As I study the Bible I always look for repeat positive phrases on Bible characters. To me when God repeats a phrase several times, I believe we should take notice of that person in Scripture. For example, three times God refers to Daniel as, “highly esteemed.” (Daniel 9:23, 10:11, 10:19). Clearly Daniel is one of the great Bible characters who led an exemplary life. His faith in God is something we should all try to emulate.
But another great Bible saint, who is not as well known, is Caleb. You can read all about his role in Israel’s history in (Numbers 13-14). Caleb will forever be remembered as a faithful servant of the Lord who walked by faith and not sight.
If you remember after God had delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, He promised that they would inherit the land of Canaan. Moses chose twelve men, one from each tribe to “spy” out the land before entering. When the twelve spies came back, after forty days of viewing the land, they reported that the inhabitants of Canaan were like “giants” and the cities very well fortified. Ten of the twelve spies issued the famous “bad report” and said that they couldn’t overcome these obstacles. Only Joshua and Caleb concluded that since God had promised to give them the land of Canaan, that they could take possession of it. They walked by faith and not sight and, I believe, viewed these obstacles as opportunities for God to get the victory and thus be glorified.
Sadly, the ten negative spies significantly frightened the people and overcame the cries of Joshua and Caleb to go up and take the land. As a result, God caused the Israelites to wander in the wilderness for forty years. But because of Caleb and Joshua’s great faith, they were the only two men, aged twenty and over, to make it out of the forty years of wilderness wandering alive. In fact, in one of my new favorite Bible verses we read: “But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” (Numbers 14:24).
The reason I love this verse and why God loved Caleb so much is that he “wholly followed the Lord.” In fact, this phrase is repeated, in referring to Caleb, five times in the Old Testament. (Numbers 14:24, 32:12), (Deuteronomy 1:36), (Joshua 14:9, 14:14).
As I said at the beginning of this devotion, when a positive phrase is repeated, in reference to a biblical character, we need to take note of who the Scriptures are talking about. In the case of Caleb to have this marvelous accolade, that “he wholly followed the Lord,” repeated five times, lets me know he must be a very special saint.
Please read these five referenced verses that tell us that Caleb wholly followed the Lord several times. I believe, they will prove a great source of encouragement to your walk with the Lord. The next time God gives us a promise, and the circumstances seem to indicate that its fulfillment looks questionable, trust God to override all the negatives. In other words – walk by faith and not by sight!