Character Studies #4 - Caleb

“Caleb – Man of Courage, Vision, and Integrity”

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—The Life of Caleb—

Numbers 13-14/Joshua 14-15 

INTRODUCTION:

·       A person’s character is never really known until it has been tested under fiery trials.

·       Courage is never revealed apart from adversity. A good example is Audie Murphy in WWII.

·       Strength of character and conviction are only truly confirmed when the majority choose to do what is morally and ethically wrong. An example would be the abortion issue of our day when Christians who are the minority, must stand up against the majority.

·       Any old dead fish can float downstream, but it takes strength to swim against the current.

TRANSITION:

Caleb was such a man:

·       His character was tested under fire.

·       He trusted God rather than prevailing opinion.

·       He was willing to risk death for the sake of truth. 

Scenario when we first meet Caleb:

·       Israel has been led out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership.

·       God has promised the Jews a homeland.

·       He has brought them through the long trip to Canaan’s front door.

·       They are positioned to experience God’s blessings.

·       They decided to send spies into the land to bring back a report. This was not due to lack of faith at this point. They needed reconnaissance and accurate information and in fact, God told them to send the spies (cf. 13:2). 

NOTES on the Text:

I. Caleb’s Quality Recognized (Numbers 13:2)

·       He was a leader from among his father’s tribe (Judah).

·       He was approximately 40 years old and respected as a man of importance.

·       What are the qualities of a good leader?

1.    Recognized by others as having special leadership skills.

2.    Courage and willingness to stick one’s neck out for a positive change.

3.    Ability to communicate a vision of a better future and to rally support for it.

4.    Leads by example, out in front like a shepherd saying, “Come this way,” rather than standing in the back of the pack poking people and yelling, “Go that way!”

5.    Sees difficulties as challenges to be met and solved rather than as impediments to stop progress.

6.    Has people following him/her. If nobody is following, leadership is not happening. 

II. Caleb’s Courage Evidenced (Numbers 13:17-25)

·       A squad of spies was sent into the land.

·       They endured a 40-day journey in hostile enemy territory (e.g., Lewis & Clark Expedition).

·       They traveled approximately 250 miles each way.

·       Caleb and Joshua came back excited and ready to whip wildcats saying, “Let me at ‘em! With God’s help we can take them for sure.”

·       Caleb and Joshua saw the dangers but were undaunted by them, seeing them merely as challenges well within God’s ability. 

Their mission mandate described: Numbers 13:17-20)

·       Go into the Negev (“arid country”) and then into the hill country.

·       See what the land is like.

·       See whether the people are strong or weak, few or many.

·       See if the land is good or bad.

·       See what the cities are like, whether they are open camps or fortified cities.

·       See if the soil is fertile or infertile.

·       See if there are trees or not.

·       Try to bring back some of the fruit. (It was the beginning of the grape harvest.) 

The spies went out and completed their mission, then they came back to give their report to Moses, Aaron, and the congregation of Israel. 

Their report: Numbers 13:27-29) = THE FACTS

·       (+) We went where you sent us (= specific obedience = good)

·       (+) It is truly a land flowing with milk and honey (= fertile and fruitful; they showed the grapes, figs, and pomegranates they had brought back with them)

·       (-) BUT the people are many and very strong.

·       (-) BUT the cities are fortified and very large and strong.

·       (-) BUT there are some monstrously big dudes living there. They are giants, descendants of Anak.

·       (-) But there are “-ites” everywhere you turn: Amalekites in the Negev; Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites in the hill country; Canaanites by the sea and by the Jordan River. 

N.B. The report was clear, factual, and objective and all the spies agreed, including Caleb and Joshua. The disagreement arose over the interpretation of the facts and the conclusions drawn. 

The Majority Report: Ten out of the twelve spies (10/12) gave a negative (“evil”) conclusion: (Numbers 13:31-33). They said, “We cannot defeat them! They are too strong for us. This land will eat us up. The giants are too big and too fierce, and they will squash us like little bugs!”

This report panicked the people. Joshua 14:8 says that their “hearts melted within them.” The people began to wail and complain against God, who they claimed had brought them there to die, etc.

III. Caleb’s Vision Voiced (Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9)

·       Caleb was a take charge kind of guy. He stepped up to the microphone and calmed the crowd, demonstrating his leadership alongside Moses. Notice that Joshua has not said a word yet.

·       He and Joshua gave the Minority Report (2/12) with all positive conclusions:

Ø  (+) We should go in and take possession (13:30)

Ø  (+) We shall overcome all the obstacles in God’s strength (13:30)

Ø  (+) It is an exceedingly good land, flowing with milk and honey (14:7)

Ø  (+) God will give it to us if we honor and please Him (14:8)

Ø  (+) Do not rebel against the Lord who has brought us to this land of promise (14:9)

Ø  (+) Do not fear the people. They will be our prey rather than vice versa (14:9)

Ø  (+) The LORD has removed their protection. They are like sitting ducks (14:9)

Ø  (+) The LORD is with us, not with them (14:9)

Ø  (+) Do not be afraid of them (14:9)

Ø  Caleb’s words echoed those of Moses recorded in Deuteronomy 1:29-31: “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. ³⁰ The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, ³¹ and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” 

IV. Caleb’s Integrity Manifested (Numbers 14:6-9)

Ø  It is not that Caleb and Joshua did not see the reality of their situation, because they obviously did. It was just that they interpreted the situation factoring in God’s ability rather than their own inability!

Ø  They were not just optimistic dreamers with no common sense.

Ø  They were seeking to please God rather than the crowd.

Ø  They chose courage instead of fear.

Ø  They chose hope over despair.

Ø  They chose obedience rather than rebellion. 

N.B. Verse 6 says, “They tore their clothes” – This was a sign of grief, sorrow, and anger.

·       Frustration with stiff-necked, stubborn people.

·       Anger, righteous indignation for God’s sake.

·       Grief over the unbelief of their people. 

V. Caleb’s Character Verified (Numbers 14:10, 24, 30, 38)

·       This verification came from God Himself. That is the best kind of reference.

·       N.B. the response of the people to the minority report. – They wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua to death. Talk about killing the messenger... WOW!

·       But God rescued them by manifesting His presence in their midst in the form of the cloud of glory, the Shekinah.

·       God explained to Israel the form that His discipline would take (cf. 14:11ff).

·       God vindicated Caleb and Joshua:

o   Verse 10:

ü  God saved their lives from stoning.

o   Verse 24:

ü  He called Caleb, “My servant.”

ü  God said, “He [Caleb] has a different spirit from the rest.”

ü  God said, “He [Caleb] has followed Me wholeheartedly” (i.e., fully).

ü  He promised that Caleb would go into the Promised Land.

ü  He promised that Caleb’s descendants would possess the land.

o   Verse 30:

ü  God declared that out of all the men of that evil, unbelieving generation, only Caleb and Joshua would enter the Land of Promise.

o   Verse 38:

ü  When God struck dead the original spies only Caleb and Joshua were spared. 

VI. Caleb’s Faithfulness Rewarded (Joshua 14:6-15; 15:13-19)

NEW SCENARIO:

·       Their 40 years of wandering was finally over.

·       The generation of unbelief had all died off.

·       Now their descendants were dividing up the land among the tribes.

·       Joshua was the recognized leader of Israel.

·       Caleb reminded Joshua of the Lord’s promise.

·       45 years have passed.

·       Caleb is now 85 years old (vs. 10) but still very strong and healthy.

·       He simply asks for what is rightfully his.

·       So, in verse 13 it says that Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron for his inheritance, “because he followed the LORD fully” (verse 8, 9, 14) 

N.B. Numbers 15:13-19

·       Now the land was finally his, at least on paper, but he still had to drive out the giants and claim what God had promised him.

·       Verse 14 – So, he drove out the descendants of Anak and renamed the place, Hebron. 

CONCLUSION:

Caleb was a great example because...

1.    He was willing to stand up against the loud Majority of naysayers, foot-draggers, and retro-movers (e.g., like Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk).

2.    He operated out of courage and vision, rather than fear and despair.

3.    He urged others to have faith in God for victory, rather than trust their own strength.

4.    He was willing to defer pleasure and postpone the fulfilment of his own hopes and dreams to stay with his people for 40 extra years to identify with them and to meet their needs.

5.    He showed no sign of chaffing under Joshua’s leadership, a man who was his equal, and younger than he was.

6.    The people of Israel in this story exemplify many people who come right up to the line and look Heaven in the face, then turn and walk away.