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“Caleb had a different spirit…” Numbers 14:24

As I was reviewing the Old Testament story of the Children of Israel going home after 400+ years in Egyptian slavery, 12 men were chosen, one from each of the 12 tribes, to check out the land that they were about to enter. 10 came back frightened; 2 came back encouraged. The masses listened to the majority and it cost them 40 years of wandering! There ought to be a lesson in that somewhere!

Of those two who were faithful a lot is written about Joshua; he even got a whole book in the Bible! But Caleb—not so much. My verse today reminded me this morning of an important character quality that is worth exploring and developing. Besides going against popular opinion and being willing to stand alone when necessary, my verse says Caleb had, “a different spirit.” And true to my axiom- if it’s important to God it’s clear in His word- God defines that “different spirit” with one clear descriptor- “he followed Me wholeheartedly.” That was how he was described by God at the beginning of the 40 years

And at the end of the 40 years Caleb defined himself to his friend Joshua in the very same way, “I have followed the Lord wholeheartedly.” Joshua 14:8. He was 85 years old and still faithful, and according to verse 11 he was, “just as strong as when he started.” Now THAT’S faithfulness! And his reward was that out of all the Hebrews who choose to follow the fearful 10, forty years before, Caleb was one of only two that survived the wandering and got to enter the promised land. There is something to “wholehearted faithfulness.” It worked for them, I guessing it can bring me through the “wilderness wandering” my society is going through right now.

Have a great day discovering the value of committed wholehearted faithfulness to God,
Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.”