He was a slave in Egypt,
In bondage labored hard,
Made brick for cruel masters,
No doubt, with scourges scarred;
And then one night, oh wonder,
Ate of the roasted lamb,
With sprinkled blood protecting,
The firstborn, for I AM.
He left that night of feasting,
With every Israelite;
The Passover completed,
They took their midnight flight;
He stood and saw them coming,
Egyptians strong in force,
Then saw the Mighty save them,
On dry land’s watery course.
He trekked across the Red Sea,
Saw Pharaoh and his host,
Dead on the shore behind them,
On Sinai’s western coast;
Sang of redemptions story,
The way Jehovah made,
And drank from wells at Elim,
Enjoyed the palm trees’ shade,
He went to spy the good land,
With Joshua, and ten
Other brave scouts, each leaders,
Heads of their tribe, these men:
He brought a faithful message,
Encouraging each one,
To go and take possession
Of that which God had won.
He heard them call for stoning,
He knew their unbelief,
With Joshua his partner,
He rent his clothes in grief;
He turned back with the people,
With heaviness of heart,
He knew His God was able,
To fight and take their part.
He walked the desert pathway,
In faithfulness to God;
Stood while the rock was smitten
By Moses with his rod;
He gathered manna daily,
With Amalek did fight;
Followed the cloudy pillar,
Which turned to fire at night.
He saw the golden idol,
The calf that Aaron made,
Heard Moses interceding,
Witnessed the awful plague,
He knew the ten commandments,
On stony tablets graved,
And how they first were broken,
And all the camp was saved.
He viewed the tabernacle
Erected in the way;
And all the sacrifices,
Offered from day to day:
He must have been so weary,
Beneath the desert sun,
Felt often times discouraged,
Before the day was done.
He heard the people murmur,
Saw many bitten sore,
By fiery, deadly serpents,
Upon the desert floor;
Observed the brazen pole,
With healing power sublime,
And those who looked upon it
By faith, cured every time.
He felt the heat of daytime,
The cold of desert night,
The weary, dreary miles,
The forty years of plight;
Yet, through it all he followed,
Yes, fully followed Him,
The Lord, whose faithful promise,
Seemed never to grow dim.
He crossed the Jordan River,
And entered Canaan’s land;
He fought with Anak’s giants,
And every high wall spanned;
His strength had not abated,
God’s blessed recompense;
And Hebron, he was given,
For his inheritance.
His daughter’s name was Achsah,
His nephew Othniel,
Who conquered Kirjathsepher,
And for so doing well,
Received his bride, this lady,
Of faith and wisdom too,
Who moved her husband rightly,
A blessing to pursue.
She had received a south land,
But yet she wanted more,
She asked for springs of water,
Refreshment from their store:
This for herself and family,
Their thirst to satisfy,
Her father’s faith had taught her,
To trust God’s full supply.
For Caleb’s life had strengthened
So many other lives,
His influence impacted,
His friends and family ties;
He stood amongst his people,
A faithful, godly man;
Integrity and purpose,
Throughout his history’s span.
So let us heed the lessons,
From Caleb’s faith and life,
And follow, trust, and conquer,
’Midst trials, tests, and strife;
We too can prove the power
Of our almighty Lord;
Triumphant, fruitful, living,
Will be our glad reward.
Riandaule, France
January 27, 2010