Caleb gets his inheritance

Many of the next chapters of Joshua deal with division of land as the Lord instructed. It is detailed and precise as God wanted. Please read it on your own, as I will summarize a great deal of the text.

Joshua Chapter 14

For the land west of the Jordan, the remaining tribes of Israel inherited land in Canaan as allotted by Eleazar, the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders. Nine and a half tribes received their inheritance by means of sacred lots, in accordance with the Lord's command through Moses.

A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb, son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said, "Remember what the Lord said to Moses, man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea. I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave from my heart a good report, but my brothers who went with me frightened the people and discouraged them from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I followed the Lord, my God completely. So that day Moses promised me, 'The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your special possession and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.' "

"Now you can see," said Caleb, "that the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise-even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So I am asking you to give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You remember that as scouts we found the Anakites living there in great, walled cities. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said."

Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron as an inheritance. And the land had rest from the war.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The land was divided exactly as God had instructed Moses years before. Joshua did not change a word. He followed God's commands precisely.

Caleb was faithful from the start. As one of the original scouts in Numbers 13: 30-33, he saw great cities and giants, yet he knew God would help the people conquer the land. Because of his faith, God did promise him a personal inheritance of land. Now 45 years later, the land was given to him.

How does this chapter relate to us today? It is still important to follow God's commands precisely. Sometimes we believe that "almost" is good enough, and this attitude can carry over to our spiritual life. Sometimes we ignore God's word if the demands seem too harsh or we do not agree. But God looks at you today for leadership. He seeks persons who can follow instructions thoroughly. Are you in his line of sight?

In this chapter Caleb gives us a wonderful example of unwavering faith. I would hope we can all be as faithful to God as Caleb, not only at the start of our walk, but throughout our entire life. Praise be to God!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Teli’s family, Logan and the newly born Stella who is taking mother’s milk now and Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family. Update on Stella: She has gained four ounces, but there is still concern for her lungs.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.