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Godly Men of Devotion
Caleb: Faith That Endures

Numbers 13:17-25 (Monday)
“When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.) So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) When they reached the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.” (NIV)
1) Take the time to read Genesis 15. Here we see our Covenant God (Yahweh—the LORD) promising Abraham possession of the land and foretelling him of the 400 year captivity of his descendants. After the 400 years were complete, what did God promise Abraham (verses 18-21?)
2) God reaffirmed this covenant with Abraham’s son, Isaac and Isaac’s son, Jacob. Yet, the only land that Abraham or his descendants actually ever possessed was a burial plot inside Canaan! They all lived as aliens in the land God had promised! However, you can be sure that our God was moving and working out His divine purposes for His chosen people, Israel. Jacob’s two (yes, two—Leah and Rachel) wives gave birth to 12 sons that became the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph was one of the twelve sons. You may recall his story. Joseph was the much loved and favorite son of his father, Jacob and, therefore, he was much hated and despised by his brothers. Rather than killing him off as they had planned, Joseph ended up being sold into slavery (they told his father that an ferocious animal ate him!) He was elevated to the honored position of being Potiphar’s personal attendant—in charge of all he owned! In return for his dedication and faithful service, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of raping her because he refused her advances out of reverent fear of his God and the honor of his master. After a lengthy period of selfless prison service and a series of mysterious dreams, Joseph was elevated to second in the kingdom only to Pharaoh. God used Joseph to save Egypt and his own family who had betrayed him! Quite a round-about way of being blessed, wouldn’t you say? Pharaoh allowed Joseph’s family to settle in Egypt, safe from the severe famine in the land. Over the course of time, another Pharaoh arose in the land and forgot all about Joseph and his faithful service to the kingdom. Meanwhile, the Israelites (Joseph’s family) had greatly multiplied and it was feared they would rebel against the throne!
3) Read Exodus 2—enter God’s man of the hour, Moses! What does Exodus 2:24-25 and Exodus 3 (especially, verses 3:7-10) tell us about God’s plan for Moses’ life and why?
4) Well, you have to know that a lot went on between Exodus and Joshua! Things like making, worshipping and bowing down to a golden calf, unspeakable debauchery at the foot of the mount of God. The Israelites, who had witnessed countless miracles and wonders of Almighty God, never ceased their grumbling and complaining! A grievous sin that cost them 40 years of wandering in a place called the Desert of sin!
5) We have been richly blessed in countless numbers of ways! Do you ever find yourself grumbling and complaining? What did that produce in your life?
6) Have you ever faced a difficult situation in your life where you chose not to grumble or complain? What was that result? Please share!
7) Finally, the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—the promised land lay before them! God had promised and now all they needed to do was possess it! So, why the scouting team (Deuteronomy 1:20-22?)
8) Forty days of scouting and forty years of wandering—any thoughts?
9) Why do you think they needed that sample of fruit?
Numbers 13:26-29 (Tuesday)
“They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan." (NIV)
1) Very good report! A land flowing with milk and honey! How does that analogy speak to you in your own life?
2) Notice how one little word changes the whole assembly’s perspective, “But!”
3) Not just giants—powerful giants! Large, fortified cities! Can you think of some situations in your own life that appear that overwhelming? What powerful giant or fortified wall is keeping you from your promised land?
Numbers 13:30-33 (Wednesday)
“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them." (NIV)
1) Caleb must have been very bold and a man of strong character to have been able to silence this crowd! What do you think gave him the strong conviction that they could indeed take the land?
2) What are some of the things we witness everyday that devours others around us and perhaps even threatens to devour us?
3) What is it about us humans that make us feel so small in comparison to our challenges?
4) Why is self-confidence not enough to make us conquerors—overcomers?
5) What is needed? Do you see this evidenced in Caleb’s stand?
Numbers 14:1-10 (Thursday)
“That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites.” (NIV)
1) This is like saying to God, “If only you had let me stay an adulterer, an alcoholic, a thief, a liar, a murder—a whatever! If only you had let me die in my sins!” What ungratefulness and what unbelief!
2) Instead of admitting their own fear and taking it to God, what excuse did they use for not wanting to go into the land?
3) Wow! Blame it on the women and children! How does this speak of these men’s character and weakness?
4) If the LORD (Covenant name for God!) be pleased with us. Was this a question or a statement of fact? How do we know today if the LORD is pleased with us?
5) Rebellion and fear often go hand in hand. Which one do you think comes first?
6) What is the greater sin behind our fear?
7) What reason did Caleb and Joshua give the Israelites for their being able to “swallow them up?”
8) Have you ever witnessed someone’s “protection” leaving them?
9) Has your “protection” (not salvation) ever left you? Why? What was the result?
10) How does winning even the smallest battle in our lives effect our faith and trust in Almighty God?
11) Can you just picture these guys with stones in their hands and the glory of the LORD appearing? Wouldn’t have wanted to be them at that point!
Joshua 14:6-13 (Friday)
“Now the men 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. 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, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 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.' "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 desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 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. 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." Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.” (NIV)
1) Oh, I pray you grasp that the fiery faith and conviction of Caleb has not lost a flicker of its flame and passion!
2) You have to keep in mind that Caleb’s “promised land” was delayed 45 years, not as the result of his sin, but the sin of others. Imagine! Forty years of wandering aimlessly round and round the land he was meant to conquer and possess—land he was ready to conquer and possess! Watching one unbeliever after another fall by his side, until at last at age 85 he can enter into God’s promise! Do you sense any bitterness, complaining or anger in him at this point?
3) What do you think Caleb may have learned about God’s character as he watched one after another of his kinsman fall dead in the desert? Did this weaken or strengthen his faith in God? How would this effect your faith?
4) Well, one thing all that walking did was keep Caleb fit! How many 85 year old (or 53 year olds—me!) can say they are as strong as they were when they started out on their journey with God? Sense any fear in old Caleb? What was he ready for?
5) What was the main source of Caleb’s strength and hope?
6) How many of us on that day of the Lord will be able to say, “I followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly?”
7) As believers in Christ, is it ever too late to move forward in God’s will (Numbers 14:11-24; 36-45?)
8) Okay, how ready are we for battle? Do we dare go alone? Who did Caleb call upon to help him conquer his giants?