“I Want That Mountain”
Joshua 14:6-13
You may have heard the news that Sir Edmund Hilary, the first white man to ever scale to the peak of Mt. Everest, passed away on Friday at the age of 89. He was the one you might recall, when asked why he wanted to climb Mt Everest in 1953, was reputed to have said, “Because its there!” Dr. Elmer Towns, my professor who taught me this week at Liberty Seminary, had an on-going friendship with Edmund for many years. One thing that most people did not know about him was that he had a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ- and he never actually said “Because its there!” He actually said “I did it for the glory of God.” The press of course, not wanting to give credit where credit is due, changed the story. Edmund Hilary had a vision of what God wanted him to do in his life, and to climb that peak, he could scale anything in life that came his way.
Today we are going to go back to the book of Joshua- back where we left off at thanksgiving. AT that time we left Joshua defeating the Amalekites, and even Balaam got trampled in the victory of Israel’s final conquest. We saw that on the day that the sun stood still and how God turned a defeat into a victory at Ai. Before that we saw the walls of Jericho falling down flat and how Joshua lead the children of Israel across the Jordan on dry ground. We even saw how God transformed a prostitute into the great-great-great grandmother of David. Today, in chapter 14, most of the Israelites are taking possession of the land and settling down. There’s a little mopping up resistance by insurgents here and there but basically the Land of Promise is cleared of her enemies. Here we find a senior saint who is taking possession of his territory, along side of his younger comrades at arms- his name is Caleb.
I. We are as strong as our faith will allow ourselves to be. (V.11)
Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re too old- or young, to do what you know God would have you to do. Caleb was 85 years old when he finally got back to Hebron. He had seen this mountain 40 years before, and thought, when I get done killing the giants, that’s where I’m going, stake out my claim, build me a log cabin, plant me a garden, get me a wife, settle down, and have a family. That was the dream Caleb had for the place until the other ten spies he and Joshua had gone with were too afraid of the giants and the people of the land. Caleb had great faith then, but God punished the entire nation and Caleb was not able to get the mountain then. I’m sure he was disappointed. Disappointment is very difficult to deal with. Disappointment is something that may shatter our dreams. Sometimes people get so discouraged with disappointment that they want to give up- that they quit. Their youthful enthusiasm dies. I know some who are so full of faith and enthusiasm- its amazing what a few short years in the ministry will do to it. Its true that people let us down, people discourage us, people disappoint us, but Caleb never let them do that to his faith. Notice he says, “I am 85 years old and I am just as strong now as I was the first time I ever saw this place.” Was he as strong physically at 85? Possibly- but we can’t deny that Caleb had a heart of a man half his age. He was ready to take it all on and conquer a mountain, when most men his age are ready to hit the casket. This was no easy task. The mountains were where the Canaanite resurgents fled after they were defeated. They could have hid up in those hills for months or even years. Caleb didn’t care. Paul says to Timothy in Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. I Tim 4:12 in the same way- don’t let anyone despise you of your age, either. We have a culture that doesn’t value old age or respect. About the only thing they respect is technology and gadgets. My friend, don’t ever let anybody point out your limitations and try to hold you back. Your’e never too old for God to use you. We have some beloved senior saints in this church that are dear to all of us. They are some of the most progressive and remarkable people I know. Why if it weren’t for them doing the work in this church, we wouldn’t have much going on, I tell you that. We have much to learn from them. Don’t let anyone tell you can’t do anything. Caleb was old, but there was a lot of fight in him. He wasn’t going to the rocking chair. Don’t tell yourself that you are too old and set in your ways. What’s more, Caleb’s faith was just as vibrant- even more so. Caleb fought a lot of battles in the journey to the Promised Land. There was much too much to do to sit in a rocking chair.
He had learned a lot. One thing about his wisdom that we need to learn from Caleb- that I’m having to learn more and more like Caleb:
II. Before you climb a mountain be sure that you will choose the one you are willing to die on. (V.12)
Caleb learned that there was one mountain worth dying on- Hebron- the one he would stay on and live out the rest of his days there. What I find interesting about Caleb was his commitment to the truth in verse 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. In other words, the other spies incited fear in the hearts of the people of Israel. Their words were heard above the mouths of Caleb and Joshua who were crying out- yes its true there are giants in the land, but we can take them on! Fighting them will only make us stronger! They would not listen to them. Disappointed, they followed Israel to wonder for 40 more years. They did not carry the day, but they did not insist on their way. Love is like that. 1 Corinthians 13:5 Love It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.” Notice Caleb did not seem bitter about it- he knew that God would allow him to have it, eventually. "No man who puts hand first to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God!"
Ever notice that when we are young we think that everything is essential, everything is important, everything is such a big deal! We know the cost of everything and the value of nothing! We think we know all the answers. We’re more judgmental, more critical of others, have less patience with people. But as you observe older people- most of them, anyway- the things that used to upset them doesn’t tend to upset them anymore. The things that used to embarrass me or hurt my feelings or make me upset 20 years ago don’t seem to affect me that way. Less trivial things don’t matter, which helps me to give greater focus to the things that really do matter. How do we get that way? By growing in grace. 2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The more you are growing in Jesus, the more your eyes are opened to the things that are really important, what really matters. Some one once said that “not many mountains are worth fussing over, few mountains are worth fighting over, and even fewer mountains are worth dying on.”
The mountain Caleb chose to die on was Hebron. Caleb might have postponed his dream of a mountain, but that did not mean he brushed it off, either. Look at the commitment he had in getting it. The Hebrew Hebron means the “friend of God.” It was the same mountain where Abraham buried Sarah when she died, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are also buried there. Caleb himself wanted to be buried there. It was truly the mountain Caleb chose to die on. There are some things that are worth dying for- essentials. Essentials for life, essentials for faith. But not everything is essential when it comes to getting along with people. I heard two deacons engaged in a heated discussion, going at it over the sound system like two grumpy old men do. Roy (not his real name) was a retired cameraman from NBC Nightly news, so when it came to electronic equipment, he knew his stuff. John, on the other hand, was a musician, and knew the kind of volume he wanted. Roy asked, “John why is it you insist on doing things your way all the time?” John said, Roy I don’t insist I do it my way. If you want to do it your way, go ahead. You do it your way, and I’ll do it God’s way!” Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31- I die daily! He died to himself, his ambitions, the things he had planned and hoped for- many times he had seen the stuff he had sweated and fretted over come to naught. In Hebrews 11th chapter we read: 3 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.-- 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. That better place, the place that Caleb found, was that spot God had prepared for him. How blessed he was that he had lived to see it when so many did not get to. Caleb found his mountain, and it was worth it. You see, Caleb already knew the promise God had given him years before: v.9 ’The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. You put your best efforts into the things that really matter.
III. The best way to conquer your enemies, and to be victorious over your critics is this- outlive them! (V.8)
And when Caleb looked at Hebron and looked around, and went down to Joshua and the council and said: “You remember when we were here the last time and what God said to me then? Well, Joshua, I’ll take my mountain, now, thank you very much! The other spies who had gone with Caleb and Joshua, who said they would never get to this place, were gone. They were no where around. They were dead! Nobody was around who said he couldn’t do it. Why wait around and let somebody talk him out of it.
There was a man in the same church I mentioned earlier, his name was Ed. When I knew Ed, he was approaching 100 years old. He was a navy veteran of World War I. He actually lived to be 101, born in the year 1900. I asked Ed, "Sir, what is the greatest thing about being 100 years old. With a smile and a gleam in his eye, Ed said “No peer pressure!”
That’s one of our problems at times as people of God. When the Calebs and Joshuas and other men and women of faith see the vision for something- usually its going to involve money, time, and in Israel’s case- people-the more people who get involved will sometimes work against the vision instead of supporting it. Just like what happened 40 years before this. The other ten spies treated Joshua and Caleb like they didn’t know anything, like they weren’t being realistic, like they didn’t have any common sense. Sure Caleb knew that some people might have to die to occupy the land, but in comparison to the alternative, it would have been a phenomenal return on their investment.
My friend, don’t ever let anybody else make a decision for you about what you believe in your heart God is leading you to do. Other people can only live their dreams, not yours. You give your dreams to somebody else, and they will probably stomp on them every time. Don’t trust anybody else for them- only trust God for them.
President Ronald Reagan one time told the story of when he was a teenager, he needed a new pair of boots made. In those days, you couldn’t just go to a shoe store, you went to the shoemaker shop. The cobbler asked the young man- “Do you want blunt end toes or pointed end toes?” Reagan shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t care, whatever you think.” When the boots were ready, Reagan examined his new boots and looked at the toes. One of them was flat, the other boot was pointed. Reagan said, “How can I wear a pair of boots like this?” The cobbler said, “You said you didn’t care.” From that day on, Ronald Reagan said “If you don’t make a decision about the things that matter the most to you, somebody else is going to make them for you.” If you live like nothing matters, then don’t be disappointed when you see other people fulfilling what they believe God is leading them to do.
Like Caleb, Jesus was undeterred in his purpose to get to His mountain. Only His mountain was not Hebron. Jesus mountain was Mount Calvary. In Matthew 16, 21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Do you want this mountain badly enough? What things in life really matter to you? What mountains in your life are really worth dying for?
