March 6, 2026 - Joshua 14-18

Caleb!  What an example of faithfulness and courage!  When with the spies sent into Canaan, he and Joshua stood against the other ten.  As the land was now being divided among the people, Caleb reminded Joshua, “I wholly followed the LORD my God” (14:8) and also that Moses had promised him the land he had walked upon.  Further, Caleb said, “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” (14:10-12).  And so, “Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb . . . because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel” (14:14-15).  The application from this story is so obvious:  Men of God, stand up!

Rise, O my soul, pursue the path

By ancient worthies trod;

Aspiring, view those holy men

Who lived and walked with God.

Tho’ dead, they speak in reason’s ear,

And in example live;

Their faith, and hope and mighty deeds,

Still fresh instruction give.

‘Twas thro’ the Lamb’s most precious blood

They conquered ev’ry foe;

To His almighty pow’r and grace

Their crowns of life they owe.

Lord, may I ever keep in view

The patterns Thou hast giv’n,

And ne’er forsake the blessed road

That led them safe to heav’n.   -- John Needham (18^th century)