Chapter 13 of Joshua was uplifting with the promise that with the passage of time, there is much more that we have to offer, that we can do, and that we should do. Good and faithful servants. It’s a promise, but the reality has not sunk in yet. Just does not seem real until you apply it to your current circumstances.
When I read Chapter 13, then compared it to Chapter 14, I was reminded of the difference between “theory” and “reality”. And it is in that difference that our faith is challenged and defined.
Some challenges are hills. Some are mountains. And how those whom I know overcome these mountains are both an inspiration and encouragement to me and others. The minute by minute struggle is often unknown to others, but their are clues to their journey and their story is eventually revealed later.
We see clues to these mountains, these struggles, and the results of their efforts with God’s help when they later witness their travails through prayer requests, memes and words of encouragement to others which we may discern is a reflection on their efforts to punch through.
So, there are hills and there are mountains to climb. And when those on that journey ask for a prayer, then pray. Need a kind word, express it. Need a little grace, be gracious. And the list of the little things we can do is endless.
Well, that brings me to Joshua 14 with the second part of the story of Caleb. At first, I recognized the obvious symbolism of being given a mountain. The confidence in God’s promise and strength. But, that was the first level, and that was the summary and manner that I addressed it. Not realizing how hard that mountain was and is to climb. The reality had not hit me yet.
And then I thought some more over the day. And that brought me to revising and editing this post. That not only must we have the faith to take that mountain, but we need the witnessing and support of those to help us climb that mountain. We must be open and vulnerable to our need to seek help from God, family and friends. And others need to be receptive to helping.
These chapters of Joshua now seem like the reading of a will with the dishing out (aka devises) of land to the intended beneficiaries (aka devisees). But just like the reading of the will, there are those listening with ears of “what did I get?” running the gamut from hearts of greed to hearts of love.
Now back to Caleb.
Then in verse 7 of Chapter 14 of Joshua, enter state right – Caleb holding the Lord to a promise made 40 years earlier.
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.