“The Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years … Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me … I will drive them out of the land” (Joshua 14:10-12, NLT).
A. INTRODUCTION
1. The name Caleb means dog. “You can take the dog out of the fight, but you cannot take the fight out of the dog.” Caleb never stopped fighting.
2. Moses sent twelve spies to spy out the Holy Land (Numbers 13:6). Caleb represented Judah. Ten spies said, “We saw giants … we felt like grasshoppers” (Numbers 13:35, NLT). Joshua and Caleb had faith and courage. “Tore their clothing … the land … is a wonderful land … the land … give it to us” (Numbers 14:6-8).
3. Caleb did not think negatively that God’s people were grasshoppers. God said, “But My servant Caleb has a different attitude … he has remained loyal to Me ... I will bring them into the land … his descendants will possess their full share” (Numbers 14:24).
4. Israel had historical faith in God but not present day faith.
5. Caleb was willing to die for his faith, i.e., against rebellious Israel and enemies.
6. Forty-five years later, “I was forty years old ... I brought back word ... my brothers ... made the heart of the people melt
7. Strength of an old man. “I am … eight-five years old … I am still as strong today as I was … for war ... the Lord will be with me … and I shall drive them out” (Joshua 14:10-12).
B. PRACTICAL TAKE WAYS
1. The elderly should stand courageous for God to challenge the young to serve.
2. When the majority will not stand strong for God, leaders like Caleb can encourage others to stand with him/her and stand against the enemy.
3. When you stand courageously for God, you will motivate and influence others by your example.
4. As Caleb stood courageously and fought valiantly in his day, he is an example to us to follow his lead.
5. You must examine your own heart to know both your strength and weakness, then step out for God and trust His strength to give you victory.
6. The oldest person (both chronologically and physically) needs to set the tone for the young to have courage and victory.
7. You can be old on the outside and young and timid on the inside, or you can be young on the outside and wise and courageous on the inside.
8. You must look to God for victory in your struggles and battles as did Caleb, “The Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:9).
9. Learn when you are young so you will still know how to serve God when you get old. “It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said” (Joshua 14:12).
10. Be a Caleb, start young, serve faithfully and finish well. “Today, I am eight-five years old … I can still travel and fight … so give me the hill country that the Lord promised me … I will drive them out” (Joshua 14:10-12, NLT).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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