Josh (02-08-09)

Feb 8, 2009

“Caring for the Next Generation”   Josh 15:13-19

Read            Josh 15:13-19            Pray

In   Chs 15 thru 19   we shall see more                                  giving out the inheritances  /  land                                            to the tribes that settled on                                                      the west side of the Jordan River                                    

( a study of each chapter .. we see that )                                       

·       Ch 15    deals with Judah portion

·       Ch 16    Ephraim portion

·       Ch 17    Manasseh portion

·       Ch 18    Benjamin portion

·       Ch 19    Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar       

                    Asher, Naphtali & Dan [1]

As Dr McGee & others point out

as important as this inheritance was                                               it has no great significance to us today                                                    therefore  ..  as they do in their commentaries                                                                             we too  ..  shall lift out only the high points                             that minister to us .. as we study God’s Word

Caleb is a member of the tribe of Judah                                                       &  in   Ch 14:12    we saw that                                                he requested the land of Hebron                                                  which was mountainous & Anakim lived there                                          (  who were  …  the giants in that land  )                              he wanted   “to drive them out”   once & for all

We also noted in   Ch 14: 8-14   that Caleb / 85  was still a man of great strength                                            & we surmised that his strength                                   was founded upon his total dependence                   upon his God  ..  “whom he followed fully”

(  see:  14: 8-9  &  v14  )

And as we read  ..  from   v13-19   we see                                       that Caleb drove the giants out of the land                              just as God had commanded him                                     v14   ( the 3 sons of Anak  /  the giant )                                               

From this point forward   ( Ch 15-17 )                                                             we shall read a sad account of Israel’s faith                     (  or should I say  ..  their lack of faith  )                                                                           as we shall find out that Caleb                                                   was the only one who succeeded                                                              in driving out the enemy   ( 15:14 )

All the others made a poor showing                                           of trusting their God  ..  in not allowing Him                                    to drive out the enemy for them                                               (  as over & over again we read  )                                                           “they were not able to drive them out”                                   (  see:   15:63  /  16:10  /  17:12-13  /  & more  )

You see  ..  the only one who did                                           as God commanded  ..  & became victorious                              was the only one we see that                                             “wholly followed his God”  /  Caleb

If we learn nothing else today                                                             let’s live out  ..  & learn this truth   . . .                                                                 

To become a people who live a life full  . . .                                             full of seeking our Lord & Savior                                              in all that we do .. & in all that we are                                                        

Col 3:23-24    ( also   Josh 1:5-9 )

23)  whatever you do .. do your work heartily                             as for the Lord rather than for men

24)  knowing that from the Lord                                                   you will receive the reward of the inheritance                                                     it is the Lord Christ whom you serve

THE lesson we must learn as believers is this so many of us are guilty of not driving out        the enemies / sin of our Lord within our lives                                 & we fail to put our foot on sins neck                                                 & kill it as we ought

I have always sensed that failure                                                 to drive out the enemy  /  sin within my life                                                     is always due to my failure                                            of not wholly following my Lord & Savior                                                         

Listen .. not to deal with sin will eventually                                    drain each of us of our strength & energy

As David confesses   in   Ps 32:1-5

1)  how blessed is he whose transgression                                 is forgiven .. whose sin is covered

2)  how blessed is the man to whom                                              the Lord does not impute iniquity

& in whose spirit there is no deceit

3)  listen now / when I kept silent about my sin                                                     my body wasted away

thru my groaning all day long

4)  for day & night Your hand was heavy upon me

( note ) .. my vitality was drained away                                              as with the fever heat of summer   

5)  I acknowledged my sin to You

& my iniquity I did not hide

I said .. I will confess my transgressions                             to the Lord & ( what )                                                    You forgave the guilt of my sin   

Listen now  ..  absolute triumph is achieved only in response to our                                                 complete obedience to Christ  /  ie Caleb

Now we are to observe something else                          about Caleb  ..  & it is the blessings                                 that he desires to give away                                      to the next generation

In this portion of scripture   v16-19                        we see that Caleb took care of his daughter                  & in the process  /  caring for                                        the younger  /  next generation

As Caleb gave to his daughter & her husband                              a portion of the inheritance                            that God had given to him  ..   v19                                          “the upper & lower springs”

the blessings of his life overflowed to others

Oh .. to go into our older ages                                                        with the ability & desire                                                                to pass along to others the grace of our God                                                                  that was so generously given to us by Him

To be able to teach to the next generation                                 the blessings & victory that comes to those                                who fully walk with Christ   . . .                                                  not necessarily with only our words                                               but by our actions as well

(  now the question again is  )

How did Caleb live such a wonderful life                                      how was he  ..  a powerful warrior                                                          & also  ..  a loving man too                                              ( somewhat like another warrior & poet / David )

what was  ..  Caleb’s secret                                              last week  ..  we saw it was his desire                                                              “to fully follow his God”

( but watch this & we’ll find another secret )

When Caleb was 40 yrs old he saw                                     “The Promised Land”  ..  & in it a place                                called Hebron  ..  on the mountain side                                      & guarded by giants

(  what was so special about Hebron  )

It was Hebron where Abraham pitched his tent                                  & where God spoke to him  ..  face to face                                               Hebron  =  fellowship / love / communion

Listen now  …  Hebron was the place                                                that Caleb cherished                                                                       & it is the place where all of us must seek

AND  ..  I can’t take you to it  ..  no one can                                                    you have to get there on your own

AND  ..  it is a rugged place  ..  on mt. sides                        & guarded by giants  ..  & satan doesn’t want you anywhere near this place & he will                        keep you from it al all cost

You see  ..  when satan sees you                                          wanting  /  desiring to get to Hebron                                                     (  that place of communion with your God  )                                                & satan sees that you will be satisfied                                                    with nothing less                                                             than your love & communion with your God                                  you can bet that you will be in for                                                a horrendous  battle                                               (  against giants & mountains  )

Caleb’s secret  ..  as we certainly saw                              was to fully walk with his God                                & to accept nothing less  . . .                                                               he desired to get near  /  next to                                                                                     the communion  /  fellowship  /  love of God                                      which in return  ..  gave him his strength                          & also his caring for next generation / others

Caleb desired to walk with his God                                      face to face  /  in communion with Him                                                                    all the days of his life   

And he did battle  ..  against all enemies                               until Hebron was his resting place  /  home                                                 (  that place where he was next to his God  )                                           he could have taken the easier path to God                            as so many folks do  ..                                                (  giving God  ..  your left over’s  )                                           but he decided that he wanted nothing less                                           than all of God  …  all the time

(  what say you  )                                                   

Is Hebron what you want                                                       or will you settle for 2nd best

Verses:

Josh 14:8-14

Josh 15:63  /  16:10  /  17:12-13 

Col 3:23-24

Ps 32:1-5

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[1]McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:30). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.