Joshua 14:6-15
“With purpose of heart ... cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23).
The Lord is assuredly better pleased to record the energy of His people than their laxity, their triumphs than their defeats. The true-heartedness of Caleb forms a bright contrast to the spirit pervading the camp generally, and it is not without Divine purpose that his story is introduced before the lands and possessions of Israel are detailed, whether enjoyed or merely apportioned.
Caleb’s history is a sample of noble purpose, a handful of the finest of the wheat; his spirit was after God’s own heart.
Caleb had been proved in the day of declension. He had stood firm with Joshua when all Israel practically forsook the Lord. When the spies that accompanied him to search out the promised land brought back their evil report, lamented over the presence of the giants, and made all Israel to languish, Caleb, only thinking of the goodness of the inheritance, and of God’s delight in His people He had brought up out of the land of bondage, out of the abundance of his heart said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” His heart being filled with God’s goodness and faithfulness was garrisoned against unbelief and murmurings. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and Caleb with Joshua “wholly followed the Lord his God,” and in the face of their faintness and unbelief – greater foes than all the sons of Anak – earnestly declared to Israel, “The Lord is with us.” Caleb, therefore, occupied a separate place among his brethren, who went up with him to spy the land. (Read Num. 13-14:10.)
As is frequently the way of God’s dealings with His people, after the promise was given, trial was sent. The sorrows of the wilderness intervened; its discipline, its chastening. Caleb had to wander with rebellious Israel, to bear grumblings in common with them; he saw the men of war drop down, one by one, and die – he saw the Lord dishonored by His people – he grieved over their neglect of circumcision and of the Passover feast – he mourned over the idols they carried with them; but the promise stayed him – his eye was upon it – it shone beyond the dreary waste – it lighted up his path – it framed his life; his soul was lifted out of the wilderness, having found her treasure in the promised land.
He had trodden that country once, and by faith made it his own. He knew that it was an exceeding good land, and that the God of grace, who had given such a land to His people, would bring them, in whom He delighted, thither. He had not lost the savor of the first ripe grapes, nor forgotten the Valley of Eschol.
The fire of his love which was kindled upon that first day burned within him still.
His wholeheartedness was in no way marred by waiting for the fulfillment of the promise, by afflictions, by prospects seemingly blighted.
Neither was his strength impaired, for at fourscore and five years old this noble soldier was as strong for war, both to go out and to come in, as he was forty-five years before. Looking back upon his rugged path in the wilderness, he said, “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.”
He trusted God both for himself and his children, and not one word of the Lord fell to the ground! Fellow believer, would that our hearts were true and strong like Caleb’s! Let not the murmurings, nor the agitation of our companions, draw away our souls from the grace of God. We must undergo discipline, not only for our own sakes – to test our own hearts – but also in companionship with God’s family at large. If we walk for any length of time in the wilderness we shall see “men of war” fall by our side. Some will step out of the ranks, some will go back into the world, some will make common cause with the adversary; but may none of these deep afflictions draw our hearts from our God. The Lord is our strength, His comforts never fail; if we abide in His presence He will be with us all the way.
Caleb looking back to the past in the power of the present, was a sure sign that his heart did not condemn him, and that he abode in God’s strength. It was not doubtingly he said, “If so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said”; but in the realization of the needs be for the Lord’s strength and presence to enable him to obey His word. The gracious promise, “the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest,” was the energy of His strength. The delight of the Lord in His people with which he had sought to encourage Israel at Eschol, was his courage before the giants, and their great and fenced cities.
Sometimes the Christian soldier, after being long in God’s service, almost forgets that God alone is his strength, and “if so be the Lord will be with me,” is exchanged for a vainglorious self-confidence, “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself” (Judges 16:20).
The Lord honored Caleb’s dependence upon him; he took Hebron, and “drove thence the three sons of Anak” (Josh. 15:14).
In Caleb we have a sample of the finest qualities of Christian soldier-ship, a whole heart, unabated strength, continual dependence.
“And Joshua blessed him.” Doubtless his soul was moved at Caleb’s words.
With a note of praise this history closes. “And the land had rest from war.” Faithfulness earns rest. “Well done, good and faithful servant ... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Caleb had his portion in the great inheritance of Judah. (Praise!)