Joshua 14:6-14, "Then the children of Judah
came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said
unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God
concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the
servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I
brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that
went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the
LORD my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy
feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever,
because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, the LORD
hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD
spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the
wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I
am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength
was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for
thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great
and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive
them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son
of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance
of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he
wholly followed the LORD God of Israel."
Joshua
the book may well be a parallel of the Christian life!
When
we look at some of the obstacles that had to be overcome we may be able to draw
a parallel to the conflicts in the Christian life!
Israel
had to claim the land piece by piece.
We
have to claim our victory piece by piece
Israel
had to fight to possess the promised possessions
We
are engaged in a constant warfare to secure our heritage
You
have been redeemed but you need to possess your possessions.
Deuteronomy 1:34-36, "And the LORD heard the
voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, Surely there shall not
one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to
give unto your fathers, Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and
to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children,
because he hath wholly followed the LORD.
Look
at this text where Caleb reminds Joshua “And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely
the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy
children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God." Joshua
14:9,
The
promise was made to Caleb to give him the land that he trod on. For 45 years
Caleb lived with that promise from God.
It
was the vision before him constantly. He believed God. He never doubted and
never turned back This is evidenced in
his statement to Joshua.
THE OBSTACLES HE
FACED (IN ADDITION TO THE PERILS OF THE JOURNEY).
1. AGE: He was now 85
years old. The promise was made to him since he was 40. He waited for 45 more
years for the promise to be accomplished. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the
coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of
the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter
rain. 8
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord
draweth nigh. Jas 5:7-8
2. ENEMY: He was taking
on no ordinary enemy. These were giants who lived in high walled cities.
However he saw them as bread. Similarly our enemies are not ordinary flesh and
blood "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph 6:12
3. TASK: His enemy
occupied a mountain. Fighting uphill against seasoned warriors can be more than
enough for an ordinary man. Caleb said, “Give me this mountain..!for he knew
that "...in
all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved
us." Rom 8:37
4. ENVIRONMENT: He was in an assembly of unbelievers and had
to live and associate with them every day for 40 years until a new generation
sprang up. But he was undaunted and enduring and just kept on going and
going...He did not find another church, neither did he branch off on his own to
fulfill 'his destiny' like so many today who feel they do not need the church
because they are bigger than the body of Christ.
WHAT KEPT HIM
GOING?
1. A VISION...the land that
he had seen. It was the vision that kept Noah going, It was the vision that
kept Abraham going, It was the vision that kept Moses going, It was the vision
that kept Paul going! When we catch the vision we will not be deterred by
ordinary everyday human troubles and the storms of this life but we will soar
in our spirit, like the eagle, above the storm keeping our eyes on the distant
goal and never looking back with regret to what we have left behind. Remember "Where
there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is
he." Pro 29:18
2. A PROMISE...from the mouth
of God. What you stepped upon will be yours.Remember "...his divine power
hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the
knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by
these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption
that is in the world through lust." 2Pe 1:3-4
3. A COMMITMENT...he wholly
followed the Lord "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths." Pro 3:5-6 We can continue "Being confident of this
very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ:" Php 1:6
HIS COMMITMENT
(WHOLLY FOLLOWED THE LORD) WAS BASED ON HIS:
1. COMPANY (Joshua who
kept Moses’ company). Who we associate with and the conversation we indulge in
and enjoy can well determine our faith and staying power and ultimate our
destiny! Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1Co 15:33
2. CONFIDENCE And
Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and
possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Num 13:30
3. CONCERN Num
14:6-9 And Joshua the son of Nun, and
Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent
their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the
children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is
an exceeding good land. 8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring
us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only
rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they
are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us:
fear them not.
4. CHARACTER Num
14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he
had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into
the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
5. CONFESSION Jos
14:7-12 Forty years old was I when Moses
the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I
brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that
went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD
my God. 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely
the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy
children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10 And
now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five
years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of
Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and
five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in
the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength
now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
12 Now therefore give me this
mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how
the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the
LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
Remember that
even though he had the promise he still had to make a stand and fight for it
when he came to claim what God had given him. We have to remind ourselves that
we are engaged in warfare to take what God has promised us. The enemy is
reluctant to let go! We must be determined to hold on and press forward for we
have a promise…HIS promise and “…all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the
glory of God by us.” 2Co 1:20 Like
Solomon said “Blessed be the
LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he
promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he
promised by the hand of Moses his servant.”
1Ki 8:56
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