Caleb Wholly Followed Jehovah

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Deuteronomy 1:36
Psalters: 267, 334, 290, 213
Sacrament of Baptism
  1. The occasion.
    1. The spies were sent out at God’s command (Num. 13:1-3) and at the request of the people (22).
      1. But the request of the people was after they hesitated with discouragement (20,21).
      2. This was after God had been leading them with a cloud for 1 ½ years and meeting their every need (30,31,33).
    2. After 40 days the twelve spies returned with a report (25).
      1. The people wanted to walk into Canaan and occupy it, not work to obtain it.
      2. Israel would have to actively fight to take it (God’s sovereignty does not deny human responsibility).
    3. The people concluded that it was an impossibility (26, Num. 13:31,32) because of the fear of unbelief (29,32).
  2. Caleb (and Joshua) looked at things differently with good reason.
    1. First, Caleb “had another spirit” (Num. 14:24) – that of faith and the fear of Jehovah (II Chron. 32:8; Num. 14:8,9).
    2. Second, Caleb “wholly followed Jehovah” (Num. 14:24; 32:12; text, Joshua 14:14, Joshua said it of himself in 14:8,9).
      1. This means that Caleb had full purpose of heart which was willing to go wherever God leads and directs.
      2. He was directed by the conscious fear of God to follow God’s rules and directions.
    3. The people of Israel reacted in unbelief (Num. 14:1; Ps. 106:24; Heb. 3:19; 5:6,11).
    4. Moses and Aaron with Caleb and Joshua answer with faith, chiefly declaring that “Jehovah goeth before you” (30a).
  3. God Himself made an appearance (Num. 14:10) to show that Caleb’s report was correct.
    1. It is always the case that the faithful convictions of God’s people will incur the wrath of unbelief.
    2. But the very God which man denies appears in His glorious anger.
      1. God’s glory, which Caleb’s faith grasped, was at stake: God’s cause is much bigger than Caleb’s or ours.
      2. God displays His glory by declaring that they may not enter Canaan (34,35; Num. 14:21-23).
    3. God’s glory blesses Caleb and Joshua by allowing them to enter the land of promise (text).
      1. Caleb was able to enter into the land of Canaan and to receive a portion of it as an inheritance.
      2. That of which Canaan is the type is the heavenly, which is the inheritance God promises to all faithful believers.