The Senior Saint Who Asked God For A Mountain

THE SENIOR SAINT WHO ASKED GOD FOR A MOUNTAIN

JOSHUA 14:1-3

J. Hudson Taylor was the founder of the China Inland Mission. One day a man, attempting to find out the difficulties of missionary work, asked Hudson Taylor, what is the hardest mission in the world? Without any hesitation whatsoever, Hudson Taylor replied, "The hardest mission in the world is submission to God."

In our text, we see a senior saint, named Caleb, who was submitted to God. Caleb, a man who was devoted to the Lord.

While they were dividing the land, there is an interruption, there is a man who says to Joshua, 45 years ago, I was promised where I walked spying out the land , that it would be mind. Therefore, see that mountain over there, give me that mountain.

Let look at that man Caleb and look into his life and see what it is about him that he was able to make that request.

I-NOTICE THAT CALEB WAS A FAVORED MAN:

Numbers 14:24A-But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him

(V. 6), “. . . CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUNNEH THE KENEZITE . . . "

It is possible that Caleb’s ancestors on his father’s side, were originally outside the covenant bond of the Children of Israel. The reason for suggesting such a view is based upon Caleb’s family tree mentioned in Joshua 14:6

If Caleb came from a family that was originally outside God’s covenant, then God again has brought to the forefront the fact that anyone who turns to Him by faith can be included in the household of faith.

Caleb had another spirit-not only a bold, generous courageous, noble, and heroic spirit; but the Spirit and influence of the God of heaven thus raised him above human inquietudes and earthly fears.

As we look at the life of Caleb, we see the difference between his and the others, it was the Spirit of God.

What God chooses, He cleanses. What God cleanses, He molds. What God molds, He fills. What God fills, He uses. - J. S. Baxter

This morning if you are saved, you have his Spirit, you are favored by God. If it wasn’t for the grace of God, it is no telling what you would be doing.

ILLUSTRATION: On a particularly rough airplane flight, a lady became very airsick. Her shoulders drooped, and her head slumped forward - she was totally wiped out. The stewardess came by to help her. "Come, come now," she said, "buck up and get control of yourself. Sit up and take courage." She put her arm under the lady’s arm and helped her sit upright in her seat, gave her gum to chew, and then went to get her some water. With the help of the stewardess, the lady finished the trip in far better condition than she began it in. This is like the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He comes alongside to help us when we are in hopeless defeat. He admonishes us, encourages us, and restores hope and faith in our lives.

II-NOTICE THAT CALEB WAS A FAITHFUL MAN:

Numbers 13:30 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.

ILLUSTRATION: The story is told of a man who rode in his car as it was being towed to be repaired. When they arrived at the repair shop, the tow truck driver told him, "I didn’t think I was going to make it up that big hill." The man replied, "I didn’t either. That’s why I kept the brakes on so we wouldn’t roll backwards."

CALEB DIDN’T PUT THE BRAKES ON HIS FAITH

Caleb wasn’t looking at the giants like the people were doing but according to 14:8, he had his eyes upon Lord.

Someone has said, little faith in a strong plank will get you across the stream, but a strong faith in a rotten plank will get you into the stream. (Caleb faith was in the strength of the almighty God)

Caleb’s faith was not a sham faith, but it was a real faith. His faith was faith wearing working clothes. He said we are not only able to take it, he moved out to take it.

He had working faith like James talked about. “faith without works if dead;”

ILLUSTRATION: D. L. Moody was saved at the age of 19. D. L. Moody heard an evangelist by the name of Henry Varley say, "The world has yet to see what God can do in and through and with and for a man wholly committed to him. D.L. Moody said, "By God’s grace I will be that man!" He was an uncultured, uneducated, untrained shoe salesman but God used him to move 2 continents for Christ.