Caleb Followed the Lord Fully – Part Two
In the first part of this lesson we noted Caleb’s attitude in following the Lord. We asked and looked at a couple questions as to our following Jesus all the days of our lives and with all our hearts. In this part we continue by asking ourselves “Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, despite the hazards?”
What is it to follow Christ despite the hazards? Caleb followed the Lord despite the dangers. He was willing to face the giants in the land - cf. Num 13:33 “And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."’ He was willing to face the wrath of his brethren - Num 14:10 “Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.” He was willing to take a mountain from the giants in his old age - Josh 14:10-12 “And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said."’ Many will serve the Lord only when it is convenient. When it is popular, like the crowds who followed Jesus. When it is safe, like Peter before confronted by the maiden - Mt 26:69-70 “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."’ What of us who follow Jesus today? Shall we follow Him only when convenient? Shall we follow Him despite ridicule, persecution, dangers? - Mt 5:10-12 ‘"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” -- Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, despite the hazards?
Certainly the commitment of Caleb to his Lord is commendable. How was he able to be so committed? How might we be so enabled...? How are we enabled to follow the Lord fully? One way is by keeping our eye on Him. Caleb’s faith was in the Lord, not himself. He was confident they could take the land - Num 13:30. But that was because he knew the Lord would be with them - Num 14:6-9. Thus his eye was on the Lord! So we need to keep our eye on Jesus - He 12:1-4 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Looking unto Him as the author and finisher of our faith. Considering the hostility He endured, knowing the Father will help us as He helped Him to endure. -- Shall we look to the Lord for our inspiration and confidence, like Caleb did?
We can follow the Lord fully by having a different spirit. Caleb was noted for a having a different spirit - Num 14:24 “But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” Different than the spirit in the other ten spies, who were defeatists - Num 13:31 “Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are."’ Different than the spirit in the rest of Israel, who complained - Num 14:1-2 “Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!” We can be strengthened by a different spirit. Certainly the spirit of a positive attitude will help - Ph 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” How much more so, with the Spirit of God helping us! - Ro 8:12-13 “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”; Ep 3:16 “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” -- Shall we have a “can do” attitude, knowing we are clothed in the strength of God’s might? - Ep 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Finally, let us seek to discern to glean from the example of Caleb a motivation to follow the Lord fully. It leads to a fuller life. Consider how God was able to use Caleb:
As a leader in Israel - cf. Num 13:2,6; 34:18,19.
As a servant of God, first to spy out the land, then to divide it - Num 14:24a.
As an example of faith and courage - Num 13:30; 14:8,9.
As a reminder of God’s justice - Num 14:29-30.
As an inspiration of service, even in old age - Josh 14:6-12.
How useful will we be, if we follow Jesus fully? We can be an example in youth - 1 Ti 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” We can be useful to the Master - 2 Ti 2:20-22 “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” -- Don’t we want to be useful to Jesus?
It leads to a fulfilled life. Consider how Caleb was fulfilled in life: Only he and Joshua were blessed to enter Canaan - Deu 1:35-36. He received the land around Hebron as an inheritance - Josh 14:6-14; 21:12. His land had rest from war - Josh 14:15. What kind of fulfilled life does Jesus offer those who follow Him fully today? One that experiences love which passes knowledge - Ep 3:19 “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” One that experiences peace which surpasses understanding - Ph 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” One that experiences joy inexpressible - 1 Pe 1:8 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,” One in which our daily needs are provided - Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -- Don’t we want to have a fulfilled life?
Let the example of Caleb inspire you to follow the Lord fully in your life... To follow Jesus all the days of your life. To follow Jesus with all your heart. To follow Jesus despite the hazards. Shall we, like Caleb, follow the Lord fully so we too may have a useful life in service to the Lord? Have a fulfilled life that is blessed by the Lord? Don’t forget - Caleb and Joshua were the only two (out of 603,550 men) who survived the forty years of wilderness wanderings and entered the promised land (Num 32:10-13). Their brethren did not enter Canaan, for as the Lord said of them “they have not wholly followed Me”. How are we following the Lord? Like Caleb? Or like those who died in the wilderness...?
In the first part of this lesson we noted Caleb’s attitude in following the Lord. We asked and looked at a couple questions as to our following Jesus all the days of our lives and with all our hearts. In this part we continue by asking ourselves “Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, despite the hazards?”
What is it to follow Christ despite the hazards? Caleb followed the Lord despite the dangers. He was willing to face the giants in the land - cf. Num 13:33 “And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."’ He was willing to face the wrath of his brethren - Num 14:10 “Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.” He was willing to take a mountain from the giants in his old age - Josh 14:10-12 “And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said."’ Many will serve the Lord only when it is convenient. When it is popular, like the crowds who followed Jesus. When it is safe, like Peter before confronted by the maiden - Mt 26:69-70 “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."’ What of us who follow Jesus today? Shall we follow Him only when convenient? Shall we follow Him despite ridicule, persecution, dangers? - Mt 5:10-12 ‘"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” -- Shall we follow Jesus like Caleb followed the Lord, despite the hazards?
Certainly the commitment of Caleb to his Lord is commendable. How was he able to be so committed? How might we be so enabled...? How are we enabled to follow the Lord fully? One way is by keeping our eye on Him. Caleb’s faith was in the Lord, not himself. He was confident they could take the land - Num 13:30. But that was because he knew the Lord would be with them - Num 14:6-9. Thus his eye was on the Lord! So we need to keep our eye on Jesus - He 12:1-4 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Looking unto Him as the author and finisher of our faith. Considering the hostility He endured, knowing the Father will help us as He helped Him to endure. -- Shall we look to the Lord for our inspiration and confidence, like Caleb did?
We can follow the Lord fully by having a different spirit. Caleb was noted for a having a different spirit - Num 14:24 “But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” Different than the spirit in the other ten spies, who were defeatists - Num 13:31 “Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are."’ Different than the spirit in the rest of Israel, who complained - Num 14:1-2 “Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!” We can be strengthened by a different spirit. Certainly the spirit of a positive attitude will help - Ph 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” How much more so, with the Spirit of God helping us! - Ro 8:12-13 “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”; Ep 3:16 “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” -- Shall we have a “can do” attitude, knowing we are clothed in the strength of God’s might? - Ep 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
Finally, let us seek to discern to glean from the example of Caleb a motivation to follow the Lord fully. It leads to a fuller life. Consider how God was able to use Caleb:
As a leader in Israel - cf. Num 13:2,6; 34:18,19.
As a servant of God, first to spy out the land, then to divide it - Num 14:24a.
As an example of faith and courage - Num 13:30; 14:8,9.
As a reminder of God’s justice - Num 14:29-30.
As an inspiration of service, even in old age - Josh 14:6-12.
How useful will we be, if we follow Jesus fully? We can be an example in youth - 1 Ti 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” We can be useful to the Master - 2 Ti 2:20-22 “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” -- Don’t we want to be useful to Jesus?
It leads to a fulfilled life. Consider how Caleb was fulfilled in life: Only he and Joshua were blessed to enter Canaan - Deu 1:35-36. He received the land around Hebron as an inheritance - Josh 14:6-14; 21:12. His land had rest from war - Josh 14:15. What kind of fulfilled life does Jesus offer those who follow Him fully today? One that experiences love which passes knowledge - Ep 3:19 “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” One that experiences peace which surpasses understanding - Ph 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” One that experiences joy inexpressible - 1 Pe 1:8 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,” One in which our daily needs are provided - Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -- Don’t we want to have a fulfilled life?
Let the example of Caleb inspire you to follow the Lord fully in your life... To follow Jesus all the days of your life. To follow Jesus with all your heart. To follow Jesus despite the hazards. Shall we, like Caleb, follow the Lord fully so we too may have a useful life in service to the Lord? Have a fulfilled life that is blessed by the Lord? Don’t forget - Caleb and Joshua were the only two (out of 603,550 men) who survived the forty years of wilderness wanderings and entered the promised land (Num 32:10-13). Their brethren did not enter Canaan, for as the Lord said of them “they have not wholly followed Me”. How are we following the Lord? Like Caleb? Or like those who died in the wilderness...?
