Address—Stan Allan
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I wonder if we could open our meeting this afternoon by singing number 13 nine 139.
This world is a wilderness wide. We have nothing to seek or to choose. We have no thought on the ways to abide. We've no not to regret nor to lose number 139. This world is.
The world.
Nsnoise.
Nsnoise.
Nsnoise.
Nsnoise.
Just ask God's blessing.
Back in UMM, in the last month or two, we've been taking up the.
Subject of Israel's journey through the wilderness.
And yesterday when our brother Dawn was speaking about Peter.
And those words follow Thou me that the Lord spoke to him.
I couldn't help but think of one that passed through the wilderness. His name was Caleb and it says he fully followed the Lord. And I thought it perhaps would be encouraging for us all to once again consider perhaps more than one individual. There are three that particularly come before me, Joshua, Caleb and Osneil, and I don't know whether we really have time to go over all three today.
00:05:16
But, uh, I was wondering if we could take a look at some of the incidents in their lives that perhaps would be for our help and for our encouragement. So I'd like to take a look first of all, at Exodus chapter UH-17.
Where we have Joshua first introduced to us.
My thought was to take up a little bit about Joshua 1St and uh, some of the lessons that he learned. Our brother Don mentioned yesterday about teaching experiences.
In the life of Peter, and certainly there were similar experiences in the life of Joshua and then a little later with Caleb and Othniel.
So let's take a look at Exodus 17, and we'll read from the seventh verse.
And he called that Moses, the name of the place Massa and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not? Then came Adelaide, and fought with Israel in Rapidum. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose out, choose us out men, and go and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill.
And the rod of God in my hands. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek.
And Moses, Aaron and her went up to the top of the hill, and it came to pass when Moses held up his hands.
That Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed.
But Moses hands were heavy, and they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat there on, and Heron and her stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side. And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomforted Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the years of Joshua.
For I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar and called the name of it Jehovah Nissi. For he said, Because the Lord has sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Well, here we have, I believe, the first time that Joshua is mentioned and it was after the beginning of the wilderness journey and he's referred to later on, as we'll see, as a young man.
So I believe that this incident occurred when Joshua was still very young. And you'll notice here that Moses called on Joshua to go and fight Amalek. Now, I suppose that many of the young people here are already familiar with the fact that Amalek was really the grandson, I believe, of Esau. And they bring an Amalek and his, uh, descendants bring before us the flesh.
And, you know, it's not very long in our Christian lives before we realize that one of the enemies that we have to deal with particularly is the flesh.
You know, how many times have you sat down and thought I should, you know, I should read as, uh, a chapter from the Bible tonight and you think, oh, I've got to get on Facebook. I must, uh, write my friends. And so you get on or you're sitting there and you say, oh, I think I'll go out and buy a magazine. Every time that happens, it is really the flesh that is, that is attacking. And you'll notice here at the very end.
Of the chapter it says the Lord has sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
In other words, the conflict with with Amalek is not just something that young people have to deal with, it's something that I have to deal with. The very thing that I've been talking to you about. I have to check in my own self. I know I've sat down and to read the word and where do I go? The computer. And you know, I want to say this, young people, be careful. The computer can steal an awful lot of time away from you when perhaps you could be reading a scripture and meditating.
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I'm not saying we, we, uh, we have to have these things today. Uh, it's so much part of our life that we really can't get away from it. But let's not give in to the flesh. Let's seek what the Lord's helped to lift to please him and spend time in his presence. But you know, we can't do it on our own. And so you find here that Joshua, he went down to fight Amalek and umm, you'll notice here.
That it says in verse 10 so Joshua did as Moses.
Had said to him, maybe we should stop there for a moment. You know, it's very important young people in your life to, uh, think of what the Lord has said to you. There are many specific commandments that he has put in his word. He says come out from among them and be ye separate. Uh, he tells us in his word, umm, many things that are really a practical umm, and things that we need to help us in our pathway.
And we need to listen to what the Lord is saying and obey. And so we find here.
That Moses he said to Joshua, choose out man and go out and fight with Amalek. And it says Joshua in verse 10 did as Moses had said to him, Well, he goes out, but where does Moses go?
He goes up onto the mount, and he holds up his hands, and as long as Moses held up his hands.
Joshua was able to get the victory over the enemy, but every time he let down his hands.
Then it was Amalek that got the victory. And so I want to say that uh, in our Christian lives, we can't deal with Amalek ourselves. We need the help of the Lord Jesus. And you notice the one man who held up one of Moses hands was Aaron. Now who was Aaron? Aaron was the high priest. He was going to become the high priest. And I believe that that brings before us that the Lord Jesus is there in the glory to help us.
In the difficulties of life, it tells us there in Hebrews chapter 4, it says, let us come boldly before the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. So when the difficulties come into our lives, and there are many of them, the Lord Jesus is there to to help us and to take us through those difficulties. You remember how he prayed for Peter.
He said, Peter, I have prayed that thy faith fail not so the Lord Jesus is our high priest and then we have her lifting up the other hands. And what would that bring before us? Well, you know what's interesting that the word her means white or purity. And you know in the first John chapter 2, it says we have an advocate with the Father.
Jesus Christ the Righteous.
And I believe that her holding up the hand of Moses. There is a picture of the Lord Jesus as our advocate. You know, there are times in our lives when we downright fail. We sin against the Lord, maybe with something we do or something we say. But when we say it, when we sin, then the Lord is there as our advocates. It says in Psalm 23, He restoreth my soul.
And so, dear young people, let us remember when we face difficulties, and there are many of them, I face them too. I'll tell you, one of the ways that I'm tested mainly is with my own children. Perhaps they come back and they say something to me. Dad, can I do such and such right away? I feel it's a test from the Lord. And what should I do? Look to the Lord, ask him to help me to stand up for his cause, and the Lord will answer.
But there are other times, like I say, we sin and then the Lord is there to restore us. Well, I believe that Joshua had to learn this lesson when he was young. We have to learn that the flesh profiteth nothing. We've often heard how Mr. Hayhoe and Mr. Darby said to a person, learn well 4 words, the flesh profiteth nothing. Well this was a lesson that Joshua had to learn.
And then the next time I believe that Joshua is mentioned is in the 24th chapter.
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And we'll just read a couple of verses.
Umm Janus Exodus chapter 24 and verse 12. And the Lord said unto Moses, Come unto me unto the mount, and be there, and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law and commandments which I have written, that thou mayest teach them. And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua, and Moses went up into the mount of God.
And he said unto the elders, Cherry, ye here for us, until we come again unto you. And behold, Aaron and her are with you. If any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. Well, here we find Joshua again.
This time, he's in the company of Moses.
And I believe here there's a very important lesson for us here, young people, who are you choosing for your companions? Are you seeking to, uh, find your companions among those who love the Lord Jesus? Or are you seeking to find your companions with those that perhaps have no interest in his things? It's not just a matter of the person's a Christian, but are you seeking to find your companions to, for those from those who will be a help to you?
You'll notice Moses here, he was a man of God and he was going to go up into the mount there to receive the 10 commandments. And here was Joe, uh, Joshua, he was associated with him, a young man. I don't know just how old Joshua was. He might have been something like 3030 ish, I don't know. Uh, Moses we know was probably umm, something like umm, umm, his 50s, can't say for sure, uh, 40s.
No way.
Umm here Was Joshua associated with Moses?
He chose to follow Moses. And you know, I think it's very important, as I said, to choose companions that will be a help to us. Uh, perhaps I shouldn't mention this, but I know that over the years there were many young men.
Umm, who went down to the Gospel tent to help with Mr. Blenner has it in New Brunswick. And there were those who, uh, went down to, umm, help, uh, Mr. Berry in the meetings in, uh, Nova Scotia. And, uh, I believe that many of them, uh, ended up, uh, really, uh, seeking to follow the Lord. I could mention names of ones I know that were really encouraged by being down there.
Because they sought to associate themselves with those who were interested in going on for the Lord.
And I believe that's what Joshua was doing here. You know, it's very easy to get into the wrong associations. One good example in the scriptures, I suppose, with lots. Remember how he lifted up his eyes and he beheld the well watered plains of Jordan? Where did he end up? He ended up in Sodom. And we know how the the the brimstone came down on that city and destroyed it. Well, we don't wanna be like lots.
May the Lord give us the grace to find our friends with those who love the Lord.
Umm, that's why the conferences I believe are important because you know, many of us and speaking about young people now, you might find yourself in an assembly with very few young people and, uh, it's hard to go on by yourself. And so how important it is to be together. And I really appreciate the brethren here in Montreal giving us the opportunity to be together. So if the young people and all of us can be encouraged, well, if we go on now to umm, the next time Joshua was mentioned, it's a very brief.
Uh, reference again? It's the 32nd chapter.
We notice here that Joshua had gone up into the mount and umm.
He was with Moses there. Now they are about to come down in the 15th verse.
Moses turned and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hands. The tables were written on both their sides, on the one side, and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God graven upon the tables. And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.
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And he said it's not the voice of them that shout for the mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry, umm, being overcome, but the noise of them that sing do I hear?
Well, here they are coming down Moses and Joshua from the Mount, and they could hear this noise and you know, Joshua was concerned. What is going on in the camp?
He said that sounds like the sound of war.
But you know, Moses being older and perhaps more experienced, he discerned that this wasn't the voice of war. It was the voice of singing. It was, umm, you might say a party like atmosphere, but MO. But Joshua was concerned. And you know, I think this is just something that is important too for us young people. How how much are we concerned for the people of God? You know, it's very easy in the day in which we're living.
To just be thinking of ourselves.
But it's wonderful when perhaps the Lord gives us the sea. The true happiness is found in seeking to be a help in an encourage to others. You know, there are some young people that come to meetings like this that perhaps they haven't come very often and they don't know many of the young people and they feel sort of lonely. Did you ever come to a conference and feel that way? Or perhaps you think, you know, I'd love to go to the conference out in Los Angeles, but I don't know anybody and I'm afraid to go.
And it's easy to be like that. Well, you know, if you see somebody at a conference who, uh, seems to be by themselves and, uh, lonely, do you seek to go over to them and be an encouragement to them at home in your assembly? Is there somebody who perhaps would, uh, be encouraged by a little visits? You know, it's good to be concerned about others. We're living in a very selfish world. I like the, the example of, uh, Timothy.
Notice there in Philippians chapter 2. We'll just look at it for a second.
Philippians, Chapter 2.
Notice what Paul says about Timothy.
He says in verse 20.
I have no man like minded who will naturally care for your state, for all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ.
Well, isn't that the way it is today? All seek their own, not the things that are Jesus Christ.
But there was Timothy who naturally cared for the state of those dear believers in Philippi, in Philippi. And so I would encourage you young people, don't be often, Don't be off seeking how you can please yourself. Remember the rich man there. And Luke, he said, uh, what shall I do? Very easy to wake up in the morning and say, what shall I do? But you know, Paul, when he was first saved, he said, Lord, what will thou have me to do?
And so we should be exercised about how we can be a help to others. And I believe that Joshua here, he was concerned and he had good reason to be concerned because here the people were dancing around a golden calf and doing the most outrageous things. But Joshua didn't become part of that. And, uh, it was a very serious matter. In fact, that had consequences.
Take a look at chapter 33 and we'll look at verse 7.
And Moses took the Tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass that everyone which sought the Lord went out onto the Tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. And it came to pass, when Moses went out into the Tabernacle, that all the people rose up and stood every man at his tent door.
And looked after Moses until he was gone into the Tabernacle. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the Tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the Tabernacle. And the Lord talked with Moses.
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And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the Tabernacle door.
And all the people rose up and worshipped every man in his tent door. And the Lord speak unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friends. And he turned again into the camp. But his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, departed Not out of the Tabernacle. Well, you know, the Tabernacle was right in the midst of the camp originally.
As I understand it, there were 3 tribes on the one side.
Uh, see, on the West side, there were 3 tribes on the South side, 3 tribes on the east side, and 3 tribes on the north side. And then there was the tribe of Levi all around the camp, but they all were facing the Tabernacle, which was in the midst because God wanted to dwell among his people. And you know, it's very important to realize that we're all like the children of Israel. What should be the center of our life?
Excuse me? The center of our life should be the Lord Jesus and the assembly.
And I believe this is very important. Are we making the Lord Jesus the most important thing in our life? Are we concerned about the assembly where we are? You know, it makes me very sad. When I was young, I went to a meeting, I won't say where it was, but you came to a meeting for the prayer meeting, uh, reading meeting, I think it was on Wednesday night and there might have been 7075 people out to the, to the reading meeting.
Come to the prayer meeting. There might have been a few last maybe 60, but they were well attended.
But you know, today you often see maybe a large number out to the breaking of bread, and when it comes to the prayer meeting and the reading meeting, very few people come out. Why is it Satan has succeeded in getting us so busy that we only can get to the meetings if it's convenient here? Young people, is that true of you or are you concerned about the assembly? Do you make it the center of your life? The Lord Jesus is worthy to be the center of our life, and He would have us to put His interest first.
But we're living in a world where our interests come first. You know, it's a sad thing when I become the center of my life and if it's convenient, I go to meeting. If I if it's not convenient, I don't go. We need to make the Lord's things first. And we find here that because the situation became so difficult and so terrible, here they were worshipping the golden calf that Moses said, I have to take the Tabernacle right out of the camp. And he put it afar a far distance away from the camp. It says they're in the seventh verse.
He pitched it without the camp of far off from the camp.
And notice it says everyone which sought the Lord went out into the Tabernacle of the congregation. So Moses pitched the camp afar off, pitched the Tabernacle afar off from the camp. And you know, it's very interesting to notice that when he did that, it says in verse nine that the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the Tabernacle. In other words, God.
Umm, he endorsed what? What, uh, Moses did? He put his presence there in the Tabernacle, afar off from the camp.
And you know, I believe that's the way it is today. God can't approve of what's going on in Christendom. There's so much idolatry and wickedness mixed up with Christianity that now he would have those who seek him to be without the camp, without the camp. And that is the place that we would desire as believers to be, to go on to the Lord Jesus outside the camp.
And we find here that that's exactly what Joshua did. It says there in the umm, uh, in verse 11.
Uh, Moses went back into the camp and, uh, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed, not out of the camp. He sought the Lord. He wanted to be in that place where the Lord was and not on the camp where all the idolatry was going on.
So the Lord would have us to seek His interest, be outside of those things that are not according to His mind. And we find that that's what Joshua did here.
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Well, going on, let's look now at another example. I know our time is running along. I think we'll turn to numbers now.
We'll turn to the 13th chapter.
So we can see here that Joshua was learning many lessons.
He was learning what the flesh was, learning who his companion should be, to take an interest in others and umm, uh, to separate from that which would be a dishonor to the Lord. And now we find in the 13th chapter, another incident comes along and we're introduced to another man who I believe was a young person too. His name is Caleb. We'll just notice a few verses here.
Umm, we might as well start with verse one. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search out the land of Canaan.
Which I give unto the children of Israel, of every tribe of their fathers. Shall ye send a man, everyone, a ruler among them. And Moses, by the commandment of the Lord, sent them from the wilderness of Peron. All those men were heads of the children of Israel. And these were the names of the tribes. We won't read all that, we'll just know it's verse six of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jaffana.
And then verse eight of the tribe of Ephraim, OSHA the son of Nun, verse 16, these are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called OSHA the son of Nun, Jehoshawa or Joshua. And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain.
And see the land that, uh, what it is, and the people that dwelt therein, uh, whether they be strong or weak, few or many, and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad. And what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents or in strongholds. And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein or not. And be of good courage.
And bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes. So they went up and searched the lands from the wilderness of Zinn onto Rehab, as men cometh to Hamath. And they ascended by the South, and came upon Hebron unto Hebron, where a hymen she shy and Talmay the children of Anak were. Now Hebron was built seven years before Zohan in Egypt.
And they came into the brook under the brook of Eschol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bear it between two upon a staff. And they brought of the pomegranates and of the figs.
The place was called the brook because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from fence.
And they returned from searching the land after 40 days.
And, umm.
We'll just, uh, continue, I guess. And they went, uh, and came to Moses and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel under the wilderness of Peron, to Kadish, and brought backward unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came under the lands, whither thou sentest us. And surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land.
And their cities are walled and very great. And moreover, we saw the children of Anak there. And the Amalekites dwell on the land of the South, and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites dwell on the mountains, and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it.
But the man that went up with him said we be not able to go up against the people.
For they are stronger than we.
Umm and let's just drop down to umm the next chapter and uh verse umm 6 and Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jaffana.
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Uh, which were of them that searched the lands, rent their clothes, and they speak unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we passed through, uh, to search it is an exceeding good lands. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the the people of the land.
For they are bread for us, their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us.
Fear them not, but all the congregation bad stone them with stones.
Well, here we come to another incident in the life of Joshua. And now we're introduced to his friends. Caleb, You know Caleb, I believe.
Uh, came from a very privileged background. You notice that umm, he was of a tribe of Judah.
And you know, Judah was the place where Shiloh was. It was the place also where David was going to be born and eventually the Messiah was going to come from Judah. And so I believe here that Caleb had a very privileged, uh, background. And dear young people, I believe I could say that most of us here have had a real privilege of being brought up in homes where the word of God was reverenced and read.
Umm, we had the privilege of coming to the meetings, umm, and uh, we, we are privileged and we find here that Caleb was this kind of a person and, uh, very soon in his life. It's umm, this is the first time I think he's mentioned, umm, he identifies himself with Joshua. You know, it's very interesting. Joshua identified himself with Moses. Caleb identified himself with.
Joshua and we're going to find out if there's time that Othniel, he identified himself with Caleb. They all desired to have fellowship with those that would be a help to them.
And as I said before, uh, there's a little verse that says in Psalm 119, I think it is. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and that keep thy precepts.
Is that true, true of you? Is it TR true of me? Do we seek to be a companion of those that, uh, fear the Lord and that keep his precepts? Well, I believe it was true of Caleb here and they were told to go and search out the land. You know, I don't believe it was really the Lord's intention that they go and search out the land. In fact, if you looked at Deuteronomy chapter one, the Lord said go in and possess the land, go in and possess it. But the people said, no, no, no, I don't think we should do that. We better go and look at it first.
And we'll find out what the country's like, we'll find out what the people are like, whether they're strong or weak. We'll find out what the what the crops are like. They didn't take the Lord at his word. And so the Lord in this chapter.
Says, all right, if that's the way you want it, I want you to send 12 men to go and search out the land. So they went, all 12 of them. And you know, these twelve who were chosen to go and search out the land, they had a very real responsibility because they were all going to come back with a report. And what did they see when they went to the lands? Well, notice the very first thing they talk about.
It it says here in verse 22, they ascended by the South and came unto Hebron, where a hymen and she shy and Talmai the son of Anak were. So that's the first thing they noticed, the giants. The second thing they noticed, of course, was the fruit of the lands, the Greeks and so on. And you know, dear young people.
As we travel through this wilderness.
It's very easy to look at the giants, and there certainly are a lot of giants in the way and it's very easy to become frightened by them. But you know, these men, they all came back. I'm, I'm sort of ahead of myself. They all came back with a report and, umm, they tell what happens. And they all saw the fruit of the land. They all saw the giants.
But there were ten of them that viewed things differently than two of them.
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Ten of them said, look, we can't, we can't go into the land of can. It's impossible. Those giants there, they're way taller than we are. They have these very high walled cities. Uh, they're far stronger than us. Notice the way they talk there in the 31St verse. We be not able to go up against the people for they are stronger than we. They measure the difficulties by themselves and it's very easy young people to do exactly that.
To measure the difficulties by ourselves. And there are real difficulties. And one of them is certainly is that we're coming to the point now just before the Lord comes, when we're in very small assemblies and you say, what's the point in even going out to the meetings? There's so few out and there doesn't seem to be any food for my soul. And it's easy to get discouraged. And you know, these ten, they came back and what did they do? They discouraged the people of God.
If you go to Deuteronomy chapter one, let's just look at it for a moment.
Deuteronomy chapter one.
This this same chapter, Deuteronomy one talks about the very incident that we're looking at.
But notice the way they talk in the 28th verse. Whither shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, the people is greater and taller than we, the cities are great and walled up to heaven, and moreover, we have seen the sons of Anakin there. So these ten, they discourage the hearts of the people. But you know Caleb and and Joshua, they were completely different.
You know, what do they say in that 30th verse of chapter 13 of Numbers?
It says Caleb still the people before Moses and said let us go up at once.
And possess it for we are able to overcome it. Now I don't want you to think for a moment that they had self-confidence. It's not as if they said, look, we're stronger than the giants. We can go in there and we can destroy them. That wasn't the point. The point is that they were trusting the Lord. They were measuring the giants by the God of heaven. They knew that greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. And I'll just suggest this young people, I don't know whether it would be true or not, but.
You know, there was the one man, there was the leader of the giants. His name was Anak, and he had three sons. You know, it's possible that those three sons are represented by the world. The lust of the, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. Aren't they three giants that we all have to face when we're young, particularly, it's the lust of the flesh. And then as we grow a little older, perhaps.
It's the lust of the eye that becomes the main attacker and then the pride of life later on. Well, I just suggest that perhaps those three sons of Anak would bring before us the world in all its forms. They would seek to trip us up and turn us aside. And it's easy to get discouraged and say, what's the point? We might as well just do what we are going to do. The Lord's going to come, and we'll just forget about, uh, seeking to be an encouragement. That's not the way Caleb and Joshua were. They encouraged the people.
Caleb still the people.
And said, let us go up at once, for we are well able. Well, I say again, dear young people, what are we in this day in which we live? Are we seeking to be an encouragement to one another?
Are we seeking and when we come together, to build up and strengthen?
Or are we seeking to tear down? It's easy to be a discourager. And, uh, we find here the 10, the 10, uh, spies, they discourage the people and the people listen to them. And there were only two that were willing to go up. Well, the results of all this was the people. They were angry with umm, Joshua and Caleb. They even spoke of stoning. And you know, if you want to please the Lord, dear young people, it's not going to be a popular path. You won't even be popular with your brother.
And, uh, and yet did that discourage them, the fact that they were threatening to stone them? No, God had to tell the Israel they were going to have to spend the next 38 years in, umm, they're going to have to spend the next 38 years in the wilderness because of their unbelief. And, you know, did Joshua and Caleb get discouraged and say, well, we're fed up with these people? They didn't listen. They didn't trust the Lord.
00:45:09
There's no sense going on with them anymore. Is that the way they talked? No, they went on patiently for another 38 years with God's sailing people. Let's take a look at Joshua 14.
Here we are in the 14th of, uh, Joshua, umm, about 40 years later.
And again, we'll read a few verses.
Uh, verse 6.
And the children of Judah came unto Joshua and Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunna.
The Kenazite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses, The man of God, concerning me and thee, and Kadish Varnia.
40 years old was I when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadish Varna to spy out the land.
And I brought him word again, as it was in mine art. Nevertheless, my brethren that went up with me, made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swear on that day, saying, Surely the lands were on thy feet, have trodden, shall be thy inheritance and thy children's forever, because thou hast holy followed the Lord my God. And now behold, the Lord has kept me alive.
And he has said, these 45 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 85 years old, and yet I am strong this day, as I was in the day of Moses sent me. As my strength was then, Even so was my strength now. For war, both to go out and to come in and so on. We won't just go on for the moment. So here we are, 40 years later. What's happening, Umm.
Caleb and Joshua, they're continuing in the path of faith.
And you know, life goes by very quickly.
And isn't it wonderful to see those perhaps who have endured the difficulties? Like I said, there's all kinds of difficulties in our in our past. But how encouraging here to see that that Joshua and Caleb, they continued those 40 years, they didn't give up. And I'm sure there were a lot of difficulties that perhaps we don't even read about in the word of God that they had to endure. But here they are at the end and now Joshua and Caleb.
Are together and Caleb asks a re makes a request.
I might just say this. You know, Caleb, you know what Caleb means? It means a dog. That might seem strange. Why would Caleb's name mean a dog? Well, you know, I can't say that I've ever owned a dog, but I have observed the dogs are usually very faithful to their masters. Not only are they faithful to their masters, but.
Wherever the Master goes, there's where the dog goes. And you know, I think perhaps that's what the Lord is trying to teach us here about Caleb. He followed, He wholly followed the Lord his God. He was like the faithful dog that follows the Master. Here he is 45 years later going on faithfully still associated with Joshua and how encouraging that is.
And you know, he says there.
In the verse nine, I'm sorry, verse eight, he says, my brethren that went up with me, made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
You know what, it might sound like a boast, didn't it? Why would Joshua, why would Caleb say that in almost it sounds like he's boasting. But you know, I think that he had the confidence that through those 45 years that he had to stay in the wilderness with those unbelieving people, his desire was to follow the Lord, his God, his holy followed. It doesn't mean he didn't, he didn't have, he didn't have failing times. We all get out of the path every once in a while.
But I believe that.
In the main, what Caleb desired was to wholly follow the Lord. And, uh, so how wonderful here that the Lord, Umm, takes up Caleb here. And what does Caleb want? He wants the city of, of Umm, Kirjath Arba. If you went down there a little further in the story, I don't want to take time. He wanted the city to belong to the giants. Just imagine, I wonder why he wanted that city. Well, you'll notice that the city that belonged to the giants.
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Was really the city of Hebron. It was the very place where Abraham had lived after he separated from Lance. It was the very place where Abraham was buried, where Sarah was buried, where Umm Isaac was buried in Rebecca and Joseph. They were buried there in The Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. And I believe that Umm Caleb value that place.
It had special, it had a special place in the affections of of Umm Caleb. And so he asked for it. And yet the very place he asked for was one of the most difficult places to take because it was the home of the giants. But notice what he says. I think it's so beautiful.
Umm, he says. Umm.
He says in verse 12 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 the cities were great and fenced. If so be the Lord, be with, I will be with me. Then I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said. So he has that confidence from the Lord that the Lord is going to drive them out, and he did drive them out.
And Hebron became, uh, the possession of Caleb. How encouraging.
Well, may it give us the courage, uh, dear young people, to continue on for the Lord. We're as weak as water. We have nothing to boast in, but the Lord just wants us to keep our eye upon Him and He will work things out no matter how difficult the pathway. And what I think is beautiful, if you go to Judges one, we don't really have time to look at it.
I'll just suggest it.
But.
In judges chapter one.
We find someone else. His name is Osneil.
And we can't really take time to read it, but often the old was Caleb's nephew.
And no doubt Othniel had looked at Caleb, he had looked over his life. He had seen the way he had been faithful over the years. And umm, Caleb says, look, whoever will take the city of Kerja Seifer, I'll give him axe and my daughter to wife. And what is often he'll do, he goes out and he conquers Kurds as deeper. Uh, we all know, of course the courage asked sea firm means the city of books And uh, perhaps it would bring before us.
Umm, umm, education. We know, dear young people, that we certainly need to be educated in this world today, it seems it's almost impossible to get work, uh, with just a high school education. But you know, we don't want the City of Books to overcome us.
We want to, umm, seek what the Lord's help to keep things in their proper place. And here, uh, off nearly went out and he conquered the city of books And the result was that he got, uh, AXA Caleb's daughter to wife. And, you know, she was a wonderful help to him. And, you know, young people, it's nice when you can get a partner who is a real help and an encouragement in the Lord's things when she got a feel from her father.
She wasn't content with the field. She wanted springs of water and you know that would speak of refreshments and the Lord, I'm sorry, Caleb, he not only answered her request and gave her springs of water, but he gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. That was which would speak of the Lord Jesus and the glory that would speak of his life here on earth. To be our example, it was the upper springs and the lower and the nether springs. We don't have time to go into it, but.
Uh, there was off, you know, he got AXA Caleb's daughter to wife and later on he was able to be a victor over Shushan Richard Tham.
And he was mightily used to the Lord. I might say just one more thing too, just before we close, and that is that, you know, Joshua, through those various years, the Lord was training him to become a leader. His name means Jehovah the Savior, the same as the word Jesus. And we know that he was the very one that was going to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan River and into the land of Canaan to take possession.
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So the Lord was training him. And so, dear young people, the Lord sometimes might be training some of you to become a help and take a place of leadership among the Lord's people. I don't believe Caleb was that kind of a person. It seems to me he was the more retiring type. He didn't take a place of leadership, but he went on faithfully. And I believe that he was a real encouragement not only to his family, but to those around him.
As we have seen, and so the Lord doesn't call us all to a place of leadership.
Uh, some he calls just to go on day by day. And you know, I believe the Lord would have us to be an encouragement and a help to one another is a verse that says in Romans, I believe no man liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself. In other words, we affect others and the way we live. Well, may we be an encouragement and uh, go on and seek to be a help, uh, where we are and the Lord is going to give us.
A rich reward if we go on faithfully for him. May we be willing to go on for him till he comes. Let's just close with one hymn 312.
312.
Lead on, almighty our Lord.
And.
God, let it come here.
Umm, just ask the Lord's blessing.