Based on Joshua 15:13-19 (New King James Version)
“Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, namely, Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. Then he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir (formerly the name of Debir was Kirjath Sepher). And Caleb said, ‘He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.’ So Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. Now it was so, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, ‘What do you wish?’ She answered, ‘Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.’ So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.”
Who was Caleb? If we see the beginning of his story (which can be found in Numbers 13 and 14), we see that Caleb was one of the twelve spies that Moses sent (at God’s command) to spy the promised land. The mission that was given to Caleb (and the twelve) had to do with observing the following: “‘…Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many; whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds; whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.’ Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.” Numbers 13:17b-20. The twelve returned from their mission, but ten of them spoke more about the giants and the problems they could face, and that incited people to be fearful, and for them to not only turn against Moses, but more importantly, to turn against God. But Caleb and Joshua made their report with faith, and they spoke about the great things of the land, and that if the people found favor before God, that He would give it to them. Caleb and Joshua tried to persuade the people to not rebel against God, and to not fear the giants nor anything else they would have to face. And well, if we follow the story, even up to what we read today, because of God’s mercy (because God was going to reject the people after so much complaining against Him), the people did get to the promised land, and Caleb received his rewards because of having faith in God, by justifying the Almighty and defending His cause.
Now then, was it easy for Caleb to receive the reward for his faith? No. Nothing in this life that is worth fighting for is easy. Everything takes sacrifice and work. It can be read very easily, for example, that: “Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai”, but it was not a lie that there were powerful giants in the land. The giants of which the ten spies spoke of were like what was described of Goliath, for example, a man that was of very great stature (Goliath was about 9.5 feet, 2,9 meters), and very strong. So then, even though God worked in everything, there was much effort employed by Caleb and the people who fought to obtain the promised land. It wasn’t like in the movies, that in approximately two hours, you can see the beginning and the victorious end, where everyone winds up happy and content. Life is not a movie. Caleb had to endure days, months, and years of effort, of fighting, of physical wear and tear, and sacrifice.
So, what makes Caleb so special, and what can we learn from all of this? There were three fundamental things in the life of Caleb that we need to take into account, if we really want a successful and triumphant end. First, Caleb believed in God, not by words, but with all of his being, because he even confronted an entire rebellious group of people because of God, without thinking about the consequences, that he could have even lost his life. He took on the entire world (per se) without any reservation, for His God. Second, he believed His God. God spoke of a promised land. God sent them to see the promised land. Caleb believed God, that if he would find favor before God, that He would give it to him. And third, he did the work and was diligent and hardworking in fulfilling his part, in obeying God. He did not fight for his ideas or because of what came to him on his own, but rather, for what God commanded him to do. And he strove for it, and his faith and effort encouraged others to do the same. If we apply the same things, but with even greater things (because the promised land for which Caleb fought for was a good land, but it was a physical and temporary one, and one that now is, and tomorrow, it’s something else, like everything in this world). Nothing in this world lasts forever. But Christ is forever, and if we put our faith in Him, we can live forever. Death will have no power over us, if we simply do the three things Caleb did. We read this in the Word: “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. Is it hard to follow Christ? Yes, because we are fighting against the entire world, against Satan and his kingdom, and against sin and death; all of which are hard and great adversaries—giants really. But, our faith in Christ can conquer all of that.
Now then, let us spy (per se) for a moment the eternity that the Lord promises us: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’” Revelation 21:1-7. But, in order to receive this reward, the Bible teaches us what we cannot be, as it is written: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8. The eternal triumph is not for the cowardly nor the unbelieving, because it is necessary to face giants and to work hard, with our eyes placed on Christ and on His goal. But, is it not worth facing whatever we need to face, whether we are alone or with others, for a “promised eternity”? Lord bless! John