A REAL DESIRE TO ACCOMPLISH A BIG TASK--Joshua 14:6-15
Proposition: Every one of God’s children who is an overcomer has a real desire to accomplish a big task of being all that we can be for our Lord.
Objective: My purpose is to challenge God’s people to become overcomers in God’s kingdom and be victorious in one’s spiritual life.
INTRODUCTION:
Illus: "Amen, Pastor!"--During a fired-up sermon, the spirit impressed a great illustration on a local pastor. He said, "Our church needs to get back to the basics. We need to become like a baby, and learn to get up on our hands and knees and crawl like we’ve never CRAWLED before. This church needs to CRAWL before the Lord." As the pastor paused, from the back of the sanctuary came a voice crying out, "Let ’er CRAWL pastor, let ’er CRAWL." The pastor continued, "Then we need to work on studying the Word & strengthening ourselves to where we can STAND & be strong in our faith. We need to STAND for the LORD." From the back of the sanc-tuary the voice replied back, "Let ’er STAND pastor, let ’er STAND." Encouraged even more, the pastor continued his illustration by saying, "The church needs to then take one step at a time, putting one foot in front of the other until we can WALK with the Lord the way we should. This church needs to WALK for the Lord." From the back of the sanctuary the voice replied back, "Let ’er WALK pastor, let ’er WALK."
By now the Pastor was fully inspired by the encouraging Brother. Spurred on by the response the pastor continued with enthusiasm, "The church needs to then get into a stride where we can RUN for God. But first, it’s going to take each & every member of this church, each & every one of you, to join in. You’re each going to have to make a commitment to tithe, you’re each going to make a commitment to study the Word daily, you’re each going to have to commit to pray daily, & you’re each going to have to commit to assembling here as part of this body each and every time the church doors are open. Then & only then, can this church RUN for the Lord." After an exceptionally long & thoughtful pause the voice cried out from the back of the sanc-tuary with a somewhat disappointed tone, "Let ’er CRAWL Pastor, Let ’er CRAWL."
Picture with me the background: God’s people were in bondage for over 400 years. They cried out to God to deliver them. God called Moses to be the leader & the Lord led them through the waters of the Red Sea & then they journey through the wilderness until they reach Kadesh-Barnea on the southern border of the Promised Land. God told Moses to send 12 spies into the land & check it out. Caleb was one of the spies that went on the mission. When they returned 10 said, “We cannot take it. You see that these 10 men saw the giants, they had little faith in what God could do. Yet there were two (Caleb and Joshua) who said, “We can take the land.” This passage centers on a man called Caleb. Yes, they saw the giants but they saw and trusted a big God. Caleb was there when God divided the waters of the Red Sea, provide the manna and the quails as well as water from the rock. The sad story is that Israel God had a land flowing with milk and honey prepared for them. Yes, it would be a land of giants and a land of battles, but it was theirs if they wanted it. Now, as you know - Israel chose to wander in the wilderness. For 45 years Caleb has been waiting for his inheritance. So, at the first opportunity, he approaches Joshua and asks for his share. Evidently, the spies had been sent to different areas in the land, and Caleb had checked out Hebron. Moses had promised him that he could have this land, and now Caleb is asking Joshua to fulfill the promise of Moses. Our prayer ought to be “Lord, give me something great, something hard, something difficult & the grace, faith, & courage so that there is no doubt that it is You who is at work in & thru me.”
I. AN UNFAILING COURAGE THAT FACES OPPOSI-TION (vvs. 6-8a, Numbers 13:33#2) “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight”— Numbers 13-14--Ten spies report to Moses that the inhabitants of Canaan are too fearsome, but Caleb, along with Joshua, says, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
1. The process (v. 6a) “Then the children of Judah came to Joshua”--These included the kinsmen of Caleb & perhaps other leading men of the tribe. Caleb is described as the Kenizzite (14:14; Num. 32:12). The Kenizzites were a non-Israelite group descended from Esau through Kenaz (Gen. 15:19; 36:11, 15, 42). Some had associated themselves with Judah at an early stage (Num. 13:6).
2. The promise (v. 6b) “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses”— Caleb reminded his friend Joshua of the promise Moses had made to them 45 years before (Num. 14:24, 30; Deut. 1:34-36), that they would survive the years of wandering & receive their inheritance in the land. This promise gave Joshua & Caleb joy & courage as they endured years of wandering & waiting. These came before Joshua, with Caleb, in order to make it manifest that they supported Caleb’s claim, to be secured in the possessions promised him by Moses before the general allotment should be made to the tribes.
3. The procedure (v. 7) “I was 40 years old when Moses…sent me …to spy out the land”— Caleb reminds Joshua that he was fearless in giving an answer that was according to the best of his convictions, w/o fear of man or regard to the favor of the people. Neither fear nor favor influenced him on the occasion; he told what he believed to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Illus: Christopher Columbus was the most daring of all adventurers was. He was sailing where no man had ever sailed before. His crew urged him to turn back. They threatened mutiny if he did not. Still Columbus stayed his course. We must have the courage to set a goal & then stay our course, no matter what.
4. The peril (v. 8a) “My brethren…made the heart of the people melt”-- The nation wanted to go back; the two men of faith wanted to go ahead. The majority was walking by sight; the minority was walking by faith. The rebellious nation saw only the obstacles, the problems; the believing leaders saw the opportuni-ties, the prospects. What was the result? The ten spies and the unbelieving generation died in the wilderness! But Caleb and Joshua lived to enter and enjoy the Promised Land. Their conclusions were based on fear:
1) Giant of discouragement (Num. 14:1#2) “The people wept that night” There was fear even tho God is near.
2). Giant of despair (Num. 14:2) “All the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron” There was skepticism even tho God is able. 3). Giant of disillusionment (Num. 14:3) “Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt”--There is presumption even tho God speaks otherwise.
4). Giant of distrust (Num. 14:4) “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt”--There was rebellion even tho should have known that God punishes sin.
II. AN UNWAVERING CONFIDENCE THAT IS FAITH-FUL IN OBEDIENCE (vvs. 8b-9) “I fully followed the Lord my God.” The claim of Caleb to the hills & pasturelands of Hebron (the region Caleb & the spies had visited) as his personal & family property was founded on a promise of Moses (Num. 14:24; Deut. 1:36), forty-five years before (14:10), as a reward for his fidelity.
1. Devoted walk (v. 8b) “wholly followed the Lord”—Caleb is an outstanding example of a Godly believer. He was not a light that flickers on & off (said 6 times in the OT). It is a phrase that means "To close the gap." It is a phrase used by hunters to refer to their closing the gap between themselves & their prey. It refers to the fact that Caleb was committed to keeping the distance between himself & the Lord at a minimum. Every inch, every ounce, every nerve, every fiber of Caleb belonged to God.
Illus: Coming out of church, Mrs. Smith asked her husband, "Do you think that Johnson girl is tinting her hair?" "I didn’t even see her," admitted Mr. Smith.
"And that dress Mrs. Davis was wearing," continued Mrs. Smith, "Really, don’t tell
me you think that’s the proper outfit for a mother of two." "I’m afraid I didn’t notice
that either," said Mr. Smith. "Oh, for heaven’s sake," snapped Mrs. Smith. "A lot of good it does you to go to church."
2. Definite claim (v. 9) “Surely the land will be yours”--Caleb was a man of patience. The Promised Land was a gift of God’s love; and if the Israelites loved the Lord, they would want to obey Him and please Him in the way they used His land (Deut. 4:37-39). Unfortunately, they eventually defied the Lord, disobeyed the Law, and defiled the land; and God had to chasten them in the land of Babylon.
3. Divine promise (v. 10) “Behold, the Lord has kept me alive”-- He affirmed that God had kept him alive the past 45 years as He had promised. Actually Caleb was the recipient of two divine promises: one, that his life would be prolonged, and the other, that he would someday inherit the territory he had bravely explored near Hebron. But 45 years is a long time to wait for the fulfillment of a pledge, a long time for faith to live on a promise. Yet Caleb did wait through the weary years of the wilderness wanderings and the demanding years of the Conquest. Caleb had strong faith in the promises of God. They sustained him in his difficult times.
4. Divine strength (v. 11) “I am as strong…as my strength was then”--“I still have strength for the task.” Caleb said he felt as strong & vigorous at 85 as he had at 40! I do not ask this place because I wish to sit down now, & take my ease; on the contrary, I know I must fight, to drive out the Anakim, & I am as able & willing to do it as I was 45 years ago, when Moses sent me to spy out the land.
Illus: David Livingstone made some great statements about his mission work: I will go anywhere, provided it is forward” Another time he said, ““Nothing earthly will make me give up my work in despair.” “I determined never to stop until I had come to the end and achieved my purpose.” Then, ”I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ.” A missionary society was impressed with him & his mission work in Africa. The society wrote: “Have you found a road to where you are. If so, we want to send some men to follow you--to join and help you.” Livingstone wrote back: “If you have men who will come if there is a good road, I don’t want them up. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”
III. AN UNFALTERING COMMITMENT THAT IS FULL OF OVERCOMING (vvs. 12-15) “Give me this mountain”-- Caleb was 85 years old, but he didn’t look for an easy task, suited to an “older man.” He asked Joshua for mountains to climb & giants to conquer! Caleb was an overcomer because of his faith in the Lord (1 John 5:4--“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”).
1. Desire (v. 12a) “Now therefore give me this mountain”— Caleb’s testimony was simple. He spoke on that memorable day according to his convictions. He did not minimize the problems—the giants and the fortified cities—but he magnified God. To him, God was greater than the biggest problem. Caleb had faith in the power of God. Not so the other spies. They magnified the problems and thereby minimized God. But Caleb would not follow the crowd. He did not once consider sacrificing his own convictions in order to make the majority report unanimous.
What mountain should you be claiming in your Christian life? Is it a personal, a family or a church mountain? Remember how you claim those mountains. Faith begins with obedience. Without my willingness to obey God, I cannot trust God. Faith is based on God’s will. This will is found in and only in God’s revealed Word.
2. Disregard (v. 12b) “for you heard in that day”—He is now considering a glorious inheritance. This was the inheritance he desired in fulfillment of God’s earlier promise. Though most older people are more apt to talk about old conflicts than to take on new ones, Caleb was ready for one more good battle.
3. Dependence (v. 12c) “the Lord will be with me”-- He believed that God would assist him in accomplishing this task. He believed that he would have victory over the Anakim who had frightened 10 of the Israelite spies 45 years before, triggering Israel’s rebellion against God (Num. 13). Caleb was no more afraid of them now than he had been then, even tho he was now considerably older. As he says, it may be that the LORD will be with me—a use of understatement to express certainty.
4. Determination (v.12d) “I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said”--His prayer is that God will be faithful in giving him his desire. Caleb chose a large and foreboding task. Not that he was filled with pride in his own ability. Rather he believed God would be with him. Caleb had faith in the presence of God.
Illus: Derek Redmond is a British runner who participated in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Barely into the 400-meter race, he pulled a hamstring & fell to the ground. Everyone thought he was finished, but much to the surprise of the spectators this courageous athlete slowly stood & began to hobble around the track. However, even with such tenacity it was apparent that there was simply no way he could finish the race. Just as he was about to fall again, a man came out of the stands, put his arm around the injured runner & and assisted him all the way across the finish line. The stadium roared with approval as Derek Redmond completed his race.
The scene was a moving one, made even more significant by the realization that the one who came alongside Derek was his own father. Together, arm in arm, father & son crossed the finish line, as one. When we are facing life’s giants & are in danger of falling, the Heavenly Father comes alongside of us to help us carry on for His glory.
Illus: Adrian Rogers, deceased pastor, said: “I’m praying that God will do something that the world will have to observe that it’s none other than God at work--that something so great will take place that people will say, ‘That’s the work of God.’”
5. Delight (vvs. 13-15)”Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb…because he wholly followed the Lord God to Israel” Joshua, who knew well all that Caleb was saying, not only acknowledged the claim, but publicly prayed that God would bless Caleb in his campaign to drive out the remaining Canaanites and Anakim. Why did he pick Hebron? One reason that he wanted Hebron because there were the Anakite giants that had so terrified his fellow scouts 40 years ago. "We looked like grasshoppers in their eyes," they whimpered. "Bring them on," says Caleb. "They’re no match for the LORD!" 45 years before he had counseled, "Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us" (Numbers 14:9). Now he had a chance to prove it as leader of "the men of Judah" (Judges 1:10). The giants represent the enemies of Conquest, and Caleb is ready for them
CONCLUSION:
Illus: Only one life it will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last. What do you desire to do for God? Have you been delayed in your desire? God is still on the throne and he is still able to use you to slay the giants before you! By faith claim the victory and proclaim for all to hear… “I want that mountain!”
1. Catch a vision. “A sight is what you see but vision is how you interpret what you see.” Sight, “Who wants to fight a giant.”
2. See clearly the task. “When you see the mountain, it’s hard to be satisfied with anything else.
Illus: When Julius Caesar landed on the shores of Britain with his Roman legions, he took a bold and decisive step to ensure that success of his military venture. Ordering his men to halt on the edge of the Cliffs of Dover, he commanded them to look down at the water below. To their amazement, they saw every ship in which they had crossed the channel engulfed in flames. Caesar had deliberately cut off any possibility of retreat! Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent, there was nothing left for them to do but to advance and conquer! And that is exactly what they did. Too many Christians have left themselves some sort of an escape hatch back into the old life of sin. We need to burn every bridge that leads back to the old life and set our minds to the task of conquering our Canaan.
3. Remember that God is able. He relied on the Lord, not military strength.
4. Cost is a total disregard. A question that is asked, “How much is it going to cost?”
Illus: An ad in a London newspaper read like this: “Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return is doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success.” The ad gave the name of Sir Ernest Shakleford, the Antarctic explorer. Thousands responded ready to sacrifice their all just for the elation of adventure and uncertain honor.
Illus: I will place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ. David Livingstone
Let’s sound the battle cry--Let’s say: “Give me this mountain.” Let’s find those mountains: Sure I am only one, I’m not everybody; But I am somebody, I cannot do everything, I can do something What I can do; I ought to do! What I ought to do, God help me do!
Illus: In January of 1936, the Southern Baptist songwriter B.B. McKinney was leading the music at the Alabama Sunday School Convention which was held that year in Clanton. The featured speaker was Rev. R.S. Jones, McKinney’s friend of many years who, because of ill health, had recently returned from missionary service in Brazil. The two men were visiting over dinner the first evening when Mr. Jones revealed to Dr. McKinney that his physicians were not going to allow him to return to South America. When asked about his future plans the missionary said, "I don’t know, but wherever He leads I’ll go." The words stuck in Dr. McKinney’s mind. Before the convention’s evening session, he had written both the words and music of this song. At the close of Rev. Jones’ message, Dr. McKinney related this story and sang "Wherever He leads I’ll go" to the congregation" (p. 285):
“Take up thy cross and follow Me,” I heard my Master say;
“I gave My life to ransom thee, Surrender you all today.
Wherever He leads I’ll go, Wherever He leads I’ll go,
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, Wherever He leads I’ll go.
My heart, my life, my all I bring To Christ who loves me so;
He is my Master, Lord and King, Wherever He leads I’ll go.
