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ever youthful he might feel, but upon the Lord who had promised the vic tory. Likewise it is with spiritual bless ings in heavenly places: The Lord not only gives these blessings to the Saints, but He also supplies the strength to lay hold upon them. _ Caleb possessed Hebron, w h i c h means “communion” ; this was what he desired. He wanted not merely to • pwn a piece of property; but he longed most of all for fellowship with the Lord. He put first things first. And . he received the desired result because he “wholly followed the Lord.” This is still the secret of a successful Chris tian life. III. C aleb ' s S uccess (Judg. 1:20, 21) In dividing the land, care was taken to abide by the promise to Caleb. Not only so, but he himself was ready for action. In proof of his claim of strength, he “expelled thence the three sons of Anak,” in spite of .their forti fied strongholds. The land was his because he had trodden upon that por tion of it, it was his because Moses had recognized his trustworthiness, and it was his because the Lord ac knowledged his determination to wholly follow Him. In contrast to Caleb, the “ children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jeb usites.” They were enemies, but Ben jamin compromised with them in an attempt to avert warfare. The after history reveals that this course issued in disaster. For the believer, there can be no compromise nor appease ment with the enemies of God. Points cmd Problems 1. "1 wholly followed the Lord my God . . . he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel" (Josh. 14:8, 14). The first of these two similar statements was made by Caleb; the second by the Spirit of God. Caleb’s estimate of himself agreed with God’s estimate. Too often men’s ideas of -themselves are at striking variance with those of God. Butonot so in this case, be cause Caleb knew that he was trust ing God. His life had not been guid ed by unbelief as had the lives of the ten spies. 2. "I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me" (v. 11). What a refreshing picture of a saint! Forty-five summers had passed over his head since he first faced thp walled cities, the fortifications, and the giants of Hebron. In all those years he had trusted the same God who had given him courage and faith in that far-off day. He was confident that He whose keeping power he had been trusting all this time was able to give him these walled cities now. Caleb’s stsength was unabated be cause his strength was God’s strength
be not afraid, neither be thou dis mayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” This might be called God’s “promissory note.” As we turn to Joshua 23, we see how the promise was fulfilled (v. 3). God keeps all of His promises, even as He kept His promise to Joshua.
William Jones, one hundred dollars.” It, too, is signed by Sam Smith. When a note is paid by a check, the one who receives the check goes to the bank and gets the money. He then can use the money. This note reminds me of a promise given to Joshua by the Lord, found in Joshua 1:9, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage;
JULY 9, 1944 TAK ING POSSESSION OF C AN AA N J oshua 13, 14; J udges 1:19-21, 27, 36
the heart of the people melt,” so that they refused to go forward. Through Moses, the Lord rewarded ■Caleb with the promise that he should have as an inheritance the place he had spied out; it should be his and his children’s after, him. This gra ciousness on the Lord’s part is similar to His promise to Joshua that he should have “every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon” (cf. Josh. 1:3). Whoever has “wholly fol lowed the Lord” may be confident of receiving great things from God. Although Caleb was then eighty-five years of age, he could say the Lord had preserved him in order that he might possess what had been prom ised. He testified that he was “ as strong this day as I was” when Moses voiced the: promise. Therefore, with bold confidence he implored: “Give me this mountain” (v. 12), whereof the Lord had spoken. Many an older Christian has settled down to disap pointment, when the Lord would de light to give him “ this mountain” of rich spiritual inheritance, if he would claim it. II.; C aleb ' s A llotment (Josh. 14:13,! 14) In answer to Caleb’s request, Joshua “ blessed him, and gave” him the promised place for his possession. The Anakim were still there, and they were strong and warlike. They had frightened the other spies from entering into the land. Caleb knew “ if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out; as the Lord said.” He was not, de pending upon his own strength, how*
Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea. ■ 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent, me from Kadesh- barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word' again as it was in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I. wholly followed the Lord my God. ; 9 And Moses sware on that, day, saying. Surely the land whereon thy feet have trod den shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. 10 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 arid five years old. 11, 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. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in ' that day: for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim 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. 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inher itance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day; because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. Judges 1:20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled,thence the three sons of Xnak. 21 And the children of Benjamin did not, drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jeru salem; but the Jebusites dwell With the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. LESSON TEX T: Josh. 14:6-14; Judg. 1:20, 21 . GOLDEN TEX T: “ Surely the land where on thy feet have trodden shall be thine in heritance, and thy children’s for ever, be cause thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God” j/Josh. 14:9y. DEVOTIONAL READING: Psa. 47. Outline and Exposition I. C aleb ’ s R equest (Josh. 14:6-12) » HREE times It is said of Caleb barnea as one of the spies, he brought back a good report according to the mind of the Lord. With the excep tion of himself and Joshua, all the other spies brought back an evil re port of unbelief in the Lord’s ability .to give the land to the children of Is rael. The unbelieving reporters “made
BLACKBOARD LESSON
that he “wholly followed the Lord” (cf. Num. 32:12; Josh. 14:8, 14). When he was sent from Kadesh-
1'T hou hast wholly fo llow ed t h e lo rd ppu Aor)* iwu i.'A
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