Give Me This Mountain

A. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and for patriotism. For remembering those who have fallen in battle, for remembering all loved ones who have died.

B. We are going to be in the book of Joshua this morning, a “Book of Battles”

1. After Moses, Joshua became the leader

2. The land was divided among the tribes of Israel

3. The area given would have to be conquered and developed

C. Caleb, remember him? His response was “Give me this mountain.”

1. He asks for the most difficult task. (v. 12)

2. What motivated Caleb to press on to higher ground? Well, lets see.

Joshua 14:6–14 NKJV

6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. 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 back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.

He Remembers God’s Promise to Him (vv. 6-7)

Joshua 14:6–7 NKJV

6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. 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 back word to him as it was in my heart.

A. So who is this Caleb? He was a spy.

Numbers 13:14 NKJV

14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi;

1. Sent by Moses 40 years earlier to spy out the land.

2. The fruit of the land, flowing with milk and honey

3. But Caleb saw beyond this to Hebron, where Abram met God

B. Caleb: “We are well able to overcome it” ()

1. The majority of the spies saw great giants and a little God.

2. Caleb had a great God and saw little giants

3. The majority were problem-conscious, but Caleb was power-conscious, God’s power

C. Caleb will now stand on the promises

1. He will never forget them

2. You will never find him part of the grumbling crowd.

3. He is on his way to this better land all through life.

Caleb Remembers His Own Commitment to the Lord (vv. 8-9)

Joshua 14:8–9 NKJV

8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’

A. “I wholly followed the Lord my God...”

1. Reminded of the time of his full surrender

2. A man of God, total dedication, commited

B. Remembers how he had stood apart from the crowd.

1. Do you remember a day of victory?

2. What about the day you came to Jesus?

3. What about a time of full surrender?

C. Let’s not be like the ones in

Revelation 2:1–7 NKJV

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

D. Have we left our first love?

Caleb Remembers God’s Faithfulness to Him (vv. 10-11)

Joshua 14:10–11 NKJV

10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.

josh 14.1

A. God has kept me alive

1. Have you thanked God for keeping you alive?

2. Except for Joshua, all the rest had died

B. I am now eighty-five years old

1. Wow, some senior citizen! Go Caleb!

2. He’s not resting on his laurels

C. God had cared for him up to that hour

D. By God’s grace, He’s brought us to where we are. How will we respond?

Conclusion:

A. Now, therefore, Give me this mountain!

1. Give me your best

2. Give me your toughest task

B. Remembering should challenge us

1. Lincoln at Gettysburg

2. Accept the challenge

C. Move on to higher ground