Caleb’s Mountain
Joshua 14:1-15
INTRODUCTION: Caleb’s name means dog. He was a Kenezite and was therefore not of pure Jewish blood. Therefore, he was a dog with bad blood. That sounds like Gentiles before the age of grace. Caleb did not have an honorable name or an impressive pedigree. But God used him and blessed him in a marvelous way. In fact, Caleb’s faithful life changed his name into an honorable one. This lesson tells how he did it.
I. THE TIME OF INHERITANCE (14:1-5)
A. Most of the Land has been Conquered (Joshua 11:15-23)
B. Joshua’s Age Keeps Him From Doing More (Joshua 13:1ff)
C. The Nine and a Half Tribes (v.1-2)
1. On the west side of the Jordan
2. Granted inheritance at this time (v.1)
3. Inheritance determined by lot (v.2)
D. The Two and a Half Tribes (v.3)
1. On the east side of Jordan
2. Inheritance already granted by Moses
E. The Tribe of Levi (v.4-5); no inheritance
1. Joseph (Ephraim & Manasseh) receives two lots
2. Levi (the priestly tribe) receives none
3. Land allotted according to command of Moses (v.5)
II. THE PROMISE OF MOUNT HEBRON (14:6-9)
A. The Word of Moses (v.6)
1. Caleb comes to Joshua in Gilgal
2. Caleb reminds Joshua of the word of Moses the man of God
B. The Faithfulness of Caleb (v.7-8)
1. Caleb went to spy the land (v.7)
a. From Kadeshbarnea
b. At age of forty
2. Caleb brought word from his heart (v.7)
3. Caleb wholly followed the Lord (v.8)
C. The Promise of Hebron (v.9)
1. Moses rewarded Caleb’s faithfulness
2. He promised him Hebron for himself and for his posterity
3. This is the land that the spies especially searched
III. CALEB’S CLAIM ON MOUNT HEBRON (14:10-12)
A. Caleb’s Long Wait (v.10)
1. The promise was made forty-five years before
2. Caleb is now eighty-five years old
3. Caleb trusts that God has kept him alive to fulfill His promise
B. Caleb’s Present Condition (v.11)
1. His strength has remained with him
2. He is still able to go to war
C. Caleb’s Confident Claim (v.12)
1. He now claims the promised mountain
2. He is ready to drive the Anakims out
IV. CALEB INHERITS MOUNT HEBRON (14:13-15)
A. Joshua Gives Hebron to Caleb (v.13)
B. Caleb’s Faithfulness Brings his Inheritance (v.14)
C. Caleb Takes Kirjatharba of the Anakims (v.15)
APPLICATION: WHY CALEB GOT HIS MOUNTAIN
I. He Was Willing to be Different (Numbers 13:25-31)
q We are called to be different (2 Corinthians 6:17; Titus 2:14)
II. He Trusted in the Lord (Numbers 14:6-10)
q We must trust in God and not man (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 118:8)
III. He Was Willing to Wait on the Lord (Numbers 14:28-34)
q Strength and blessings come to those who wait on God (Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:31)
IV. He Wholly Followed the Lord (Joshua 14:8, 14)
q We must give Christ first place in our lives and give ourselves entirely to Him (Deuteronomy 6:5; Colossians 1:18; 3:23)
V. He Had Purpose in Living (Joshua 14:10)
q Caleb knew what he was going after – that mountain! We need to have purpose in our lives (2 Timothy 3:10; 4:7)
VI. He Claimed the Promises of God (Joshua 14:12)
q Effective saints of God learn to bring God’s promises to Him in prayer (Philippians 3:12-14)
VII. He Was Willing to Fight for Right (Joshua 15:13-14)
q Serving God is often compared to warfare. We must fight for Him (1 Timothy 6:12; 1 Corinthians 16:13)
CONCLUSION: How can you apply the lessons of Caleb’s life to your own life?
MEMORY VERSES:
q Joshua 14:8 – Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
q Numbers 13:30 – 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.
q 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.
Copyright © 2002
Antioch Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee