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
