We read in Joshua 14:10-11, “But now, look. It has been forty-five years since the LORD said that to Moses. That was when Israel was going through the desert, and the LORD, as he promised, has kept me alive ever since. Look at me! I am eighty-five years old and am just as strong today as I was when Moses sent me out. I am still strong enough for war or for anything else.” (GNB)
These are the words of Caleb the man of God. When Caleb was forty years old, the Lord gave a word to Moses regards Caleb, which God fulfilled forty five years later. Caleb testified that for forty five years since that day, his strength had not diminished one bit. Through this message I hope we will be able to understand the secret behind Caleb’s strength.
Background to these verses
The Israelites had come near the Promised Land after their deliverance from Egypt, but it was decided that twelve men, one leader each from the twelve tribes of Israel be chosen, and sent to spy on the Promised Land before they decided to enter it. Caleb was one of those chosen twelve. After forty days of exploring the land, when the men returned back, ten of them gave a report that the land could not be conquered because of the giants who lived in them. However, Caleb and Joshua were of a different mindset, and believed that the land could be overpowered because the Lord was with them. Sadly, the Israelites decided to go with the opinion of the majority.
The Israelites complained
We read in Numbers 14:2, “They complained against Moses and Aaron, and said, "It would have been better to die in Egypt or even here in the wilderness!” (GNB)
In their frustration the Israelites went by the report of the ten men, and got disheartened. They therefore declared that it would have been better to have died in Egypt or even in the wilderness.
We too, often speak about death in moments of bitterness in our life.
God’s punishment
The response of God is recorded in Numbers 14:28-29, “Now give them this answer: 'I swear that as surely as I live, I will do to you just what you have asked. I, the LORD, have spoken. You will die and your corpses will be scattered across this wilderness. Because you have complained against me, none of you over twenty years of age will enter that land.” (GNB)
The Lord who heard the Israelites murmur that they would prefer death said that He would do according to their wishes. God had done mighty wonders for the Israelites in Egypt, delivered them from the cruel hands of Pharaoh, had opened a way for them to cross over the Red Sea, and had brought them close to the land that He had promised. However, these people were so dismayed by the words of the ten men that they desired death to life.
God’s response to these people was that He would do for them exactly as they asked of Him. The Lord had heard all of their murmurings, and rendered to them what was due. None of them who were above twenty years of age were permitted to enter the Promised Land, except Joshua and Caleb. This was the sad consequence the Israelites had to face because of their unbelief.
This serves as a warning to us about the words that we speak. As children of God let us thank God for the grace that brought us out of many hardships and trials. Let us confess to God now that we too have sinned by murmuring against God, and have often spoken that we prefer death to life that God has gifted us with.
The attitude Caleb had
But Caleb had a different attitude and God testified about Caleb in Numbers 14:24, “But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has remained loyal to me, I will bring him into the land which he explored, and his descendants will possess the land” (GNB)
God called Caleb His servant who had a different attitude, and commended him for the same. Caleb did not have a despondent attitude that the other men had. He had firm faith in God, and was loyal to God. Therefore, God promised that He would take Caleb to the Promised Land that God had prepared for them. This promise was made to Caleb when he was forty years old. Now, forty five years later that promise was fulfilled. An extremely long wait, but was sure worthwhile.
Only God can take us to the place that He has prepared for us. Whenever there is a delay in the promises of God being fulfilled in our lives we should never discouraged.
This was the reason why Caleb said in Joshua 14:10-11, “But now, look. It has been forty-five years since the LORD said that to Moses. That was when Israel was going through the desert, and the LORD, as he promised, has kept me alive ever since. Look at me! I am eighty-five years old and am just as strong today as I was when Moses sent me out. I am still strong enough for war or for anything else.” (GNB)
Caleb was eighty five years old when he made this declaration. Generally we will consider a person at that age as a senior or elderly person. However, here was Caleb as strong at eighty five, as he was at forty. The reason was that firstly Caleb’s faith in God was immovable no matter how many years had gone by. Secondly, he also knew that he would certainly enter the land that God promised, and would conquer the giants that they had seen earlier. In order to do this Caleb knew that he needed to have the strength to overthrow all the giants in the land that was theirs to possess. All that Caleb thought about was God, His word, the Promised Land, and the giants.
We as children of God are part of the church, and have been set apart for the Lord from the world. All of us are in this journey of faith. The question is, ‘How many of us have kept the Lord and His promises as our main focus?’ Every so often when we encounter difficulties or set-backs we get so discouraged.
What made Caleb so distinguished?
As we look at the life of Caleb we observe some interesting points. Caleb’s name is first mentioned as one of the twelve leaders who was chosen, and sent to spy on the Promised Land.
Because of the unbelief of the people based on the evil report of 10 of the 12 spies, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Interestingly, there is no mention of Caleb all through those years. We only hear of Caleb again after Joshua had led the Israelites into the Promised Land. The question in our minds may be, ‘What was Caleb doing in all those years?’
Caleb was keen to keep his faith firm in the Lord. So, even when there were many problems and issues that arose during those forty long years, through it all Caleb was quietly walking with his faith firmly established on God, His promises, and his eyes fixed on the Promised Land.
Today, many who claim to be children of God, and are part of the church, have failed to keep their eyes on Jesus, on His promises, and on our eternal destination. So they get involved in unnecessary things are lose their focus on Christ and His promised eternal destination.
The rebellion against Moses
We read in Numbers 16:1-3, “Korah (son of Izhar), Dathan and Abiram (sons of Eliab), and On (son of Peleth) dared to challenge Moses. (Korah was a descendant of Kohath and Levi. Dathan, Abiram, and On were descendants of Reuben.) These four men were joined by 250 Israelite men, well-known leaders of the community, chosen by the assembly. They came together to confront Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You've gone far enough! Everyone in the whole community is holy, and the LORD is among them. Why do you set yourselves above the LORD'S assembly?" (GW)
In this incident a man named Korah along with two others, rallied together 250 leaders from the Israelite community to rebel against Moses and Aaron. There is no mention of Caleb’s name amongst those 250 leaders. Caleb was so mindful of God, and His promises that he did not get involved in anything for the sake of a leadership position.
These Israelites were those who had applied the blood of the lamb on their doorposts while in Egypt, partaken of the Passover, crossed the Red Sea and ate of the heavenly manna. This is symbolic of the present day believers, who are washed by the blood of Jesus, baptized and regularly partake of the Lord’s Table, yet fight for leadership positions.
Today, because of divisions and quarrels, believers forget the very purposes of God in their lives. We will lose out on the heavenly vision if we are striving for power and positions here on earth. Let us remember that our positions and standing must come from God alone. In God’s time He will give us the rightful elevations. If we seek after those positions and crave for them, we may receive them, but we will lose our eternal destination.
We read about David that he waited for the time when God would place him on the throne in the place of Saul. However, David’s son Absalom did not have the patience to wait, and exalted himself to that position. In the end we know that Absalom died without attaining that place. This is why the scripture reminds us that those who humble themselves will be exalted, and those who exalt themselves will be abased.
God’s verdict
When Korah and his men rose in rebellion against Moses, these were the words of God as found in Numbers 16:23-24, Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the community: Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram." (GW)
The word of God was forthright that everyone should move away from Korah and his cronies who had joined in the rebellion against Moses and Aaron as God was about to punish them.
We may encounter such situations in our work place, church or organizations we belong to. If we are in the midst of people who are clamoring for power and position, we are reminded to stay away from such people. Only then we can maintain our faith and strength.
Caleb’s name is not mentioned in these rebellions because he was focused on God, His promises, the Promised Land of Canaan, and not on anything else.
The Lord admonishes us today that we too must fix our eyes on God, and heaven which is our eternal destination. Only by fixing our eyes on Jesus we will not get caught up with the unnecessary things of this world. We live in a world that is filled with fights, divisions, jealousies and hatred. God’s counsel is that we should set ourselves apart from such. Even in the church and in organizations that serve the Lord this kind of divisions are found. If we can take a stand to stay away from such divisive people, our strength too will not fail us, just as Caleb’s did not fail him and God will surely take us to the Promised Land.
The Israelites are disgruntled
We read in Numbers 21:4-5, “Then they moved from Mount Hor, following the road that goes to the Red Sea, in order to get around Edom. The people became impatient on the trip and criticized God and Moses. They said, "Why did you make us leave Egypt just to let us die in the desert? There's no bread or water, and we can't stand this awful food!"” (GW)
We notice two aspects about the Israelites in the above mentioned verses.
Firstly, they lost their patience in the midst of their long and arduous journey. Both Joshua and Caleb too are part of this multitude, but they did not lose their faith, and kept on persevering in this journey. When there was lack of food and water, everyone must have felt hungry and thirsty including Joshua and Caleb. These men did not grumble, but decided to be patient knowing that the Lord who led them thus far would do so till the end. They only had the faith to believe that God would be faithful to keep His promise no matter what happened.
Abraham’s faith was tested
In Abraham’s life when God tested Abraham to offer his son Isaac on the altar, there was no hesitation whatsoever on the part of Abraham. Abraham went forth to offer his son knowing that if he had to offer his son Isaac, the Lord was well able to give him many more descendants through him. The faith of Abraham rested on God’s promise and His faithfulness.
The journey of faith that we are on should be run with much patience. In our journey through life the path may be difficult. There may be situations that tempt us to murmur and grumble. In those times tell God that we will trust His word and His promises. We must press on with faith knowing that the Lord who led us thus far, will lead us until the end. When we do so we will certainly inherit the Promised Land just as Caleb did.
Secondly, the people spurned, and were bored with the food that God had graciously provided for them. The food they called awful was the manna that God had graciously provided for them from heaven when they wandered without food through the wilderness. This heavenly manna had suddenly become bitter to the Israelites.
All of us can remember the first time we went to church, the first time we read the word, or the first time we partook of the Lord’s Supper, how it gave us immense joy. As time goes by, these become a routine, and we get bored. Ever since the change in situation because of the pandemic, there are many who have gotten satisfied with just staying home, and participating in online services only. To such let me remind you that Jesus too went regularly to the synagogue and the temple. Let us never neglect the coming together of believers, and never give room for boredom. We should be zealous and eager to go to church to hear the word, and fellowship with other believers.
We need to think much about the fact that a huge multitude started off on this journey from Egypt, but only two men Joshua and Caleb from that generation had the privilege to enter into the Promised Land.
More astonishingly Caleb testified that the strength that he had at the age of forty was still the same at the age of eighty five. The secret to this strength was that Caleb was focused on God, His Word and the Promised Land. Not only did Caleb keep himself free from all the confusions that happened in those forty years, he also was able to stand firm in his faith in the Lord all through.
We read in Psalm 84:7, “Their strength grows as they go along until each one of them appears in front of God in Zion.”(GW)
Remember that we will grow from strength to strength until we appear before the Lord. In this life we will face discouragements, disappointments, bitterness, fights and divisions. We must turn away from all of this, and keep our eyes fixed on our eternal home, and make every effort to stand firm in our faith until the very end.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins
