Neville Turley

No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly. Deuteronomy 1:35-36 (NIV)

Why was Caleb special to God?  Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly.

Moses and the Israelites were in the wilderness. God had safely led them from Egypt and they were on the brink of entering the Promised Land (Canaan). Moses selected 12 men from the tribes of Israel to spy out Canaan. Forty days later the spies, which included Caleb and Joshua, returned and reported to Moses and the people.

“….We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.” (Numbers 13: 27-28 )

Ten of the spies were totally against the Israelites attacking Canaan, they were convinced that they would be annihilated by the tribes living there. Their reports alarmed the Israelites.  God’s promises to them were forgotten. Caleb, supported by Joshua, tried to allay their fears with words of faith and courage. ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’ (Numbers 13:30 )

The other spies disagreed. “We cannot attack these people, they are stronger than we are.” (Numbers 13:31). The Israelites were terrified. They blamed God for their predicament.  They cursed the day they had left Egypt and threatened to stone Moses, Joshua and Caleb.

God was angered by their ingratitude and rejection of him but Moses pleaded, and God forgave them their sins, however he judged them severely.

For every day the spies had spent in Canaan, the Israelites would spend a year wandering in the wilderness.  Only after every adult Israelite who had fled Egypt perished, would the Israelites be permitted to enter the Promised Land. However, Caleb who had a different spirit would be spared and rewarded.

The faithfulness of Caleb teaches us we must always be prepared to take a stand for God.  We will not be alone, the Holy Spirit will give us strength to wholeheartedly follow the Lord.

Prayer: Almighty God, may the Holy Spirit cultivate the right spirit within us for Jesus sake. Amen