Caleb, a Man that Followed God

“Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.” (Numbers 14:23–24)

In a society that seemingly follows the status quo, following the path of least resistance, there needs to be more people like Caleb son of Jephunneh. Not much is ever mentioned about a man named Caleb when heroes of the Bible are mentioned. The “hall of fame of faith” (Hebrews 11) does not mention his name, there is no book in Scripture bearing his name, there are no children’s songs (to this writer’s knowledge) about him, but when we examine what the Scriptures tell us about Caleb, we quickly realize that he is someone that deserves mentioning, and should be an example for us.

Most of what can be known about Caleb is found within the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of Numbers. We are introduced to Caleb (Numbers 13:6), where we read he is from the tribe of Judah and is the son of Jephunneh. As we are reading a listing of these men, we are reading the list of men that would be commissioned to go spy out the land of Canaan, the land that God would give to the children of Israel. An interesting fact about the list of men can be found in Numbers 13:2 as God requires these men to be “of every tribe of their fathers” and also these men had to be a “ruler among them.” The men that would be selected for the spying out of the Promise Land were hand picked by God and would have been considered to be influential men of their times.

As we continue reading Numbers 13, and read of the task set before Caleb and his fellow spies, we read of the land and its inhabitants as the men searched the land, we read of the findings in the land as grapes, pomegranates, and figs were brought back with the men (Numbers 13:23), and after forty days of searching the land they return to report their findings to Moses, Aaron, and all the congregation of Israel. Within this report, those that went into the land began to speak of a land that “surely” flows with milk and honey, and showed the fruit that was brought back (Num. 13:27), but they also reported that the people in the land were strong, and the cities were walled, and to make matters worse, there were giants in the land (“children of Anak” Num. 13:28). This report concluded by the majority of the spies telling the people that the land is filled with giants, that the children of Israel were small, and all the people of Israel doubted what God had promised them.

In the midst of all of the doubt, and bad news that was spread there is one lone voice that cries out among the neigh sayers. “Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13:32). Caleb did not listen to the negative reports of how mighty the inhabitants in the land were, Caleb did not listen to how small the Israelites were, but Caleb listened to the promise God had given, and Caleb was a man that wholly followed God. The people should have taken the advice of Caleb, and followed the Lord’s commands, but they allowed fear and doubt keep them from entering into the Promise Land. The entire congregation of Israel, save Joshua and Caleb, would not be permitted to see the Promise Land, but because of fear and doubt an entire generation had to die in the wilderness (Num. 14:21-23). As for Caleb, he would inform Joshua of the promise that was given to Moses because of his faithfulness, and would receive the land that belonged to the Anakims after he would drive them out (Joshua 14:6-14).

In a time that seems as if there are more people like the ten spies that gave an evil report, than people like Caleb that trust in the promises of God, and are wholly given to following His commands, which example will you follow? Is it easier sometimes to fear and doubt and do nothing, like the Israelites? Yes it is. Does following the commands of God require work, and faith in His Word, even when others say otherwise? Yes, we are commanded to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Will you decided to follow God wholly? His promises remain for those that are faithful to Him (Heb. 11:6).