Joshua Chapter 14
In this chapter we learn about Joshua’s right-hand man, Caleb. He was a man of great faith and deep conviction that his trust in God was the key to life. He had been one of the original spies sent into the promised land and along with Joshua gave a report that the land could be conquered because God was on their side. And now as the land is being divided amongst the tribes according to lots drawn as God had commanded, Caleb in his old age recalls a promise he was given through Moses. The promise that the land he set his foot on would become his inheritance.
It is truly remarkable to see the faith of Caleb who knew that his God was capable of delivering His promises to His people. Caleb even trusted that God would give him the land of Hebron where giants or Anakim occupied the land in fortified cities. He knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task to fight the Anakim, but he knew that God was on his side and would give him victory even in his old age.
Let's Reflect
1. In the first verse we learn who has the responsibility of dividing the land into portions west of the Jordan and then assigning those portions to the tribes of Israel. Who was assigned to the task?
2. While we don’t know exactly how the lots were drawn, we know that God ordered it to be done this way. God was instrumental in this decision as well. Obviously there could have been great disagreements regarding who got what portion of land, but what does verse 5 tell us about the allotments?
3. We are given a little bit of background on Caleb in verse 6 which tells us that his father was a Kenizzite. This tribe of people are mentioned in Genesis 15:18-21. His father apparently married a Hebrew woman from the tribe of Judah. When Caleb refers to a promise of God given to both Joshua and himself, when was the promise given?
4. The previous generation that was supposed to enter the promised land had passed away in the wilderness. The only survivors besides Moses were Joshua and Caleb. How old was Caleb when the land was being allotted?
5. Verse 8 could be misconstrued that Caleb was bragging about his faith. What did Caleb actually mean by his statements? The answer is found in Deuteronomy and Numbers.
Deuteronomy 1:35-36 Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD!
Numbers 32:11-12 Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.
6. So, the people of Judah with Caleb were the first tribe to get their allotment of land. How old was Caleb at this point?
7. Who did Caleb give credit to for his strength in his older years? And what did Caleb plan to do about the giants living in the land he requested?
8. Verses 13 and 14 tell us that Joshua blessed Caleb and he was given the land for an inheritance. What does the Bible tell us about why God was happy to bless Caleb in the promised land?
