How to build a hero
Heroes part I AND II
How to build a mentor
5/18/2008
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Rev Bob Govoni
Now turn with me to the book of Joshua
Joshua 14:12
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.”
The Old Testament covers 1500 years of Israel’s history. Much of that history included valiant battles by courageous soldiers.
Over the next several months I want us as a church to go through the Old Testament and learn about the Hero’s of the Bible and how the Lord would take plan ordinary people just like you and me, and have them do extraordinary things.
Today since we are a tv nation we know about super hero’s, We have Iron man, Batman and Robin. Spiderman, The Hulk and probably the most famous is Superman. Two Jewish boys were sitting around one day and came up with Superman, a man sent away to a strange place where he was found by another family and raised as he was one of them, as he grew older he grew to realize the he was sent to save the innocent. Now who dose that sound like to you. I want you to think about that. Moses “he was sent away, raised by another family and grew to realize he was to save the innocent, or Gods chosen people.
Today I want to start off with a true hero in every since of the word and that man would be Caleb son Jephunneh the Kenizzite. He earned his greatest fame as a spy who had confidence in the power of his God.
Caleb was 38 years old at the time of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. He belonged to the tribe of Judah. His cousin was Bezaleel, master craftsman of the Sanctuary of God, the Tabernacle. As we compare and contrast the differing skills of these two chosen men, we are reminded of the varied talents God has always supplied and used among his people of every Race.
Ok so what do we know about Caleb:
1. He was one of the twelve spies of
Israel...
a. Sent to spy out the land of Canaan - Num 13:1-2
b. Spending 40 days traversing the land - Num 13:21-25
c. Bringing back both good news and bad news
1) A land of milk and honey, as evidenced by the fruit - Num 13:27
2) A land occupied by strong people and giants - Num 13:28
d. One of the spies, Caleb, sought to reassure the people - Num 13:30
e. Yet ten of the spies overwhelmed the people with their bad report
- Num 13:31-14:4
f. Only Joshua and Caleb had confidence in the Lord - Num 14:6-9
g. But the people heeded the bad report, resulting in God's
condemnation
1) Israel was to spend 40 years of wandering in the wilderness
- Num 14:29-34
2) The ten spies died by a plague before the Lord - Num 14:36-37
3) Only Joshua and Caleb were spared - Num 14:38
2. The Lord spared Caleb because "he...has followed Me fully" – Num
Church What I want you to know is that out of what the entire nation of Israel and the 12 tribes failed to do, comes the account of one man who did what God told him to do and his name is Caleb. He was the oldest man left in Israel. Keep that in mind.
I want you to watch this; he is going to do what God told him to do. One man does it when an entire nation refused to do it.
The Question is “Can God people look successful to the world, when is actuality they are a failure to God”?
How about the church today? In most part the part looks pretty successful today. But are we successful in Gods eyes?
So Let look at Caleb, a man who was successful in Gods eyes.
I want to give you 2 points this morning.
1. One man following Gods guidance becomes an example to the nation. X2
Judah couldn’t do it, Benjamin couldn’t do it. Here is a man who can get it done!!!!!!
Now put your finger on Judges 1 and Joshua 14.
Moses had promised Hebron to Caleb, and he reminded them of that. So he drove out from there the 3 sons of Anak
Judges 1:20
20And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out thence the three sons of Anak.
Now before we go on I want to show 3 things about Caleb.
1. I want to show you were he came from Look with me in the book of
Joshua 14:6-8
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.
Now did you pick up on anything about Caleb there? Caleb is not a Jew, Not a Hebrew, Not even a descendent of the Hebrews, He’s a Kenizzites—Now who in a frogs tale are the Kenizzites? I’m glad you asked.
Turn with me to Genesis 15. We pick up, Abram falls into a deep sleep and God makes a covenant with him. When you have time please read Genesis ch 15. But God makes a covenant with Abram so lets pick up in verse 13
13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, and the chiggerbites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
I want to stop right there. Because most of you want to know, why would God be so cruel as to wipeout an entire people like the Canaanites. Out side of the wickedness and the filthiness, They were a unrepentant people, and God said I will wipe them out because they will have an influence on My people. Now hold on to that!!!!!
But God said He would give them time, He gave them Hundreds of years while His people was in bondage. God is giving the Canaanites Hundreds of years to repent ---They do not do it.
Now back to v17 17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.The Covenant 18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, and the chiggerbites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
Do you see Kenizzites? The Kenizzites were a descendent of Essau, and were a part of the tribes of Canaantes..
So what are you going to do back in Judges 1 and Joshua 14, We have a Canaanite man and God said all the Canaanites are going to be extinguished.
Church listen to me very carefully. Caleb is an example that God will except and forgive anybody that will come to Him. Regardless of who you are, regardless of what you have done, regardless of your background. Let me tell you something Jesus Christ died for your sins not His on Calvary’s Cross and He stand this morning and says, “WHO SO EVER WILL MAY COME TO ME!!!!! It’s all about Jesus church, and even in Caleb’s life you see Jesus there. Well Now that’s were he came from.
2. I want you to see what he was committed to:
Joshua 14:8 NIV
but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.
The KJ –wholly, well what is it?
It is Fully, it is wholly,It’s totally, it’s completely, it’s absolutely, with a whole heart, with a full heart. It means all of that.
Caleb said “ I follow God fully” Listen to what Moses said in
v9 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.’
Let’s look at v 14--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.
3 times Caleb says it of himself, Moses says it about Caleb. Then the Holy Spirit impresses Joshua to write that about Caleb as well.
That’s the Holy Spirits evaluation of Caleb. Here’s a man that said. I’m not going to follow Him partly, I’m not going to follow Him sometimes, and I’m not going to follow Him when it benefits me, or when it’s even convenient. He say’s I will follow God Fully, Totally, Completely, and that why 1 85 year old man WHOOPS THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF GIANTS!!!!!!!!, when the entire nation couldn’t do anything. Did you know? That’s all God needs, just 1 85 year old man. Don’t kid yourself, He doesn’t need all of us whinning and complaining all the time. He just needs 1 person who says, I’m obedient to the word of God.
Do you see what’s going on here? He’s committed to something Gold told him 45 years earlier. Not something new. Not off a fresh word. This is the only word. And it never changes.
Now what did he do?
Keep your finger in Joshua 14 and
Judges 1:20
20 And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said. Then he expelled from there the three sons of Anak.
Now to understand what he did, flip back to Joshua 14:15 15 And the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim).
Here’s an 85 year old man that says “God promised me that, I trust God!!! Get out of my way and I’ll take care of it.
Now don’t just read over the name of the city Kirjath Arba which is renamed Hebron. Kirjath—means city and Arba ---means 4
What some commentators believe is that there were 4 cities of the Anakim there. That is 4 cities that made up a metropolis or a metroplex. But Here is 1 85 year old man that goes up himself and wears them out. 4 cities that has grown together.
Were told back in Joshua that Arba was the name the proper noun of the father of the Anakim “the Giants”.
Now can you imagine this, 1 85 year old man that says listen all you kids. Get out of my way. I’m going up there to take on those Giants. And when I’m done I’ll help you clean up you mess.
Kirjath Arba –city of 4 is now name Hebron—alliance. What Caleb is saying here is this. You can have all the giants you want, but 1 old man in alliance with God can whoop yeah!!!
He became an example to the nation. Church we need an example now, we need 1 person who has enough faith in God to make a stand and be that example. And show all people and all nations what one person and God can do.
CONCLUSION
1. Let the example of Caleb inspire you to follow the Lord fully in your
life...
a. To follow Jesus all the days of your life
b. To follow Jesus with all your heart
c. To follow Jesus despite the hazards
2. Shall we, like Caleb, follow the Lord fully so we too may...
a. Have a useful life in service to the Lord?
b. Have a fulfilled life that is blessed by the Lord?
Don't forget - Caleb and Joshua were the only two (out of 603,550 men)
who survived the forty years of wilderness wanderings and entered the
promised land (Num 32:10-13). Their brethren did not enter Canaan, for
as the Lord said of them "they have not wholly followed Me".
How are we following the Lord? Like Caleb? Or like those who died in
the wilderness...? Before I close I want you to understand what it is:
I. TO FOLLOW THE LORD FULLY
A. TO FOLLOW JESUS ALL OUR DAYS...
1. Such was the case with Caleb
a. He followed the Lord in the wilderness
b. He followed the Lord in land of Canaan, 45 years later
- Josh 14:8-10
2. Yet many do not
a. Like Lot's wife, they turn back - Gen 19:26
b. Like the Galatians, they are easily bewitched - Ga 3:1
3. What of us who follow Jesus today?
a. Shall we follow Him in our youth? - cf. 1 Ti 4:12
b. Shall we follow Him in our old age? - cf. Ti 2:1-5; Psa 92:
12-15
-- Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, all the days of our life?
Church I want to make a challenge to you. I want to urge you. This world needs Hero’s the Churches needs mentors. Would you step up to be that hero or that mentor? All it take is just one. But God will take more.
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