And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.
For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh–barnea.
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh–barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.
And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath–arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Israel's conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. After years of wandering and warfare, the focus shifts to the distribution of the land among the tribes, a process meticulously documented from Joshua 14 through chapter 21. This detailed record served not only to allocate territories but also to prevent future disputes, ensuring that each tribe received its divinely ordained portion, just as the LORD had commanded Moses (Joshua 14:5).
The Inheritance of Faith: Caleb's Story (Joshua 14:6-15)
Within the broader context of land distribution, the story of Caleb stands out as a powerful testament to faith, perseverance, and the unwavering faithfulness of God. Joshua 14:6-15 centers on Caleb, a member of the tribe of Judah, approaching Joshua with a request rooted in a promise made decades earlier.
Caleb's story takes us back to Numbers 13, when Moses sent twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. While all twelve spies confirmed the land's abundance, ten of them were overwhelmed by fear, reporting that the inhabitants were formidable warriors and the cities heavily fortified (Numbers 13:26-33). Their fear-mongering caused the people of Israel to lose heart and rebel against God.
However, Caleb and Joshua held a different perspective. They recognized God's power and faithfulness, urging the people to seize the land God had promised. They understood that their mission wasn't to debate the challenges but to trust God and take possession of their inheritance. Caleb and Joshua, by contrast, insisted that God had not sent them to debate the land but to take the land (Joshua 14:7-8).
As a consequence of Israel's unbelief and disobedience, God decreed that that entire generation, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua, would not enter the Promised Land. For forty years, they wandered in the wilderness until almost all of that first generation died (Numbers 14:1-38). As Hebrews 4:3 reminds us, their unbelief prevented them from entering God's "rest."
Despite the widespread unbelief, Caleb remained steadfast in his faith. Because he "followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly" (Joshua 14:8), Moses promised him an inheritance in the very land he had scouted. Forty-five years later, at the age of eighty-five, Caleb approached Joshua, reminding him of that promise (Joshua 14:10-12). He declared that he was still as strong as he had been when Moses sent him out, and he requested the hill country of Hebron, a territory inhabited by the formidable Anakites.
Joshua, recognizing Caleb's faithfulness and God's promise, blessed him and granted him his request (Joshua 14:13). Caleb then drove out the Anakites from Hebron (Joshua 15:14), demonstrating that faith in God empowers us to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Lessons for Today
Caleb's story offers profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us that:
- Faith triumphs over fear: When faced with daunting challenges, we must choose to trust in God's power rather than succumbing to fear and doubt.
- God remembers faithfulness: God honors those who remain steadfast in their faith, even when surrounded by unbelief. He keeps His promises and rewards those who diligently seek Him.
- Age is no barrier to service: Caleb's strength and zeal at eighty-five demonstrate that God can use us powerfully at any stage of life.
- Inheritance requires claiming: God has blessings prepared for us, but we must actively claim them through faith and obedience.
When the voices around us amplify problems and diminish God's power, let Caleb's example inspire us to stand firm on God's Word. Like Caleb, we can choose to be influenced not by those who say God can't make a way, but by the unwavering knowledge that nothing is too big for Him. Caleb walked faithfully with God, and God remembered him. He can do the same for you as you choose to be influenced not by those who say God can’t make a way but by the knowledge that there is nothing too big for him. May we all have the courage to claim our inheritance with the same faith and determination as Caleb, knowing that God is faithful to fulfill His promises in our lives.
And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.
For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh–barnea.
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh–barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.
And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath–arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Israel's conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. After years of wandering and warfare, the focus shifts to the distribution of the land among the tribes, a process meticulously documented from Joshua 14 through chapter 21. This detailed record served not only to allocate territories but also to prevent future disputes, ensuring that each tribe received its divinely ordained portion, just as the LORD had commanded Moses (Joshua 14:5).
The Inheritance of Faith: Caleb's Story (Joshua 14:6-15)
Within the broader context of land distribution, the story of Caleb stands out as a powerful testament to faith, perseverance, and the unwavering faithfulness of God. Joshua 14:6-15 centers on Caleb, a member of the tribe of Judah, approaching Joshua with a request rooted in a promise made decades earlier.
Caleb's story takes us back to Numbers 13, when Moses sent twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. While all twelve spies confirmed the land's abundance, ten of them were overwhelmed by fear, reporting that the inhabitants were formidable warriors and the cities heavily fortified (Numbers 13:26-33). Their fear-mongering caused the people of Israel to lose heart and rebel against God.
However, Caleb and Joshua held a different perspective. They recognized God's power and faithfulness, urging the people to seize the land God had promised. They understood that their mission wasn't to debate the challenges but to trust God and take possession of their inheritance. Caleb and Joshua, by contrast, insisted that God had not sent them to debate the land but to take the land (Joshua 14:7-8).
As a consequence of Israel's unbelief and disobedience, God decreed that that entire generation, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua, would not enter the Promised Land. For forty years, they wandered in the wilderness until almost all of that first generation died (Numbers 14:1-38). As Hebrews 4:3 reminds us, their unbelief prevented them from entering God's "rest."
Despite the widespread unbelief, Caleb remained steadfast in his faith. Because he "followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly" (Joshua 14:8), Moses promised him an inheritance in the very land he had scouted. Forty-five years later, at the age of eighty-five, Caleb approached Joshua, reminding him of that promise (Joshua 14:10-12). He declared that he was still as strong as he had been when Moses sent him out, and he requested the hill country of Hebron, a territory inhabited by the formidable Anakites.
Joshua, recognizing Caleb's faithfulness and God's promise, blessed him and granted him his request (Joshua 14:13). Caleb then drove out the Anakites from Hebron (Joshua 15:14), demonstrating that faith in God empowers us to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Lessons for Today
Caleb's story offers profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us that:
- Faith triumphs over fear: When faced with daunting challenges, we must choose to trust in God's power rather than succumbing to fear and doubt.
- God remembers faithfulness: God honors those who remain steadfast in their faith, even when surrounded by unbelief. He keeps His promises and rewards those who diligently seek Him.
- Age is no barrier to service: Caleb's strength and zeal at eighty-five demonstrate that God can use us powerfully at any stage of life.
- Inheritance requires claiming: God has blessings prepared for us, but we must actively claim them through faith and obedience.
When the voices around us amplify problems and diminish God's power, let Caleb's example inspire us to stand firm on God's Word. Like Caleb, we can choose to be influenced not by those who say God can't make a way, but by the unwavering knowledge that nothing is too big for Him. Caleb walked faithfully with God, and God remembered him. He can do the same for you as you choose to be influenced not by those who say God can’t make a way but by the knowledge that there is nothing too big for him. May we all have the courage to claim our inheritance with the same faith and determination as Caleb, knowing that God is faithful to fulfill His promises in our lives.