Joshua 14

Yeah

... that only you can get, and because Caleb did not stop, there were giants in Joshua 14 that he destroyed that the, the next generation didn't have to.

Mm-hmm.

And they actually weren't equipped to.

Hallelujah.

Joshua 14, I trust that the Lord will bless... way tonight.

Hallelujah.

[upbeat music] Thank you, Jesus.

Joshua 14, are you there? I'll begin my reading from verse six.

Father, let your word bless your people tonight in Jesus' name.

"Then the children of Judah came to 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 Kadesh Barnea.

And Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole assembly and gathered there.

Joshua and Caleb, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes.

Of the 12 spies who went in, most of you remember, there were two that came back with an alternative report.

Joshua and Caleb said, we can do this.

Don't rebel.

We can do this.

And they begin to grumble against Moses and Aaron, we want to go back to the place that we were, the place where they were, they begged to be delivered from.

They're addled, they're confused, they're making poor decisions.

I'm as strong as I s- as I have ever been.

Even though I'm 85, I'm as strong as I was in the prime of life." So what does he say? He says, "Therefore," here in Joshua 14, I'll read it to you, verse 12, "Therefore give me this mountain, for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there and the cities were great and fenced.

If so be the Lord will be with me, I will be able to drive them from this mountain." What'd he say? "Don't give me a beach cabin.

I want that mountain where the Anakims are, where the giants live." Why? " 'Cause I'm hungry.

45 years later, God honors his promise with Caleb, who at the age of 85 received the city of Hebron.

Joshua 14, verse 14 says, "'Because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.'" I don't know about you, but these verses make me wonder, what would God do in our lives if we too would follow the Lord wholeheartedly? And You know, as I think about our lives, I recognize that one of the primary obstacles to wholehearted devotion to God is simply distraction.

In a world filled with noise and busyness, it's easy to allow our attention to be diverted from God.

We can become preoccupied with the cares of life, the pursuit of success, and the allure of entertainment.

Receive health on every side.

Joshua 14 verse 10 to 12.

Joshua 14 verse 10 to 12.

That was the secret of Caleb.

And now behold, the Lord has kept me alive.

That's one of the dangerous things that can ever hit your life.

There is more to do, but there is no strength to do it.

Joshua 13 verse 1.

Not yet.

You have to go back to Joshua 14.

And then let's look at how this is identified and how Caleb is identified.

Look at verse 6.

And the Lord still has a future and a plan for your life today.

This is what we read in Joshua 14.

This is what Caleb said.

Caleb said, So Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely where your foe has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.