
· I believe Caleb sought it because of the challenge; it was the biggest prize.
· I believe Caleb wanted this strategic land in his family’s care
· I also believe he wanted this land because of its significance to the Jewish people.
-This is where Sarah was buried and Abraham had first settled.
Act Like Caleb in Order to Be like Caleb
Act Like Caleb in Order to Be like Caleb
What I found inadequate was to try and say, ”be like Caleb.” Just wholly follow the Lord.
For what we see in Caleb is someone who wholly followed the Lord in every role. Let me explain.
As a young man:
As a young man:
And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.
· He was at the front of the line, wanting to lead his people into the Promised Land.
· He was at the front of the line, wanting to lead his people into the Promised Land.
· When the crowds of people were saying the wrong thing, he stood for what was right.
· He wasn’t afraid of the enemy or the majority of his own people.
I can’t think of a more challenging ask to a young person today. We have become so passive, expecting others to do the work. If you are willing to lead, people may be willing to let you do the work, but you may not find much help out there.
And try and stand up to the crowd for what is right. You might be physically threatened just like Caleb was.
Utlimately, it comes down to the decision to not fear anything or anyone, but to boldly pursue Christ. That is what success looks like for a young person.
You might say, but I want a good job and a gorgeous spouse. Here me, focus on God like Caleb did and everything you could ever desire comes from that.
As an old man:
As an old man:
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. 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.
· He never let the passion diminish.
· He was going to be used by God until his final breath. Remember, he is older by 20 years than everyone else but is acting like he is still in his prime.
· He chose the challenge. In chapter 15, we read that three of the sons of Anak lived in Hebron. He didn’t leave the hard work for the younger men
According to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak.
We are at a season where our welcome ministries, youth ministries, and children’s ministries need to be fully stocked. We need people who are willing to love and understand those outside the church. I know it is hard, but that is exactly why we need people who know what hard is to do it.
We are at a season where our welcome ministries, youth ministries, and children’s ministries need to be fully stocked. We need people who are willing to love and understand those outside the church. I know it is hard, but that is exactly why we need people who know what hard is to do it.
As a leader:
As a leader:
In chapter 15, I want you to notice that Caleb didn’t just do everything himself.
And the boundary goes up to Beth-hoglah and passes along north of Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. And the boundary goes up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. And the boundary passes along to the waters of En-shemesh and ends at En-rogel.
He might have been able, but we see him raise up others by offering hid daughter in marriage to the bravest man. Leaders raise up others. They don’t hog the spotlight. They reward the efforts of those who are willing to do the work. A winning leader believes that there can be lots of winners.
He might have been able, but we see him raise up others by offering hid daughter in marriage to the bravest man. Leaders raise up others. They don’t hog the spotlight. They reward the efforts of those who are willing to do the work. A winning leader believes that there can be lots of winners.
As a father:
As a father:
When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
We also get this insight into Caleb’s daughter. Not much about her is mentioned, except that you can see the same boldness in her that you see in her father. She makes a big request of her father, and he rewards her boldness.
We also get this insight into Caleb’s daughter. Not much about her is mentioned, except that you can see the same boldness in her that you see in her father. She makes a big request of her father, and he rewards her boldness.
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
In Caleb, we see a model for us all.
My biggest take away from Caleb is to dream big; to say, “Why not?”
God says the fruit of the spirit are:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
That doesn’t mean I expect God to give me what I want. It means that I believe God can do anything through me.
If the truth of God’s promises are aligned with my faith and my willingness to act, we will have success.
My willingness combined with God’s promises are a guarantee for success.
Caleb believed that. I am asking that we do to.