Caleb Wholly Followed Jehovah
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
11/3/2013 AM
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Text:
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Deuteronomy 1:36
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Psalters: |
267, 334, 290, 213 |
Sacrament of Baptism |
- The occasion.
- The spies were sent out at God’s command (Num. 13:1-3) and at the request of the people (22).
- But the request of the people was after they hesitated with discouragement (20,21).
- This was after God had been leading them with a cloud for 1 ½ years and meeting their every need (30,31,33).
- After 40 days the twelve spies returned with a report (25).
- The people wanted to walk into Canaan and occupy it, not work to obtain it.
- Israel would have to actively fight to take it (God’s sovereignty does not deny human responsibility).
- The people concluded that it was an impossibility (26, Num. 13:31,32) because of the fear of unbelief (29,32).
- Caleb (and Joshua) looked at things differently with good reason.
- First, Caleb “had another spirit” (Num. 14:24) – that of faith and the fear of Jehovah (II Chron. 32:8; Num. 14:8,9).
- Second, Caleb “wholly followed Jehovah” (Num. 14:24; 32:12; text, Joshua 14:14, Joshua said it of himself in 14:8,9).
- This means that Caleb had full purpose of heart which was willing to go wherever God leads and directs.
- He was directed by the conscious fear of God to follow God’s rules and directions.
- The people of Israel reacted in unbelief (Num. 14:1; Ps. 106:24; Heb. 3:19; 5:6,11).
- Moses and Aaron with Caleb and Joshua answer with faith, chiefly declaring that “Jehovah goeth before you” (30a).
- God Himself made an appearance (Num. 14:10) to show that Caleb’s report was correct.
- It is always the case that the faithful convictions of God’s people will incur the wrath of unbelief.
- But the very God which man denies appears in His glorious anger.
- God’s glory, which Caleb’s faith grasped, was at stake: God’s cause is much bigger than Caleb’s or ours.
- God displays His glory by declaring that they may not enter Canaan (34,35; Num. 14:21-23).
- God’s glory blesses Caleb and Joshua by allowing them to enter the land of promise (text).
- Caleb was able to enter into the land of Canaan and to receive a portion of it as an inheritance.
- That of which Canaan is the type is the heavenly, which is the inheritance God promises to all faithful believers.