Caleb’s Faith

Give Me This Mountain

And 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. (Numbers 13:30)

If you read the great story of the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land we see in the story there is an account of one man that should move, motivate, and inspire all Christians. His name was Caleb. What a man of God he was! Shortly after Moses led Israel out of bondage from Egypt, he sent twelve men to search out the Promised Land and to bring back word about living conditions there. Caleb and Joshua were among the group. After spending forty days on their mission, the twelve men returned. They brought back figs and pomegranates and a cluster of grapes so large it took two men to carry it between them on a pole. Most of the search party gave a very discouraging report on the Promised Land and its inhabitants. Although they found a land that was beautiful and desirable and flowing with milk and honey, they also found that the cities were walled and formidable and that the people, “looked like giants”. The Israelite scouts said that they felt like grasshoppers in comparison. Caleb, however, saw things a lot differently, with what the Lord called “another spirit.” Caleb’s account of the journey and the spy’s account were quite different. He said, “Let us go up at once, and possess [their land]; for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13:30).

What was Caleb saying? He was saying this; I agree with the majority of the spies as far as the land is very fruitful and I also agree with the report about the strength of the walled city and how big these people are that live there, but I do not agree that we do not have the ability to go against these giants. We must go up at once and possess the land because we are more than able to overcome anything. Caleb had faith in God for His help to help the people to possess the land, while the majority of the spies let God out of their decision making. Caleb had it in his heart to follow the Lord with all his heart. Years later at the age of 85 he was still ready to take that mountain.

Remember Caleb's words in {Joshua 14-12} Caleb’s words in this verse speaks out to all Christians, “Now therefore give me this mountain.” This should be the cry of all Christians as it regards the spiritual victories in our life. This mountain was given to Caleb because of one single act of obedience. He trusted God and gave a good report. He had fully obeyed God in one particular instance and it secured for him a reward that would not be denied to him though it did not come to him for forty-five long years. Like Caleb we must have faith in God. Many of the blessings that we now enjoy are the rewards of certain acts of obedience that we fulfilled in the past. What we may think are insignificant little acts of obedience we do from day to day may be what governs the outcome of important matters in the future. This was the case when Abraham offered Isaac on the altar. Once that trail and test was done it never had to be done again. Abraham passed the test and the blessing was pronounced that would never be taken back. You may be right on the verge of entering into blessings that are rewards for some act of obedience completed years ago, or you may be in a test today that will yield benefits later, maybe even years later, if you will trust and obey now. You can take that mountain in your life. It just takes faith in the Lord. Is God asking for your faith and obedience today?  What has God given you that you still need to lay claim to?  Stand up and take that mountain!

From Caleb’s example we can learn very important lessons. Just as Caleb had to struggle and remain true and faithful to gain his inheritance, so we must remember that, while the Lord has promised us a place in His kingdom, we must strive constantly and faithfully so as to be worthy to receive the reward. There are great challenges ahead for all Christians to be met and dealt with. We should welcome that prospect and to say to the Lord, humbly, “Give me this mountain,” then have faith that He will give us that mountain. We must be like Caleb, be faithful in our walk from start to finish, throughout our whole lives. We all have giants in our lives and we all have to fight them. Sometimes we can feel so small {like the grasshoppers} but we must realize as Caleb did: the battle is the Lord’s. We win or lose taking the mountain, in our life, according to our faith in Christ. Remember faith moves mountains no matter if it was the mountain in Caleb’s life or it is the mountain in our life.