PERSEVERANCE – CALEB

By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer  jerry@schmoyer.net 

  http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/

 

 

I. WHEN CHALLENGED WITH CHIEF CHOICES (MAJOR DECISIONS OF LIFE)

            A. THE CHALLENGE

                        1. GATHERING THE FACTS– Num 13:1-25; 34:19

                                    Caleb chosen to explore the land

                        2. GARNERING THE FAITH– Num 13:26-33;  14:5-9

                                    Caleb trusts God’s promise to give land to Israel

                                    Caleb an example of what all the people should have been – faithful

            B. THE REWARD Num 14:24, 30, 38; 26:65; Num 32:12; Deut 1:36

                        Rewarded for his trust

                        Caleb one day enter the land 

 

II. WHEN MET WITH MUNDANE MATTERS (MUNDANE DREARINESS OF LIFE)

            A. THE CHALLENGE

            B. THE REWARD   Joshua 14:10-11

                        God took care of  Caleb for these 40 years

 

III. WHEN GREETED  WITH GARGANTUAN GIANTS ()MEGA DISCORDS OF LIFE

            A. THE CHALLENGE

                        1. BELIEVE IN GOD’S PROMISE

                           Everyone could have inherited the land if would have trusted God’s promises

                         2. BE ALIVE IN GOD’S PROVISION  Joshua 15:14-17; Judges 1:12-13, 20

                           Land is his, but must claim/move into it by faith driving giants out

            B. THE REWARD

                        A godly heritage – children that trust the Lord’s promises

                        1. DAUGHTER – Acsah asks for field & spring – Joshua 15:18-10; Judges 1:14-15

                        2. SON-IN-LAW  Othniel

                        3. SONS – Iru, Elah and Naam.

 

MAIN IDEA: Following Caleb’s example, God wants us to trust and depend on what He says (promises).

 

KNOW: Caleb is an example of a godly person who believed and acted on what God had promised (the land would be his).

 

DO: We must trust and follow God in all things, knowing He will keep His promises to us.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Hello!  My name is Caleb, friend of Joshua

 

Have any of you ever heard of me?

       What do you know about me?

 

I’m here to tell you my story and what I learned about serving God.

            You see, my life wasn’t easy, and I expect you may know what that is like!

 

I. WHEN CHALLENGED WITH CHIEF CHOICES

MAJOR DECISIONS OF LIFE

 

      A. THE CHALLENGE

 

            1. GATHERING THE FACTS Num 13:1-4, 6

 

                        a. ISRAEL’S BACKGROUND

                                   

First mention is in Numbers 13

            Moses was our leader, and had been for several years

 

MOSES strong, outstanding man/leader

            not able to enter land because of sin

            prepared next generation to enterwithout him

 

Moses wrote book of Numbers to be instruction manual for new generation

Also lesson about importance of trusting and obeying God

            Bad example – people, 10 spies

            Good example – Joshua, Caleb

 

GOD’S DELIVERANCE: out of Egypt after 10 plagues

            Through Reed Sea

            Mt Sinai 1 year getting tabernacle, law

Went to Kadesh Barnea to get ready to go into our land

That’s where I’m first mentioned

 

                                    b. CALEB’S BACKGROUND  Num 13:1-4, 6

 

1.Numbers 13:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” 3 So at the LORD’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. 4 These are their names:   …  6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;   (also in 34:16-19)

 

CA’LEB (ka’leb; a “dog”).- some say means ‘mad dog’

Years in Egypt as a slave with other Jews

 

JEPHUNNEH (my father, your grandfather)

(je-fun’-e) (yephunneh, je-fun’e;  [juh FUH nuh  Yephunneh’

EDOMITE, Gentiles, descendants of Esau

clan of Kenezite left, joined JUDAH

Believed in YHWH, married into Judah, taken in as one of them

leader of clan

chosen to represent tribe of Judah when Palestine investigated

            Great honor

 

                                    c. GOD’S PROMISES

 

I HAD HEARD THAT GOD PROMISED this land to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Joseph

Promise: good intention, can’t totally guarantee anything

God: absolute trustworthy word, guarenteed

 

Not called a promise

No Hebrew word for PROMISE used

            Normal words for saying, speaking

            But when God says something, it is a promise. 

            EVERYTHING He says is a promise, every single statement

            ALL God says is 100%true

            So nothing has to be singled out as a promise – everything He says is

Same is true in New Testament

God’s very character stands behind every statement He makes

 

so when God said the descendants of Abraham would be brought back to the land

            all had choice – believe or not believe

                        I CHOSE TO BELIEVE, TRUST WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO

 

                                    d. ISRAEL’S LAND

 

 GOD GAVE THE LAND TO ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS FOREVER

Genesis 12:7  The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”

 

Genesis 13:14-17  The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. … 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”

 

Gen 15:13-15   Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. … 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here,

God repeated same promises to Jacob (Genesis 46:4) and Joseph (Gen 48:21)

                                    e. CALEB’S RESPONSE

We were slave nation, slave mentality – no war experience

Best land, so had strongest warriors conquer it and live there

            God has promised us all this land, God keeps His promises

 

 spent 40 days traveling 250 miles north, then back through land  (SHOW MAP)

 

            2. GARNERING THE FAITH  Num 13:30; 14:5-10

 

                                    a. THE REPORT OF THE SPIES  Num 13:30

 

Returned: report  + land great, milk & honey, brought some fruit

                                – people powerful, large fortified cities, giants there

 

 many fearful, not take God at His word

            Moses writes about me & Joshua

                        as an example to 2^nd gen of how 1^st gen should have believed

Moses quoted the very words I said:                   

 Num 13:30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

 

                                    b. THE PROMISES OF THE LORD

 

I remembered another impossible situation, when we were trapped at the REED SEA, and God said He would bring victory and He did:

“Do not be afraid.   Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  Ex. 14:13

 

Do YOU remember God’s promised protection when you are tempted to fear?

 

GOD’S STATEMENT/PROMISES TO REMEMBER WHEN FEARFUL

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Ps. 118:6

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isa. 41:10

 

The people in my day didn’t trust God but let their fear guide them

            Wanted to kill Moses, Joshua and myself, choose new leaders, back to E bondage

 

                                    c. THE FEAR OF THE PEOPLE  Num 14:5-10

 

We tried to convince them to trust God but they wouldn’t listen

 

 

Num 14:5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them.

 

People knew this IN THEIR MIND

But let their EMOTIONS take over – Saw only their own weakness

But its not our strength, just His, that brings victory – My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9

 

RESULT: wander for the rest of the 40 years (38)

            All over 40 when left Egypt and saw this died – didn’t trust what God said

            Those under 40 , 2^nd gen, allowed their own chance to decide for themselves

 

TRANSITION

God rewarded Joshua and me by telling us we’d be able to go into the land

 

      B. THE REWARD  Num 14:23-24,29-30,37-38;26:65;32:12; Dt 1:34-36

 

                        1. CALEB’S REWARD  Num 14:23-24, 29-30, 37-38

 

God rewards belief in Him and what He says.

Num 14:23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. … 29 In this desert your bodies will fall — every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. …  37 these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.

Moses not bragging about me, but using me as an example to be followed

            YOU an example to family, those around you of someone who trusts God?

                       

 

2. CALEB’S ‘DIFFERENT SPIRIT’  Num 13:24

 

DIFFERENT SPIRIT

Than other 10 spies and people who didn’t trust God. 

 

YOU can have different spirit – if let Holy Spirit control

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  Phil. 4:13

 

 

                        3. CALEB’S WHOLEHEARTED FOLLOWING                   Num 13:24

 

FOLLOWS ME WHOLEHEARTEDLY 

6x stated about Caleb

– fully, completely, passionately, faithfully, loyally

= nothing between him and God

 

MOSES DEFINES IT THIS WAY:

Deuteronomy 6:5  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

 

Possible to follow God, but not with whole heart –

            Jews out of Egypt, not into Promised Land – following God but not completely!

 

YOU follow God out of sin by salvation

            Not follow faithfully enough to bring you into victory

 

“follow wholeheartedly” =  NO GAP between you and Him

ME (YOU) – close to God as possible

            Is there a gap between you and Him?

 

BECAUSE: no gap between God and me, ‘different spirit’ = promises still applied to me

 

 

                        4. CALEB’S REWARD REPEATED 

                  Num 26:65; 32:12; Deut 1:34-36

 

Several times in Numbers and once in Deuteronomy Moses repeats

            -Jews lost entrance into land because of not believing God

            -Joshua and I did receive what God promised because we did believe Him

 

                        5. ARE GOD’S PROMISES CONDITIONAL?

 

Brings up a problem: if what God says is 100% true, why didn’t everyone receive the land?

Are God’s promises conditional?

 

                        a. YES, SOME ARE 

 

Yes, many are conditional upon faith and obedience

This is always clearly stated

God had said at Mt Sinai

Exodus 19:5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.

 

God had said same thing about receiving the land promised them (Ex 23:20-33)

Land to Abraham’s descendants forever – unconditional

            Enjoyment of blessings by this generation dependent on obedience

 

YOU: victory, blessings, spiritual growth as God promised

            Conditioned on trust and obedience

 

 

                        b. NO, SOME AREN’T 

 

Other promises are clearly unconditional, no condition is stated

Abraham’s descendants would be a nation forever – Gen 15

The Land of Palestine would belong to the Jews forever

 

Couldn’t lost the land

            But could forfeit their opportunity to enjoy the blessings of the land

 

When you accept Jesus as Savior you are His unconditionally,

            Lack of faith & obedience keeps you from enjoying privilege & blessing, still sons

 

                        c. YES & NO, DEPENDENT ON FAITH 

 

partial obedience = particle blessing

Jews left Egypt by obedience, but not obey in entering the land

 

 

TRANSITION

God’s statements always true – often benefits conditional on obedience

            The more completely we trust/obey, the more we are blessed

 

Applies to little things as well as big things

SOMETIMES have major decisions to make, trust God as revealed in Word/promises or not

            Trust God to give us the land or not

OTHER TIMES just daily life, same every day – still need to trust God in that

 

 

 

II. WHEN MET WITH MUNDANE MATTERS

MUNDANE DREARINESS OF LIFE

 

Soon we left Kadesh Barnea to wander and roam 38 years, just passing time

            Split up and move around looking for fresh grass for animals

            Dull, boring life

Can’t expect life to always be exciting adventure, fun and adventure

Most of life just same old same old

 

 

      A. THE CHALLENGE – daily trust

 

            1. FOR CALEB

 

            TRUST GOD I had to patiently wait for God to fulfill the promises He had made to me

                        Maybe you are waiting for something, too

 

            I was suffering because of the lack of faith for others, not fair to me

                        YOU: unfair consequences of others’ sins often

 

            When facing disappointments – Joshua chosen leader over Caleb

                        YOU: things not work out as would like often

CONSUMER MENTALITY

Mt 20 vineyard workers

Mt 19 rich young ruler

Peter: we gave up all to follow you, what’s in it for me?

We get a reward, not a wage

Job: god gives and takes away

            Not what we deserve, all by grace, not performance

            Deserve hell

Luke 17:10  So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'”

 

COMPETITIVE MENTALITY

Men esp ‘wired’ to compete

Mt 20 first expected more – compared selves with others

Saul slew thousands, David 10,000 – jealousy

John 21:18-11 what’s that to you?  Follow me

            What I do with him is none of your business!

Compare self with Christ only

 

Don’t doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.

 

PERSEVERANCE

            Heb 12 1-2

            2 tim 2

            Noah example

 

The following statistics were presented by Pastor Darrin Patrick from research he has gathered from such organizations as Barna and Focus on the Family.
Pastors

• • Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.

• • Fifty percent of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce.

• • Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.

• • Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

• • Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.

• • Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.

• • Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.

• Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.

Pastors’ Wives

• • Eighty percent of pastors’ spouses feel their spouse is overworked.

• Eighty percent of pastors’ spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession.

The majority of pastor’s wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.

 

God did say He would be with us during the waiting times as well

 

            2. FOR EVERYONE

God promises to always be with you, in daily routine times

When things unfair, feel disappointed – trust Him and keep on obeying

 

TRANSITION

In those times, remember God is still there keeping His promises to provide.

 

       B. THE REWARD – daily provision   Numbers 14:10-11

 

            1. FOR CALEB

 

Num 14:11  “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.”   

 

GOD CARED FOR ME for those years

            Manna every day to eat

            Clothing or sandals never wear out

            Never get sick, be unhealthy

 

            2. FOR EVERYONE

 

GOD PROMISES TO MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS (not wants)

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Ps. 23:1-3

I will never leave you or forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Phil. 4:19

 

Matthew 6:25-34  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

WHEN WE FAIL TO TRUST HIM – FORGIVENESS

 

 

 

 

TRANSITION

Always remember to TRUST GOD’s promises

            -major decisions of life

            -mundane dreariness of life

            -mega discords of life

 

 

III. WHEN GREETED  WITH GARGANTUAN GIANTS

MEGA DISCORDS OF LIFE

 

      A. THE CHALLENGE

 

            1. BELIEVE IN GOD’S PROMISE   

                                    Joshua 14:6-9; 21:9, 11-12, 18; I Chron 6:55-56

 

                        a. GOD’S PROCLAMATION IS TRUE

 

When Moses died, JOSHUA than picked up the story

BOOK OF JOSHUA: show how God did keep His promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and

Joseph about us being back in our land

 

What God has said DID come true, had to wait 38 years because of unbelief in promises

            COULD have happened to 1^st gen if would have believed

Next generation did trust and enter the land.

 

                        b. GOD’S PLANS ARE DIFFERENT

                                   

GOD KEEPS HIS WORD IN DIFFERENT WAYS!

            HE DOES IT HIMSELF

                        Egyptian army destroyed at Reed Sea

                        Jordan River opens, walk through

                        Jericho walls fall down

                        Sun not go down at night to have a victory

            HE HELPS US DO IT IN HIS STRENGTH
                        Defeat Amalekites on way to Mt Sinai

                        Battles behind Joshua in land

 

                        c. GOD’S PROMISES ARE GOOD

 

Joshua wrote all about this in his book

Joshua 1-12 conquering the land

            In at Jerico, split land in middle, conquer southern tribes, then northern tribes

            Took about 7 years

            Constant warfare!

 

Joshua 13-21 dividing the land among the Jews

            13  –  2 ½ tribes staying east of Jordan River

 

Time for tribes in the land to finish clean-up operations among scattered enemies left

Judah not in a hurry to fight for land, willing to put off claiming what God has for them

Giants that scared 1^st gen off still living in part of land given to Judah

 

                       

 

d. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE FAITHFUL

Caleb not afraid of them – wasn’t before

Caleb wants to move ahead, comes to Joshua to claim land, anxious and confident

I still believed God’s promises about the land being ours.

God had repeated those promises to Moses (Dt 11:24) and Joshua (1:4)

He told each of them He would be with them so they shouldn’t be afraid (Dt 31:6; Josh 1:9)

 

I knew God’s word was good!

 

                        e. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE PATIENT

 

85 yrs old –     45 yr since promise given (38 wandering, 7 fighting)

 

YOU: get promise from God in 1966 and wait until this year to have it filled

            Or get promise from God 2004 and must wait until 2049 to be fulfilled

MUST be patient and wait for God’s timing to keep His word!

 

I had patiently waited 45 years for God’s word to be fulfilled

Now the wait was up and I was ready to move ahead in faith!

 

                        f. PROPERTY IS GIVEN 

                                                Joshua 14:6-9; 21:9, 11-12, 18; I Chron 6:55

 

 Joshua 14:6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 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, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 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 Godwholeheartedly.‘  

 

 Josh 21:9, 11-12, 18  From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name…. The fields and villages around the city(Hebron) they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession. 

 

 HEBRON – SHOW ON MAP (so of Jeru, top of ridge, half way down Dead Sea)

Hebron was afterward a priests’ city, belonging to the Kohathites; but the territory about continued in Caleb’s family

 

DEBIR (SW of Hebron, on same mt ridge)

Hard to conquer

 

TRANSITION

Had some of best land in Palestine, land of my choosing

Best warriors already taken and fortified it

            2. BE ALIVE IN GOD’S PROVISION 

                  Joshua 14:10-15;  15:13-15

 

                        a. FAITH TO ACCEPT WHAT GOD SAYS 

 

 Josh 14:10 “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 desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 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. 12 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.”  13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

 

            Land his last 45 years! but must claim into it by faith driving giants out

            Now STILL have to fight giants – putting off just put it off!

            Whatever you are putting off facing now will still have to face and work through!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6

 

                        b. FAITH TO ACT ON WHAT GOD SAYS

 

Believing God all that time was great, but then came the time to act on that belief.

 Josh 15:13-15  In accordance with the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah-Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the … descendants of Anak. 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).

 

85 given land with giants – that which kept whole nation out for 38 years!

God didn’t miraculously remove them, although He could have. 

He wanted me to fight them, in His strength, and see Him remove them that way.

 

ANAKITES = ‘GIANT’

not just physically large but also exceedingly evil and violent

Pictured on Egyptian monuments as tall and fat

Og, who lived east of Jordan, had bed 13’ long and 6’ wide

 

Goliath, descendent of giants who remained in another part of the land – 9’-9” tall

People had been to fight the GIANTS – like grasshoppers

            YOU face giant situations in life, unable in own strength to win, only in God’s strength

 Remember another giant-killer, DAVID, and how he had victory by trusting God

 

1 Sam 17:45-47  David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

DAVID & CALEB very similar in many ways

                        Perhaps my example helped encourage him to defeat Goliath

            Different spirit – others around them afraid of giants

            follow wholeheartedly = trusted God’s statements (promises)

            Saw situation needing to be addressed, not fearconsequences – “Let’s roll!”

                        (Todd Beamer, United flight 93)

 

CALEB & DAVID: physical victory against physical enemies

YOU: victory by spiritual sword (sword of the Spirit, Word of God) against spiritual enemies

 

TRANSITION

Moses & Joshua both used  me as example of trust for others to follow

Even showed some who followed my example

            -my own descendants

 

      B. THE REWARD

 

            1. DAUGHTERS’ FAITH –- Joshua 15:16-19

                                    Acsah,  ak’sah

 

I had given my daughter, ACSAH, to nephew OTHNIEL as wife as reward for him driving giants out of Debir

 

She was a woman of faith in God’s promises to us

Wanted land and also springs of water.

Believed God’s promise that land was theirs forever, her due as well as the men

Like with God – took father at his word (how children learn to trust God)

 

TRANSITION

Godly daughter trusted word of father and God

Godly son-in-law also

 

            2. SON-N-LAWS’ FAITH – Judges 1:12-15, 19-20

                                    Othniel    

 

JOSHUA: trusted God to have victory over giants at Kiriath Sepher

JUDGES:  

            Othniel first judge following Joshua’s death

                        Caleb’s example/influence lived in Othniel

            show God’s judgment on Israel’s apostasy.

            Mesopotamia oppressed, Othniel defeated them

                        “Sprit of the Lord came upon him”  Judges 3:7-11

After Moses, Caleb & Joshua everything downhill, last of truly godly leaders

            None until King David!

 

TRANSITION

Not much else about me in Bible

Just names of sons

 

            3. SONS’ FAITH – Iru, Elah and Naam.

Chronicles names 3 sons (1 Chron 4:1 The descendants of Judah:  … 15 The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah and Naam.  The son of Elah:  Kenaz. )

 

Nabal, with whom David had an encounter, is called a Calebite, i.e. one belonging to the house of Caleb (1 Sam 25:3) – turned from my godly example

 

If would have believed and obeyed God’s word his whole life would have been better!

 

CONCLUSION

 

 TO PEOPLE LISTENING

You remember that everything God says in your book (hold up Bible) is true

You can count on it

Despite what others do and what circumstances are going on in your life, TRUST HIM

            His promises are true

            You can stand on them!

 

Questions, Comments, Observations….

 

 

CLOSING PRAYER

 

 

 

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Ps. 23:1-3

I will never leave you or forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Phil. 4:19

 

Matthew 6:25-34  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Ps. 23:1-3

I will never leave you or forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Phil. 4:19

 

Matthew 6:25-34  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.