Caleb’s Mountain

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.

1. THE TIME OF INHERITANCE (Joshua 14:1-5)
1. Most of the Land Has Been Conquered (Joshua 11:15-23).
2. Joshuas Age Keeps Him from Doing More (Joshua 13:1).
3. The Nine-and-a-Half Tribes (Joshua 14:1-2)
1. On the west side of the Jordan
2. Granted inheritance at this time (Joshua 14:1)
3. Inheritance determined by lot (Joshua 14:2)
4. The Two-and-a-Half Tribes (Joshua 14:3a)
1. On the east side of Jordan
2. Inheritance already granted by Moses
5. The Tribe of Levi (Joshua 14:3b-5); no inheritance
1. Joseph (Ephraim & Manasseh) receives two lots (Joshua 14:4).
2. Levi (the priestly tribe) receives none (Joshua 14:4).
1. The Levites were given cities from among the children of Israel (Numbers 35:1-2).
2. The Lord was their part and inheritance among the children of Israel (Numbers 18:20).
3. Land allotted according to the command of Moses (Joshua 14:5)
2. THE PROMISE OF MOUNT HEBRON (Joshua 14:6-9)
1. The Word of Moses (Joshua 14:6)
1. The children of Judah approach Joshua in Gilgal.
2. Caleb comes to Joshua concerning his inheritance.
3. Caleb reminds Joshua of the word of Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning Joshua and Caleb.
2. The Faithfulness of Caleb (Joshua 14:7-8)
1. Caleb went to spy the land (Joshua 14:7).
1. From Kadesh-barnea
2. At age of forty
3. He brought Moses word according to what was done in his heart.
2. Caleb brought a faithful report (Joshua 14:8).
1. Against the tide of his brethren
1. Caleb was in the minority.
2. Ten spies were against him and eventually the majority of the congregation.
3. The brethren brought a message of unbelief while Caleb brought a message of belief in the promises of God.
2. At the risk of losing his life (Numbers 14:10)
3. Wholly following the Lord
3. The Promise of Hebron (Joshua 14:9)
1. Moses rewarded Calebs faithfulness.
2. He promised him Hebron for himself and for his posterity.
3. This is the land that the spies especially searched.
3. CALEBS CLAIM ON MOUNT HEBRON (Joshua 14:10-12)
1. Calebs Long Wait (Joshua 14:10)
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.
2. Calebs Present Condition (Joshua 14:11)
1. His strength has remained with him.
1. In the same manner as Moses (Deuteronomy 34:7)
2. This reminds us of the blessing of Moses upon Asher (Deuteronomy 33:25).
3. As believers, we have a promise of strength, but our strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10).
2. He is still able to go to war.
1. To go out
2. To come in
3. Basically, Caleb is saying that he is strong enough (with Gods help) to go out to battle and to come in from the battle victorious.
3. Calebs Confident Claim (Joshua 14:12)
1. He now claims the promised mountain.
2. He is ready to drive the Anakims out with the Lords help.
4. CALEB INHERITS MOUNT HEBRON (Joshua 14:13-15)
1. Joshua Gives Hebron to Caleb (Joshua 14:13).
1. Joshua blesses Caleb.
2. Joshua gives Caleb the right to the land.
2. Calebs Faithfulness Brings His Inheritance (Joshua 14:14).
1. Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb.
2. The inheritance was received based on Calebs faithfulness.
3. Caleb Takes Kirjath-arba of the Anakims (Joshua 14:15).
1. Hebron had been called Kirjath-arba.
1. Kirjath-arba
1. Kirjath means city of
2. Arba was a great man of the Anakims.
1. Can also be spelled Arbah (Genesis 35:27)
2. The father of Anak (Joshua 15:13)
3. The Anakims were of the giants (Deuteronomy 2:10-11, 21; Deuteronomy 9:2).
2. Hebron means friendship.
1. Hebron was a place known well by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 13:18; Genesis 23:2; Genesis 35:27).
1. Like Abraham, Caleb had to wait until late in life to see the fulfillment of Gods promise to him.
2. Like Abraham, Caleb required supernatural strength to accomplish Gods will for his life.
2. At least a portion of this land was purchased by Abraham (Genesis 23:1-20).
3. This also may very well be the place from which the cluster of grapes came (Numbers 13:22-25).
2. The land had rest from war.

CONCLUSION: Caleb was a man that had a heart for God and His word. Complete obedience was the only option. He had faithfully followed the Lord for the last forty-five years fully expecting to receive the promise given to him those many years back. How can we apply the lessons of Caleb’s life to our own life?