A Disciples Reward

Scripture: Joshua 14:1-15; 15: 13-19

One of the most beloved characters of the Bible is a man named Caleb. He was among the twelve spies sent into the Promised Land at Kadesh-Barnea. He and Joshua brought back a minority report that the land was a place flowing with milk and honey and, that Israel was well able to go in and possess their land. The other ten spies brought back a majority report. There were giants in the land and, their cities were great and walled. The inhabitants of the land possessed great iron chariots. They felt like grasshoppers compared to the giants. Both reports mentioned the risks but the majority report was proved wrong as it very often is. The nation of Israel refused to believe the minority report and the result was that they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. However, there were two men who prevailed with God. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones of the old generation to enter the land. I want to zero in on one of those men, His name, Caleb.

Caleb was a man of great faith that never wavered. 1-11. During the wilderness wanderings Moses made a promise to Caleb. "Because he had another spirit in him, and has followed me fully, him will I bring into the land." When that promise was pledged to him, he was 40 years old. Now, he is 85 years old. He treasured that promise for 45 years. Like Abraham, he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God. While his nation murmured and complained against Aaron and Moses he kept his eye of faith on the promise, He knew that God was able to perform what he had promised. You never see Caleb among the murmuring, complaining majority. The people, who murmur and complain, display their lack of faith in God's word.

Caleb stepped out of the ranks, and with spiritual conviction borne of faith said, "Give me that Mountain." Give me the hill country of Hebron, in Judah. 14:6-12.

How will it be with us when we reach our golden years? When Caleb was 40 years of age he wholly followed the Lord and constantly followed until he was 85 plus years. I have known people who reach their mid years who suffer some difficult trials of life. Very often they succumb to discouragement and bitterness against the Lord and the Lord's people. They leave the assembly of the believers, and wander in a wilderness of bitterness and self-pity. They leave their faith behind while becoming carnal and angry people. Not so with Caleb. I trust that God will deliver us from that kind of faithlessness. The Book of Hebrews warns us about a root of bitterness springing up and troubling us, and defiling many.

Because Caleb had a faith that never wavered he also had a strength that never failed. 11,12 listen to what he said." "So here I am today. Eighty-five year's old! I am still 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 the hill country of Hebron!"

Caleb drew strength that was irresistible because he had a faith that was unwavering. The disciple's reward was complete victory. Out of all the tribes of Israel, Caleb was apparently the only one who succeeded in expelling the enemy out of Hebron. The other's made poor headway. The last part of Joshua makes sad reading. Frequently, we read, "They were not a able to drive them out." The chariots were too much for them. Caleb had three giants to drive out. However, Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly. He was the only one who was totally victorious in claiming his possession. The person who wholly follows the Lord will be one who is victorious in the fight. The reason why we aren't victorious is because we do not wholly follow the Lord. "If the joy of the Lord is our strength then, there is no reason that the passing of years should weaken it." Caleb must have enjoyed a great testimony among his people.

Because Caleb had a faith that never wavered, and he had great strength that never failed, he possessed a great blessing that was not wasted. Joshua 15:13-19 Caleb was not a man to squander his blessings. He had a daughter who was married to a fine young man who possessed a faith like Caleb's. That young man was his own brother. He spared out of his possession some valued land along with the upper and lower springs. These, he gave to the newly weds to begin their lives together. Caleb was like a well-watered garden full of rare fragrance. The blessing of his life overflowed to his daughter and her new husband. He had power of strength to increase springs of spiritual blessing to others.

Isn't this the kind of a disciple's reward we all covet for our lives? Let us follow the Lord wholeheartedly so that we might have a disciple's reward. This is what victorious Christian living is all about.

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Nexy we will look together at what is involved in living to capacity. The children of Joseph came to Joshua and asked for a larger lot in the land. They considered themselves a strong people so Joshua gave them a portion that required them to stretch themselves to prove their greatness. We will ask ourselves how we can live to our capacity.