Be Like Caleb This Week
“Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, ‘You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as He said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming,”’ (Joshua 14:6-11).
In 1927, construction began on a monument that is known by many Americans today. Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore is a monument located near Keystone, South Dakota and is home to the magnificent carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The monument is loved by many because of the great accuracy in the faces that are carved within the face of a mountain. As amazing as the artwork is, there is one piece of history within the monument that is often overlooked. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of Mount Rushmore is the person that started the project.
Doane Robinson wanted to create an attraction that would attract people from all over to come and visit his state of South Dakota. After meeting with artists and getting a large group of people together to help with this work, Robinson began this beloved project at the age of 69 years old.
In the passage above, we read about a man named Caleb. What becomes incredibly clear is the fact that despite his old age (85 years old), Caleb is as zealous as ever to serve the Lord. “I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong as I was in the day that Moses sent me,” (Joshua 14:10-11). Though Caleb was in what many would consider well advanced age, his strength and zeal had not seemed to age one bit. At the ripe old age of 85 Caleb is out leading in battle, and not just any battle, but a battle against Anakim.
It is also important to note that Caleb is not fighting because he is forced to or because there is a lack of men, but rather, because he wants to fight. Instead of requesting to have an easy position, or to not fight at all, Caleb does not leave the work for somebody else but takes the new challenge.
There are four lessons about Caleb that can help to encourage us through life's troubles.
First, Caleb was not afraid of a new challenge. Second, Caleb was not afraid to start new things. Third, Caleb was an optimist. Finally, Caleb was patient.
In his walk with God, Caleb provides a great example of faith in God even today. No matter what age he was, Caleb had faith that God would provide. Because Caleb trusted in the Lord, he knew that God would be with him no matter what age he was.
Let us each strive to “wholly follow the Lord,” (Joshua 14:14), just like Caleb.
Be Like Caleb This Week!
