Wholehearted
Caleb is interesting bible character to me. He seems to be the kind of guy cut from a different mold. You might know the story. When he was 40 he was one of 12 spies sent into Canaan to scope it out. (Numbers 13 & 14) Like David and Jesus who would come after him, he was from the tribe of Judah. Actually the expediation was not to be ‘should we take the land’ or ‘can we’ but ‘go and see the land God is giving us’. As you know there were 10 who saw giants and said ‘no way’ and Caleb alone with Yeshua (Joshua) said ‘let’s go get ‘em… If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.‘.
At that the congregation wanted to stone him.
Flash-forward 40 years. Joshua is promoted to the man and we are reintroduced to Caleb. Actually its 45 years because after crossing the Jordan, they spend 5 years taking possession. All the people who said ‘no way’ died. Joshua and Caleb alone are still around.
So this 85 year old man, goes to Joshua and says ‘give me my land’. Give me the land I scoped out, the one with the giants. The one promised to me 45 years ago, I still have fight left in me. I’ve been waiting for this day for 40+ years. Yeah, the giants are still living in that hill country but with God’s help I can take it. He’s bigger than they are.”
Bold, brash, full of faith. Wholehearted devotion. Not half-hearted. But he was ‘all in’.
In fact that’s why he was promised this portion. He followed God wholeheartedly. He believed when others didn’t. He believed despite the circumstances. His faith wasn’t in his ability as a he-man but in God and the promise of His word.
When I look at the giants in the world I get overwhelmed. In my soul, I say ‘no way’. Giants that stand in the way of “His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” And with Kingdom, I am not talking some Christian political utopia. I am talking about surveying the land and seeing the things on earth that are not like they are in heaven. His Kindgom is to be in this world but not of this world.
I see giants – pain, grief, suffering, death, extreme poverty, spiritual emptiness, apathy, hatred, war, murder, racism, abuse, human trafficking, injustices… a lack of worship and honor due our King.
I see things within my own life… sin, self-centeredness, pride, lack of faith, pursuit of things that are temporal, wasting what God has given me, callousness, indifference, impatience…. a lack of genuine worship and honor due my Savior and King.
I want to follow the Lord my God wholeheartedly. I want to go after giants to see His Kingdom come. I want to stand with Yeshua even if its just two standing. I want to believe not because of what I see but because of who His is.
I want a little of crazy Caleb.
