Starting with Caleb: "I'll take that one!

As the passage begins, Eleazar, Joshua, and the heads of tribes begin about the task of distributing the land. It’s not a glamorous and exciting job like leading the people in the battle, but nevertheless it is God’s will. The passage begins with a subtle reminder that a.) no command of God is trivial, and b.) much of our lives of faith consist of the normal, moment-by-moment opportunities of unexciting obedience.

Then, Caleb steps forward as an example of ongoing faith. From his actions, we are encouraged in how we, too, can press forward in genuine faith.

True faith remembers God’s word.

As Joshua and Eleazar prepare to distribute the land west of the Jordan River, Caleb comes forward with a reminder of God’s promise.

Josh.14:6 “The descendants of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord promised Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.”

Josh.14:9 “On that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have followed the Lord my God completely.’”

True faith recalls God’s works.

Caleb recounts how God has kept him alive these past forty-five years. God’s faithfulness to Caleb in the past gives him assurances that God will continue to be faithful as Caleb faithfully moves forward.

Caleb purposed to trust God completely (Josh.14:8, 9). Because of this focused and single-minded purpose, he saw God do wonderful things and grant him amazing strength and vitality to continue serving the Lord.

Strength to stand firm: Josh.14:7-8 “I was forty years old when Moses the Lord’s servant sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land, and I brought back an honest report. My brothers who went with me caused the people to lose heart, but I followed the Lord my God completely.”

Strength to continue on: Josh.14:11-12 “I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then. Now give me this hill country the Lord promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised.””

Consider for a moment Caleb’s dedication to the Lord:

Even though ten spies came back and said there was no way Israel could take the land, Caleb remained committed to God’s purposes.

Even though Caleb wandered for thirty-eight years in the wilderness for a sin he did NOT commit, Caleb remained faithful to God’s will.

Even though Caleb was not Israel’s leader, despite the fact that his character was second-to-none, Caleb followed Joshua’s leadership. Because the book we’re studying was named after him, we may not think this a big deal, but consider for a moment how you’d feel if you were passed over for a promotion even though you were just as qualified as the candidate who received it.

Through all of this, Caleb says the Lord has sustained him every step of the way, and it’s this remembrance of YHWH’s provision that allows him to face the challenge that lies ahead. Which brings us to our third point:

True faith rejoices in God’s challenge.

Even at eighty-five years young, Caleb has strength in his body, trust in God, and does not back down from the Anakim. As a result, Kiriath-arba is renamed Hebron as Caleb takes the land.

Remember who the Anakim were: the giants in the land that caused ten of the original twelve spies to fear going into the Land. The giants. Did I mention that part? That terrified ten of the original spies. Did I say that? Well, they live on the mountain that Caleb wants — Josh.14:12 “Now give me this hill country the Lord promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised.””

At eighty-five years old, Caleb isn’t backing down from the challenge. If God said it, he’s going to trust and move forward in obedience. That’s what true faith looks like. Just think about this:

By faith the size of a mustard seed a believer can tell a mountain to go jump on the sea and it will obey.

By faith Peter called a lame man to get up and walk.

By faith Peter also, if only for a couple of steps, kept his eyes on Jesus and walked on water.

By faith God meets all of our needs.

By faith we persevere through trials and become more like Jesus in the process.

And by faith through grace we are raised from death to life.

And by faith, Caleb trusts the LORD will be with him and he will drive the Anakim out as the LORD promised.

In a culture that ever-increasingly looks for the next get-rich-quick scheme that requires as little work as possible…if it means spilling hot coffee on myself in the McDonald’s drive-thru so that I can sue because they didn’t warn me my hot coffee would actually be…hot…Caleb embraces the challenge before him through faith. And before we think that Caleb had some “Macho Man Randy Savage” prideful and boastful arrogance, his confidence lies completely in the Lord.