Caleb, man of faith

"The Lord has kept me alive for forty-five years, since he spoke this word to Moses ... and now, behold, I am eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me [at 40 years] ; As my strength was then, as my strength is now for war. "Joshua 10: 11

Caleb is often recognized as a hero of faith. That's right, but in fact this man of God is more than that. Let us talk first about his exceptional faith.

At the beginning of the journey to the territory God had promised to give to his people, Caleb and Joshua affirm their faith : "Let us go boldly and take possession of the land !" These are two heroes of faith, faced with the people who refuse to trust God and threatens to stone them. It will take forty years in the desert before crossing the Jordan. After the first years of fighting, the hour when Caleb recalls the divine promise : "The land which your foot has trampled will be your inheritance for ever and for your children, because you have fully followed the way of the Lord" (Jos 14: 9).

Its heritage is Hebron: a fortified city, difficult to access, defended by giants. Caleb presents himself to take up this city himself (verses of the day). He never forgot the promise of God, nor doubted that with his help he would have victory. When he claims to have as much strength as at forty, it is not a ridiculous pretension ; At 85 years old, he really defeated the giants and conquered Hebron (Joshua 15:14). Caleb, the hero of faith !

Certainly, God honored this man of faith, keeping him exceptional forces so that He would take Hebron. But Caleb has another lesson for us. During the forty years in the desert, he ate the manna and drank the water from the rock. Never his name is associated with those who despised this "miserable bread"! The manna, the water of the rock, is to have Christ for food and drink, to nourish our thoughts of what the Word reveals about it.

This is where to draw strength. It is difficult to keep oneself pure from the world, to maintain conjugal fidelity, to face illness or failure. We need strength, and Caleb shows us where to draw it: in daily meditation on the Word.

Next to tomorrow

Source (To pleasing the Lord)