March 26, 2017. Joshua 12-15.

 

These few chapters of Joshua just show the incredible power of God.  Joshua was able to defeat 31 kings and nations, and yet God said there is still more land that you need to take over, and he did.

The land that the Israelites received was divided among the tribes and leaders.  In each of these divisions, God’s faithfulness is shown to be true.  One prominent example of this faithfulness is seen in the land allotted to Caleb.  Now if you remember, there was a time when Caleb was part of a recon team, sent to explore the surrounding lands.  His fellow squad members were terrified of the surround lands and people inhabiting them.  Caleb on the other hand was convinced they would be able to overtake them, because God had said it would be so.  

Because of his devotion to following after the Lord, Caleb was promised an inheritance of land.

Joshuah 14:6-9

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 melt in 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 God wholeheartedly.’

When you choose to follow after God wholeheartedly, some people might think you have gone crazy.  Caleb was the only one of his fellow explorers to stand by God’s promises and bring back a report of “let’s do this.”  And yet, because he was faithful, he got to experience God’s faithfulness first hand in return. 

Joshua 14:10-11

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. 

God rewards the faithful.  Follow after Him wholeheartedly.  Let people think your a little mad for putting your trust in an invisible god, and let them be amazed at His faithfulness in your life.  The Lord wants to use you to draw others to Him, be all in.