BiblicalInsights.net

Caleb was a member of the tribe of Judah.  He was selected at the age of forty to help eleven other men spy out the land of Canaan.  The children of Israel had just fled Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, encamped at Sinai and were now poised to enter the promised land.  Twelve spies were sent to investigate the land.  Ten of the spies brought back an evil report saying that the Israelites were too weak to conquer the inhabitants of the land.  They balked in unbelief.  Joshua and Caleb spoke of Israel’s capability to conquer the land.  They spoke by faith in God.  They desired to be obedient to God’s command (Deut. 7:1-4).  The unbelief of the ten spies infected the rest of the people and they feared and refused to go up and conquer the land.  For this rebellion, God punished them.  Those twenty years old and up were sentenced to die in the wilderness before entering into Canaan.  Two exceptions were made to this decree by God.  Joshua and Caleb would be rewarded for their faith and they would possess the land (Num. 13:6,8; 17-20).  Clearly, they had a different spirit within them.  They were motivated by faith in the one, true, and living God.
God promised Caleb, “Him will I bring into the land whereinto he went: and his seed shall possess it” (Num. 14:24).  Caleb was preserved by God.  He endured forty years of wildnerness wanderings with God’s people.  He spent five years with Joshua in the conquest of Canaan.  His strength was not abated at the age of eighty-five when he made a special request of Joshua.
Caleb’s request was made during the time that Joshua was dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel.  It is recorded in Joshua 14:6-12.  “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” (Joshua 14:10-12).
Caleb’s inheritance was located in the the middle of the land given to the tribe of Judah.  Joshua heeded Caleb’s request and gave him Hebron and the surrounding area for his possession.  Thus God’s promise to him was fulfilled.
Even though Caleb was advanced in years, he challenged himself to accomplish great things.  His words not only speak of his physical strength and ability, but they resonate with confidence in God.
Will you take up the challenge?  Challenge yourself in some new way in 2014.  Consider some of these suggestions to help motivate you.
–Challenge yourself to learn something new.  It is possible to continue learning even though one is advancing in years.  Why develop a new skill or ability?  There are many areas of work in the Lord’s kingdom that we can apply this principle to.  Have you ever taught a Bible class?  Have you lead the singing?  Have you written a book?  Have you ever attempted to write a hymn?  Why not explore your potential?
–Challenge yourself to overcome a weakness.  Must we continually perpetuate our weaknesses?  Have we become dependent upon them for excuses for our failures?  What about overcoming procrastination, lateness, absenteeism from the worship assemblies, lukewarmness and other weaknesses that become besetting sins?
–Challenge yourself to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word.  Have you read through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation?  Why not set this as a personal goal in 2014?  It takes less than nine hours to read through the New Testament!  You could read through the New Testament many times in the New Year.
–Challenge yourself to love deeper.  We need to grow in love.  We need to work to master love.  Love for God is the greatest commandment.  Love for neighbor is next (Matt. 22:36-39).  Pettiness, selfishness, pride and arrogance need to be slain in us and replaced with virtues that honor God.  In I Cor. 13:4-8, Paul lists the virtues of love.  Read this passage and master the characteristics that will enrich the human heart.
–Challenge yourself to follow God in all things.  Caleb did this even when the command of God was demanding.  We often shrink back and hold back from obeying God when what He commands is difficult.  God’s commands are not grievous, but they can be demanding of courage and sacrifice.  We cannot pick and choose what commands we will obey.  We must do all of the will of God.
–Challenge yourself to forgive.  Is there anything more demanding than forgiving your enemies?  Often times when we are injured, we desire to get even.  We seek revenge rather than reconciliation.  Jesus is the epitome of the forgiving spirit (Luke 23:34).  Forgiveness was on His lips in the final moments of His life.
When Caleb was eighty-five years old, he still had a vision for what he wanted to accomplish with his life.  He had a different spirit within him.  He was driven by faith.  What about your faith?  What’s your vision?