Joshua 14:1-15

Joshua is now starting the process of dividing the land on the west side of the Jordan River.  Moses had commanded him to do this division by lots and that is what he is about to do.  Joshua was very careful to do exactly as the Lord had commanded him to do and as he had directed him to do through Moses.  As leaders it is important for us to recognize that we are given a task to accomplish by God and we are to lead the people of God towards doing that work.  We do not have the right or the freedom to make up our own job description; that is the work of God.  Our job is to follow and obey Him.  The remainder of this chapter is dedicated to the beautiful story of Caleb.

CALEB RECALLS HIS OWN OBEDIENCE: Before Joshua divides up the land Caleb comes to him and reminds him of the promise that Moses had made to him when he had come back with Joshua after spying out the land.  Caleb and Joshua had been the only ones to trust God and come back with a good report.  They had urged the people to obey God, but the people refused and rebelled.  The result had been that for the next forty years all the people wandered in the wilderness until the entire generation except for Joshua and Caleb had died.  Caleb had been obedient and as a result he had been given a promise that he would receive the land that he had gone to spy.  God is always faithful to reward those who are obedient.  We need never to worry about the value of God’s rewards or His faithfulness to grant them.  Our only concern must be to be obedient to His command because we trust Him fully.

CALEB REVEALS GOD’S FAITHFULNESS: Caleb has spent the last forty years of his life wandering in the wilderness because of the sins of the rest of his nation.  Unfortunately, we are often caught up in the consequences of the sins of others.  However, in the midst of this hardship, God has been so very faithful.  God had supernaturally preserved Caleb.  He was forty years old when he went to spy out the land the first time.  He had then wandered for another forty years and then he spent the last five years fighting for the land in which they now were dwelling.  Caleb’s testimony is that as a man of eighty five years of age he still has the same strength as he had when he was forty.  God had been faithful not only to preserve his life but also his strength.  God’s faithfulness is without end and He can demonstrate it in amazing and awesome ways.  He is completely worth of all of our trust.

CALEB RECEIVES GOD’S PROMISES: Just as Moses had promised, Caleb is given the land of Hebron where they had gone to spy and were they had seen the giants.  It was the best of the land of Israel and it was the hardest land to conquer for there were still giants in the land but Caleb had full confidence in God’s ability to give him the strength to drive the giants out even at his advanced age.  The best things for us are usually the most difficult for us to accomplish.  We must be willing to trust God and take Him at His word.  We must be passionate about wanting the very best that God has to offer and be willing to trust Him to do great things through us no matter how big or difficult the obstacles might be.