The next person in the bible
I want to write about is Caleb. Caleb means dog, wholehearted, faith,
faithful, or devoted.
I use to go hunting with my
dad. My dad use to train dogs and was well known for his training. The dogs
were very loyal and faithful to their master. They would stay on a trail even
if it meant to the death. Something is telling me that Caleb had this same
heart and loyalty to his master.
When I was led to write on
faith at the time I had no plans to write on Caleb. As God led me to this it is
always amazing what God speaks to my heart. I can only write what I’m given
everyone may view differently.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Substance - that
which stands under, firm foundation, real or actual existence. Nature of a
person, steadfast, courage or assurance.
Evidence - proof,
prove, tested, or conviction. Evidence is not on human feelings. Evidence is a
conviction in a persons heart that what God is going to do exists. It is a
condition in the human heart that is real to God.
Faith is not in
natural human faith. Faith in God is supernatural. A person can have faith in
what God and His Word says and is going to do. God is sovereign, faithful, and
true. God is going to accomplish His plans and will regardless whether we are
able to see it or have complete understanding. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not
by sight.
Caleb is first mentioned
in Numbers 13:6. God led His people to the promise land after He freed them from
Egypt. A land He had prepared for them and was giving to them. God commanded
Moses to send a leader from each of the 12 tribes to scout out the land. Caleb
was from the tribe of Judah the son of Jephunneh. The 12 scouted the land for
40 days and this is what the Word says Numbers 13:23 & 27-29 "Then they came
to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of
grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where
you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless
the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large;
moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. The
Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the
Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along
the banks of the Jordan.” The people who were occupying their land the promise
land God gave them were giants. A very large race of people, trained warriors.
It says that Caleb was the one to speak of the 12 to take the land at once. 10
of the scouts convinced the people not to go and caused fear in all the people
because of the giants they would face. It says Joshua the future leader of
Israel and Caleb tore their clothes in great distress and sorrow and tried to
get the people to act upon God’s promises. The whole community wanted to stone
Joshua and Caleb. The Lord was very disappointed in the lack of faith in all
the people. He killed the 10 scouts that led the people to have fear. They had
to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and only Joshua and Caleb could enter
the promise land with a new generation.
Being
apart of this must have been a very difficult situation for everyone. The land
and life they could have had but was never able to enter. Spending the rest of
their life knowing they could have had this land. The frustration of Joshua and
Caleb believing and trying to get the people, I think around 2 million to
respond.
The
big thing I learn while writing this is what took place between Caleb’s heart
and God. Caleb’s faith in God and the conviction in his heart regardless of the
circumstances and outcome. Way more important then what people see and what
they think or circumstances or outcome it is always about God and our heart and
intimacy and relationship with Him. God always looks at the heart of man.
God
said this of Caleb in Numbers 14:24 "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different
spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he
went, and his descendants shall inherit it."
Later when they were
allowed to enter the promise land they divided the land among the people and Caleb
was given his portion of land he requested that was promised to him 40 years
earlier. Joshua 14:6-12 “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. 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. Nevertheless my brethren
who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed
the Lord my God. 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.’ 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. 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. 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.”
To me Caleb is a very
unusual person or story. The faith he had in God and his heart. It said he was
just as strong in the Lord at age 85 after 40 years in the wilderness then when
he scouted the promise land. I think he could have become bitter in his heart
and weak in his faith during the 40 years in the wilderness. I think because of
his faith in the Lord and his conviction in his heart the Lord stayed strong
inside him to help him finish strong.
Romans 5:1-5 Faith Triumphs in Trouble. “Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also
we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope
of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory
in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance,
character; and character, hope. Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
I don’t think I
have meet anyone quite like Caleb. But while I was writing this I know that I
have seen this type of faith, heart and spirit that has came out in many people
around me at different times.
