Slices
Prepare
‘… that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance’ (Ephesians 1:18, NIV). Take time to ponder on all the blessings we have been given in Christ. Let your knowledge lead to praise.
Bible passage
Land allotted to Caleb
6 Now the people 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 fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people sink. 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 for ever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.”
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 wilderness. 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. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)
Then the land had rest from war.
Explore
With many battles won, Joshua begins to divide the land among the 12 tribes as Moses had instructed (Joshua 14:2,5; Numbers 26:52–56). Judah is the first tribe to receive their lot (v 6).
The appearance of Caleb is a reminder to Israel of the courage they still need (vs 8,9). Their mission is not yet complete. Caleb had been one of the 12 sent out by Moses to spy the land (see Numbers 13:1–25). Now at 85 he is still ready for action (v 11).
Note the repeated mention of Caleb’s wholehearted obedience and faith (vs 8,9,14; Numbers 13:30). Age is no barrier for him. Just as he served in the past, so he continues to do.
Notice also how Joshua honours Caleb. He publicly blesses him and gives him his inheritance (v 13). A sign of good leadership is a willingness to recognise those who have given long and faithful service to others. What an example for us to follow!
Respond
Consider the ‘senior saints’ that you know in your church or family. How might you express appreciation to them for their faithfulness over the years? Pray that you might likewise be faithful to the end.
Deeper Bible study
‘Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.’1
This passage tells how the city of Hebron was assigned to Caleb. At first glance one could ask why that was considered significant enough to be recorded in such detail. The answer is probably that the writer wants to present Caleb as a hero of faith at a time when the Israelites were being drawn into idolatry by the people around them. Caleb deserves a special place in the Joshua story because he is an example of obedience and faithfulness to God. Remarkably, Caleb was a not a pure Israelite but a Kenizzite or Edomite (v 6).2
When Moses sent the 12 men to do a reconnaissance of the land of Canaan3 and ten reported back that a military campaign was doomed to failure, with only Joshua and Caleb dissenting, the ten were just being realistic. As Jackman says, ‘Conquering Canaan was an impossibility in human terms, but the spies were unrealistic when they left God out of the reckoning’.4 Caleb, however, was different: ‘my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly’.5 The fact that he followed God wholeheartedly is mentioned three times in today’s passage (vs 8,9,14). His survival through 45 years of turmoil, as well as his health and strength, are presented as a consequence of God’s blessing on him.
That Caleb has not lost the fire in his belly is shown in verse 12. Rather than asking for a nice retirement villa by the sea, he asks for the hill country where the giants were still to be found and the cities were well fortified. Caleb seems to be saying: ‘The more difficult the better, because God will keep his promises.’ Perhaps sensibly, Joshua just gave him one city!
Follow Caleb’s example by taking God’s promises and turning them into prayers.
1 Ps 89:8 2 Cf 1 Chr 4:13,15 3 Num 13,14 4 Jackman, 2014, p145 5 Num 14:24
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Samuel 27,28; 1 Corinthians 1
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for the Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust team as they work from home during this current crisis. It has obviously been a very unusual few weeks but pray for the team as they look at ways of continuing to support local schools and pupils remotely. This has included posting pre-recorded Easter assembly messages on a new BSCWT YouTube channel, as well as making alternative plans for helping the year 6 pupils prepare for secondary school, in case their It's Your Move project can't go ahead as planned this term.
