I, However, Followed The Lord My God Wholeheartedly

I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’

“Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest from war.

Joshua 14:7-15

Our heroes, most likely, are older men. In this case the hero was an older man named Caleb, the former spy sent by Moses to scout out Canaan, the Promised Land.

Caleb was not content to retire and leave the battle to the younger men, but there were still enemies to drive out.

“The Lord helping me.” That’s the kind of mindset that kept Caleb battle ready. He focused on God’s power, not his own, and not on his advanced age. God would help him do whatever needed to be done.

I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

Our Daily Bread – December 14, 2017