Joshua 14 and 15 Caleb

I)       Joshua 14, 15:  Caleb:  An Inheritance of Faith

A)    File:  Joshua 14 and 15 Caleb.doc

B)    Audio:  Caleb:  An Inheritance of Faith

C)    Series:  Victory in the Promised Land.

D)    Preached:  September 2, 2007

II)    The plot: 

III) The Request of Caleb is:

IV) Based on a promise.

A)    Num. 13:14:  Caleb and Joshua – the only two positive reports.

1)      Rewarded for their faith by being allowed to enter.

2)      There is says they “wholly followed the Lord.”

B)    Specifically – a promise of some of the land that Caleb had actually visited.  Dt. 1:35-36, “‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the Lord!’”

C)    Not entitlement or a request or demand but an expectation.

1)      He was promised by God.

D)    Not on his works

1)      Said of Caleb at least six times, “Wholly followed”

2)      Clear that they believed – so argued with the crowd that the Lord had to intervene before the people stoned Joshua and Caleb.

3)      Further, Heb. 3:19 shows that the root of the people’s problem was “unbelief.”  Thus causing the rebellion

4)      Caleb and Joshua believed and therefore followed – showing the evidence.

5)      “Wholly” following the Lord is the evidence of his faith.

E)     Although he had a promise, even and expectation, he was patient knowing that God would keep the promise…

V)    At the appropriate time.

A)    13:7 – A command of the Lord.  “Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”

B)    He fought all the way – years patiently serving and waiting for this moment.  Not nagging from the back seat, “Are we there, yet?”

C)    It even seems formal:  Men of Judah accompany him.  This is the time to come!

D)    Many promises, dreams of serving, come in due time.  God prepares us and God prepares the situation.

E)     Clearly he believed and followed the Lord but as he waited, he witnessed the Lord at work – all the battles, the leadership of Joshua, the miracles of the Lord – the battles, the hailstones, the sun, the moon.  He knew the Lord better – no way could someone come through these past years unchanged.

F)     And he would need it – to lead his tribe in settling the land and driving out the rest of the people.

G)    Possible that prior to this, Caleb, as great as his faith was, may not have been as successful.

H)    Living out Matt. 6:33 “Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and all these will be added to you.”

I)       Caleb sought first the Kingdom, it shows here.

VI) For more Kingdom work.

A)    Verse 10 – it sounds like he is about to say, “I’m old, time to settle down.”

1)      But read verse 11:  He is still prepared for battle!

2)      We might expect him to say, “I’m 85 now, now according to our contract, I’m entitled to receive my land and to retire.”

3)      Now verse 12:  “Give me the land so I can finish driving the Anakim.”  Anything but retirement!

(a)    Josh 11:22 – most Anakim driven out or killed, however.

(b)   V12:  Anakim still need driven out – Joshua claims to be up to the task.

4)      It’s not necessarily time to quit – but a new stage of life.  A ministry he owns – personal inheritance for him and his family.  That’s something to fight for.

B)    And not an easy task:

1)      Hebron called Kiriath Arba – named for Arba, greatest of the Anakim.

2)      Anakim giants.  (Num 13:33) “We seemed like grasshoppers in their sight.”

3)      They had a saying, “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?” (Dt. 9:2)

4)      Proverbial – a standard of measure for Emim and Rephaim (Dt. 2:10, 21)

5)      Hebron fortified (2 Chr. 11:10)

6)      This king defeated in Josh. 10 along with four others who attempted to unite vs. Gibeon.

C)    And he was successful – Judges 1:20.

VII)          A blessing to his family.

A)    Josh. 15, Judges 1. – His daughter, dwelling in the Negev, requests springs – Caleb gives both upper and lower.

1)      From devotion to God flows blessings.

B)    And future Generations.

1)      Othniel – his nephew becomes a judge and delivers Israel (Judges 3:7-11)

2)      Judah – preserving the heritage of the people

(a)    Abram dwelt near here, Gen. 13:18.

(b)   Where Sarah died and where Isaac died. (Gen. 23:2, 35:27)

3)      David crowned at Hebron 2 Sam. 2

4)      David moves tabernacle to Jerusalem, in Judah.

5)      Temple built by Solomon in Judah.

C)    Judah – one of the strongest and largest territories.

1)      The Southern Kingdom that outlasts the northern.

2)      The cradle of kings.

D)    Because Caleb persisted in doing the will of God – he left a godly heritage for his family for many generations.

VIII)       Our inheritance:

A)    Based on promises

1)      The promises are there for God’s people, but we need to work on our belief in that promise so we will wholly follow.

2)      Caleb saw the promised land.

(a)    If you are saved – you have seen it.  The witness of the Holy Spirit.  Wholly follow God, count on His promises and begin to receive your inheritance in this life!

3)      A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul. —Spurgeon

B)    At the appropriate time

1)      The lord prepares us – we must do it in His timing. 

2)      Look at the confidence – only because he wholly followed the Lord – he knows he did.

3)      Paul tried over and over again to go to Rome, but nothing seemed to work out until he got a free ride as a prisoner.  Even them, a shipwreck and a winter intervened.

C)    For more kingdom work.

1)      We dare not say, “I have served my time…”

2)      We are never too old for more conquests of faith!

3)      Moses was 80 when God called and, although he cited many excuses, he never mentioned his old age.

4)      John Wesley traveled two hundred and fifty miles a day for forty years; preached forty thousand sermons; produced four hundred books; knew ten languages. At eighty-three he was annoyed that he could not write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes, and at eighty-six he was ashamed he could not preached more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.  —The Arkansas Baptist[1]

5)      Webster wrote his monumental dictionary at 70.

6)      Milton completed Paradise Lost when 57 and Paradise Regained at 63.

7)      Verdi at 74 produced his masterpiece “Othello”, at 80 “Falstaff”, and at 85 the famous “Ave Maria”

D)    A blessing to our families.

1)      As we set examples.  What we do, not what we say!

2)      We can expect them to do less.

3)      Two times in Acts, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your family.”

4)      It is the duty of all Christians to provide spiritually for the next generations!

IX) Notes:

A)    Next time – leaving an inheritance of faith:  Caleb and Joshua.

B)    From Joshua 10 sermon: Some promises in Christ: 

1)      Sonship (2 Cor. 6:16-7:1)

2)      Forgiveness of Sin (1 John 1:9)

3)      Answers to prayer (Luke 11:9; Matt. 7:7-11)

4)      Christ will build His church (Matt. 16:18)

5)      The Church has the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:19)

6)      Jesus will not leave us (John 14:18)

7)      Deliverance from temptation (1 Cor. 10:13)

8)      Sustaining grace (2 Cor. 12:9) (power in weakness)

9)      Provision for all our needs (Php. 4:19, Matt. 6:25-34)

10)  Reward for obedience (James 1:12)

11)  Eternal life (Luke 18:29-30; John 3:16; Rom. 6:22-23)

C)    Word studies:

1)      Anakim, Anak, Arba,

(a)    Kiriath-Arba, former name of Hebron. 

(b)   Arba:  Greatest among Anakim (giants – Num. 13:33, Dt. 9:2)

(i)     As the standard of measure for other people (Dt. 2:10, 21)

(c)    9 Cities and villages (Hebron walled – 2 Chr. 11:10) (15:54)

(d)   What kind of people that Caleb would take on in his old age?

2)      Hebron.  Significant events here?

(a)    Abram dwelt near here, Gen. 13:18.

(b)   Where Sarah died and where Isaac died. (Gen. 23:2, 35:27)

(c)    David crowned here 2 Sam. 2

3)      Judah

4)      “Wholly followed”

5)      No request to quit or retirement:  More of God’s will.

6)      Request made on past experience

7)      Request made on promises.

D)    Chapter 15

1)      Parallel in Judges 1

September 2, 2007,

Caleb:  An Inheritance of Faith

Joshua 14:6-15:  The Request of Caleb is:

1)    Based on a ________________________.  (Num. 13:14; Dt. 1:35-36; The people’s unbelief:  Heb. 3:19.)

2)    At the appropriate ________________ . (Josh. 13:7)

3)    For more ___________________ work. (vv. 10-12; Num. 13:33; Dt. 2:1, 21, 9:2.)

4)    A ___________________ to his family. (Josh. 15; Judges 1, 3:7-11; 2 Sam. 2; Gen. 23:2, 35:27.)

From Joshua 10 sermon: Some promises in Christ: 

E)     Sonship (2 Cor. 6:16-7:1)

F)     Forgiveness of Sin (1 John 1:9)

G)    Answers to prayer (Luke 11:9; Matt. 7:7-11)

H)    Christ will build His church (Matt. 16:18)

I)       The Church has the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:19)

J)       Jesus will not leave us (John 14:18)

K)    Deliverance from temptation (1 Cor. 10:13)

L)     Sustaining grace (2 Cor. 12:9) (power in weakness)

M)   Provision for all our needs (Php. 4:19, Matt. 6:25-34)

N)    Reward for obedience (James 1:12)

O)    Eternal life (Luke 18:29-30; John 3:16; Rom. 6:22-23)

Word Search:  Joshua 14:6-15

One percent of the child’s time is spent under the influence of the Sunday school; 7 percent under the influence of the public school; 92 percent under the influence of the home.

—Albert S. Taylor[2]

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[1]Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers (Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979).

[2]Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers (Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979).