The Spirit of Caleb

Feb 11, 2019

‘My servant Caleb has a different spirit.’Numbers 14:24 NIV

If Caleb was alive today there’s a good chance he’d qualify for ‘Person of the Year’—someone who has done the most to influence circumstances for the better. Here’s his story in his own words: ‘I was 40 years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me… 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”…So here I am today, 85 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.’ (Joshua 14:7–11 NIV)

As a consequence Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron as his inheritance because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly. We can learn valuable lessons from a man like Caleb. His life can be summed up in four sentences:

(1) He had ‘a different spirit’ from those around him. He was positive, a glass-half-full kind of person.

(2) He believed that with God’s help every giant that stands in your way can be conquered, even when others say they can’t.

(3) He had a vision that neither age nor circumstances could diminish. And he was willing to wait and work for it even though it took 45 years to fulfil.

(4) In old age he remained young at heart and totally committed to God. So ask God to give you the spirit of Caleb.

SoulFood: Gen 28:1–30:24, Luke 9:28–36, Ps 141, Pro 4:18–19
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

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