Joshua 14:6-15 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. 10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the {giants} were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.

Photo by Charles 🇵🇭 on Unsplash

When I was a little boy my earliest memories are of momma reading Bible stories to me and my brother Mark. Momma had one of those “Illustrated Bible Story” books. We used to hear about Moses, Abraham, Samson, Gideon, Daniel in the Lion’s den, and of course Jesus. I heard a lot of Bible stories. I heard of a shepherd boy named David who killed a giant named Goliath, and then became King of Israel. I never heard of Cinderella and her fairy godmother, but David was my hero (especially because I was named David). A shy and fat child needs a hero he thinks he can be, a hero to look up to. But one story I never heard – and you probably have never heard – is the story of Caleb.

I don’t know why we never hear of Caleb.

Gideon was hiding from the enemy when God called him to lead Israel.
Samson was a “ladies man” who got a bad haircut.
Moses murdered someone and ran away for forty years.
Abraham made bad marital decisions.
King David stole another man’s wife, then had him killed.

Of course, our Lord Jesus never sinned, and a man named Enoch walked with God until he walked into Heaven. Most of the other Bible characters I learned as a child are flawed just as we are. But I never heard of Caleb. You probably haven’t either. Today you will.

Caleb is mentioned 36 times in the Bible.

I cannot find one instance in scripture where Caleb is mentioned as failing or falling. That doesn’t mean that he wasn’t flawed. The Bible tells us:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

The Scripture is very clear that all have sinned against God. We are all flawed. This is why God sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth. God said in Psalm 14:2 …

… The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This is why the Father sent the Son to this earth. We are all fallen. From baby to adult we fall short of God’s standard. So God in His grace …

John 3:16-18 … gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

God the Son came from Heaven to this earth to save us – praise the lord forever. He alone among humanity is without sin (see 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Luke 1:35; 1 John 3:5; Matthew 27:24; Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 1:18-19). There is no sin in Jesus. He came to take our place so that one day we can take His place in Heaven. What a Savior we have!

Caleb was flawed as we all are – but he loved the Lord.

Caleb Was FLAWED By Birth

Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him …

The first word in our text today is Then. Israel has come together in the name of God in one accord and, led by Joshua, has taken most of the Promised Land from the pagans. We are told in the previous chapter that God spoke to Joshua …

Joshua 13:1 Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

Though the land was not completely under Israel’s control the Lord told Joshua to begin dividing up the land to each of the Tribes of Israel. Every tribe was to have a portion but the Levites. The Bible says:

Joshua 13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

The two tribes of Joseph (Manasseh and Ephraim) received the inheritance of the Levites (see Joshua 14:3-4). The Levites were the priests of God, and their inheritance was the Lord (which, I think, is the best inheritance).

The children of Judah is are about to receive their inheritance when an old man named Caleb steps up. Who is Caleb? The Bible tells us:

Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him …

We don’t know much about Caleb’s childhood, but we can learn a lot from this text. The Hebrews attached much meaning to names. We find out that Caleb’s father is Jephunneh the Kenezite. The Bible is very clear that Jephunneh is of the tribe of Judah, the ruling tribe of Israel:

Numbers 13:6 … from the Tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh …

Jephunneh is called a Kenezite in our text. The word Kenezite is the Hebrew קְנִזִּי Qᵉnizzîy, (pronounced ken-iz-zee’), and the same word is found in Genesis 15 some 215 years before when God promised Father Abraham the land of Canaan. We read:

Genesis 15:18-19 … In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites …

Though the King James translators added an extra “z” in Genesis this is nonetheless the same Hebrew word used in Joshua 14:6. Jephunneh is called a Kenezite, the same people who were suppose to be dispossessed from the land. This has puzzled translators and scholars for years. Some people even surmise that Jephunneh was a converted Gentile who was now a Jew. This is very possible. When God spoke to Abram this man was from Ur of the Chaldees – ancient Babylon. God told Abram that “all people on the earth will be blessed because of you (my paraphrase of Genesis 12:3). The Lord told Israel:

Isaiah 49:6 … I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

It was always God’s will that not just Israel, but that whosoever will believe on Him shall be saved. Did not God say:

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. …

God wanted to save all. We see His Grace woven throughout the tapestry of the whole Bible. Jephunneh Jephunneh was a Kenezite. Though of the Tribe of Judah there is some question as to his lineage. We do not know, but we do know the Bible mentions it. Caleb was not of blue blood status because of his birth.

 Jephunneh named his son Caleb. The word translated CALEB is the Hebrew כָּלֵב Kâlêb, (pronounced kaw-labe’) which means “Dog”. Caleb’s name is very similar to the Hebrew word for “dog”, as you see in the illustration. As you can see there is very little difference between the word “dog” and the name “Caleb”.

Among the Jews of Caleb’s day the “dog” was considered an unclean creature. Ellen White, Ph.D. (Hebrew Bible, University of St. Michael’s College) the past editor of the Biblical Archaeology Society notes:

“To compare a human to a dog or to call them a dog was to imply that they were of very low status (2 Kings 8:13; Exodus 22:31; Deuteronomy 23:18; 2 Samuel 3:8; Proverbs 26:11; Ecclesiastes 9:4; 2 Samuel 9:8; 1 Samuel 24:14). In the New Testament, calling a human a dog meant that the person was considered evil (Philemon 3:2; Revelation 22:15).”

I don’t know why a father would name his son “dog” but it speaks to the background of Caleb. Caleb had a less than blessed upbringing. Compare Caleb the dog to other Bible heroes:

“David” means “well beloved”
“Samuel” means “asked of God”
“Joshua” means “God is Savior”
“Gideon” means “the destroyer”
“Moses” means “drawn forth”

Caleb’s first birth was not that great. Perhaps your first birth was not that great. Perhaps you were abandoned as a child, or abused, or mistreated. Perhaps you were born poor. Perhaps you are the perpetual victim, lonely, withdrawn. Beloved your first birth may be tainted – all births are tainted – but God offers you a second birth. You do not have to stay low, to be least, to be the last thing or last choice. God loves the under dog – no pun intended. The Scripture tells us:

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 … ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

God calls to salvation the broken, the least and the lesser. He calls those whom the world calls “dogs” to come to Him in faith by Christ Jesus. Caleb did not allow his first birth to define his life. Caleb trusted in God.

Caleb FOLLOWED – Not The Crowd – But GOD!

Joshua is dividing the land, and turns to Judah to give them their portion. But before he can say a word Caleb steps up and reminds Joshua.

Joshua 14:7-8 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

I do not have time to preach this in detail, but I do want to summarize it.

Forty-five years before this day Moses – directed by God – sent a leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel into Canaan to spy out the land.

Caleb was not a young man. He was forty years old when he was chosen to enter the Promised Land with eleven of his brother leaders. These men were to go into the land and see that it was indeed a land of milk and honey, a gracious blessing from God. When the spies went into the land they searched through it for forty days (Numbers 13:25). When the spies returned they reported:

Numbers 13:27-28 … We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

As the people became agitated the first person to speak up was Caleb:

Numbers 13:30 … 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.

Caleb was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but regardless as to his birth he was born again a child of God! Ten of the spies that went with Caleb said:

Numbers 13:31 … We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

Their eyes were on the difficulty, and on their own strength. Caleb’s eyes were on the Lord. The people of Israel had their eyes on …

Numbers 13:33 … the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Caleb had his eyes on God. He encouraged the people to trust in the God Who is able. But the damage was done. Ten spies brought about an evil report, and Israel refused to enter Canaan. In fact, the rebellion spread so much that Israel revolted, and planned on returning to Egypt (Numbers 14:3-4). Two men – Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:6) encouraged God’s people to go forward:

Numbers 14:8-9 … If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

Oh, how horrible to turn against God! How horrible it is for the child of God to spit on the blood of Calvary by which we were saved. How horrible the child that – upon hearing the Word of the Lord – spurns it and returns to Egypt. How cursed is the follower who will not follow Jesus! God cursed Israel, and sent that generation to it’s grave for failing to love Him with all their hearts. But God told Moses:

Numbers 14:24 … 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.

Caleb did not follow the crowd, but as he said:

I wholly followed the Lord my God.

Oh Beloved – wholly follow the Lord! Do not with hold anything from Him. Missionary Jim Elliot died leading others to Christ. Jim wrote in his journal (October 28, 1949) before he died:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain that which he cannot lose.”

There is nothing but gain in following the Lord – and following wholeheartedly. Caleb was promised the land of Canaan when he was 40 years old. Each day that he wandered in the wilderness with a fallen Israel Caleb kept looking up, waiting, and trusting the Lord. The first generation of Israel has fallen, and Caleb tells Joshua:

Joshua 14:10-11 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

God has been faithful to Caleb, and Caleb has been faithful to God. Forty five hard years have passed, and God is still faithful. Now Joshua is “four score and five years old – that’s 85 years old”. How is Joshua? The Bible says that “Joshua was old and striken in years (Joshua 13:1)”. What of Caleb? “Though I am 85 years old, I am as strong today as I was when Moses sent me with the spies”. Caleb kept looking up. He kept looking up and trusting God.

Beloved, if you are going through a hard time in your life and it seems as if it will never end, may I say LOOK UP and TRUST GOD!

We are told in Isaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Caleb is believing the Lord, and has been believing the Lord. Though Caleb has not been told specifically which land is to be his … he asks Joshua for a particular section of land.

What did Caleb ask for?
Did he say “I’m 85 now, and want to coast.
Give me a little beach front property.
I’m ready to resign my calling.
It’s time for me to quit.
I’m just too old for this!” Did he?

No, not at all. If you remember the reason the first generation of Israel would not go into the Promised Land was because of the giants, the Anakims. Caleb said:

Joshua 14:12 Now therefore give me THIS mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the ANAKIMS were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.

Caleb doesn’t want to quit. He wants the mountain where the ANAKIMS are! He wants the WALLED CITIES. He wants what scared everyone else into wanting to go back to Egypt.

He wants the FULLNESS of GOD! And Joshua blesses him with this request. But Joshua not only gives him the mountain, but the TOUGHEST area there is on that mountain. If you read the text you will see it.

Joshua 14:13-15 … Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

The name Hebron is the Hebrew חֶבְרוֹן Chebrôwn, (pronounced kheb-rone’) which means “a place of fellowship”. The Bible tells us that Hebron was the royal city of David for some time, until the taking of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 2:1; 5:5). This place was called Kirjatharba which means “the city of Arba”. The Bible simply says Arba was a great man among the Anakims. Arba was a giant among giants until he met Caleb and Caleb’s God. It was then he lost his city, and his life.

Beloved, trust in the Lord. Put your faith in Him. Live each day whole heartedly in the Lord, and you will be blessed. May God touch your hearts with His Word.