A Lifetime of Faith
Scripture: Joshua 14:6, 10-12, 14, 15:13-14
Caleb said to Joshua,...10“Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 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. 12 So give me the hill country that the LORD promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the LORD is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the LORD said...14 Hebron still belongs to the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite because he wholeheartedly followed the LORD, the God of Israel...13 So Caleb was given the town of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor. 14 Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites..."
Observations:
Caleb is an interesting character in the OT. He became an Israelite not by birth but by marriage while Israel was in Egypt. But even though he was an outsider by birth, his faith in Isral's God grew exponentially as he experienced the many miracles that led them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. His faith was not shaken by the presence of giants in the land. He simply believe that the same God that had miraculously rescued them from Egypt would also defeat their enemies and make good on His promises. Despite a minor set back in the wilderness (which lasted over 40 years!!), his faith never wavered. Forty years later, at age 85 he was as convinced as ever of God's power to do what He had promised, so much so that as an old man he led his family into battle against the giants of Canaan, not as a general but as a foot solider! His faith inspired the tribe of Judah take the largest settlement of the Promised Land and to become the center of leadership for the nation for the next 8 centuries!
Application:
We sometimes have trouble believing that the same God who is powerful enough to save our very souls from eternal punishment is able to help us conquer much lesser personal battles that we face. If God can part the Red Sea and kill off the entire Egyptian army in an instant, He ought to have no problem killing a few giants. We typically tend to maximize the problem at hand and minimize what God has already done for us in the past. But great faith requires that we take the same approach Caleb did- by remember that the same God who has come through for us then will come through for us today. That kind of faith will always give us the confidence to take on our fears and accomplish the plans and purposes of God for our lives. That kind of faith inspires nations, overthrows kings, and leaves the kind of legacy that will glorify God forever.
Prayer:
Father, help us to remember who You are and what You've already done. Give us the kind of faith that advances on our fears and trusts fully in Your ability to make good on Your promises today. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
Caleb said to Joshua,...10“Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 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. 12 So give me the hill country that the LORD promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the LORD is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the LORD said...14 Hebron still belongs to the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite because he wholeheartedly followed the LORD, the God of Israel...13 So Caleb was given the town of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor. 14 Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites..."
Observations:
Caleb is an interesting character in the OT. He became an Israelite not by birth but by marriage while Israel was in Egypt. But even though he was an outsider by birth, his faith in Isral's God grew exponentially as he experienced the many miracles that led them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. His faith was not shaken by the presence of giants in the land. He simply believe that the same God that had miraculously rescued them from Egypt would also defeat their enemies and make good on His promises. Despite a minor set back in the wilderness (which lasted over 40 years!!), his faith never wavered. Forty years later, at age 85 he was as convinced as ever of God's power to do what He had promised, so much so that as an old man he led his family into battle against the giants of Canaan, not as a general but as a foot solider! His faith inspired the tribe of Judah take the largest settlement of the Promised Land and to become the center of leadership for the nation for the next 8 centuries!
Application:
We sometimes have trouble believing that the same God who is powerful enough to save our very souls from eternal punishment is able to help us conquer much lesser personal battles that we face. If God can part the Red Sea and kill off the entire Egyptian army in an instant, He ought to have no problem killing a few giants. We typically tend to maximize the problem at hand and minimize what God has already done for us in the past. But great faith requires that we take the same approach Caleb did- by remember that the same God who has come through for us then will come through for us today. That kind of faith will always give us the confidence to take on our fears and accomplish the plans and purposes of God for our lives. That kind of faith inspires nations, overthrows kings, and leaves the kind of legacy that will glorify God forever.
Prayer:
Father, help us to remember who You are and what You've already done. Give us the kind of faith that advances on our fears and trusts fully in Your ability to make good on Your promises today. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
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