Caleb’s Conquest of the World (Joshua 14:6-12) 2/20/2022
The 24 Answer of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC:
Caleb’s Conquest of the World (Joshua 14:6-12) 2/20/2022
Caleb is a spiritual leader and church officer who followed Moses with Joshua and led the people of Israel. He was a friend and the greatest coworker to Joshua. Although it seemed like Joshua overshadowed him, he was used importantly before God. Eventually, he became a conqueror’s model that saved the church, field, and future at a time of crisis. There are two records of Caleb in the Bible. He was used in the ministry of exploring Canaan (Numbers 13,14) and as the main figure in the conquest of Hebron, as mentioned in the passage. Although it was only two ministries, the impact was great. It created works that saved himself, the church, and the future during a crisis. May you be in this blessing whenever a crisis may come.
- The mystery to save me in this world faced with numerous crises and problems.
God’s absolute plan is to revive us to save the church, world, and posterity. Although numerous crises and problems come, it is God’s will for me to be revived and receive answers and blessings.
1) Simply put, that is called the covenant. The covenant is the absolute plan of God for each of our lives that are given to us as a promise.
① This was given during creation. It is called the covenant of creation, the first covenant. It is the absolute blessing of Genesis 1:27-28, 2:7, 2:1-8.
The first life, Adam, was deceived by Satan and sinned, and all mankind lost hold of this blessing (Romans 5:12).
② God opened the way to restore this blessing. It is called the covenant of redemption, the covenant of grace, the new covenant.
God sent His Son as the Christ and had Him take all our sins and curses in our place and deliver us from the forces of Satan (Colossians 1:13-14). It is the covenant of redemption. God gave us grace because we cannot do this by our strength or actions (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is the covenant of grace. He raised an intermediary to restore the first blessing He gave us (Hebrews 9:15). It is the new covenant.
2) In each age, God chooses an individual, reconfirms the blessing within this covenant, and raises the individual as a witness.
Within that are individuals that have been mentioned in the pulpit, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses Joshua, and Caleb from the passage. He proclaimed this when the ten spies criticized Canaan and spoke unbelief (Numbers 13:30-33, 14:6-9).
① He knew the meaning of Canaan. He knew the spiritual reason why the land was called the promised land.
He had known that Christ would come to that land and that all life needed to be delivered from all curses in Christ.
② Canaan must be conquered. He said that God would give us that land. He knew the meaning behind the conquest of Canaan.
Why must God rescue me from crisis and problems and make that into answers and blessings? It is not something that can be done with zeal. We must know the reason why God must work. He desires to make us witnesses. Therefore, He will deliver us, make us a source of blessings, and make all problems work for good (Romans 8:28).
③ He also knew the method for the conquest of Canaan. He said, “we will devour them because the Lord is with us.”
This is the promise that Christ gave as He sent us to the world and field (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:19-20, Acts 1:8).
3) All that is left to do is to make this covenant my imprint, root, and nature. That forms my spiritual state.
① Knowing (knowledge) the covenant and having it be your imprint, root, and nature is different.
Imprint is the standard for one’s thoughts. The standard to see problems and incidents change. People are deceived because they think and judge problems and crises with different standards (based on scars, experience, world, and the law). That becomes a real problem and a channel for Satan. Roots become the standard for one’s actions. One’s words and actions come out based on how much the covenant has been rooted in their soul and inner being. Nature becomes the standard for one’s life. The gospel is exuded in their daily life, and life itself becomes an answer and blessing.
② We must have our personal time of concentration until the covenant becomes our imprint, root, and nature.
Hold onto the covenant (Word) every day through the three todays, receive God’s strength (prayer), and continue to carry out the evangelism that saves (evangelism).
③ What is the blessing that Caleb enjoyed despite being amidst a difficult environment and with people who had unbelief?
Those who had unbelief died in Canaan, and Joshua and Caleb became the main figures to save the church and future (Numbers 14:24).
- How did he save the church? It is the mystery to save the church.
1) The church is established by God, reigned by God, and is a place where God works (Matthew 16:18, Hebrews 3:5).
Believers receive strength and answers, enjoy blessings, and receive training as they experience this.
2) Pastors and church officers are servants and coworkers who run errands for the works of fulfilling God’s will.
The church and I are revived based on the faith and posture I have as I serve and follow God.
① He discarded the vested rights that came with a role or position and went to the lowest place. It is true devotion.
Caleb had the first choice when choosing land during the division of Canaan’s land (verse 9). He gave that up. He chose the land that others did not want and had disregarded (that place is the empty, abandoned, and deserted place).
② There was a confession of faith that he gave at that time. That changed the entire flow when all believers were shaken before Hebron).
He confessed the absolute reason God had allowed him to live to that day. He said it was for this time when the church was in difficulty. He confessed that God will surely do His work and that they would be able to conquer just as God had said previously. My confession of faith changes the spiritual flow and creates the works of the Holy Spirit that overcomes my level and power. Afterward, war ceased in the land (Joshua 14:15). Give a confession of faith rather than a confession of reality (Romans 10:10, 1 Peter 3:10).
- How did he save the future? It is the mystery to save the posterity.
1) The covenant and faith that Caleb held onto were relayed to his daughter and son-in-law, Othniel.
① In addition to teaching the covenant and faith, Caleb’s life showed and influenced them. This is the key to remnant education/discipline.
② Othniel was from the same tribe of Judah as Caleb, became Caleb’s son-in-law, and went forth in the conquest of Hebron. That was the condition that was given to him (Joshua 15:16-17).
Later on, Othniel follows Joshua and becomes a judge of Israel. It said that there was peace in the land for forty years when he was a judge of Israel (Judges 3:7-11). His one daughter he had raised in the covenant and son-in-law saved the future this way.
2) David came through their descendants, and David became King of Israel in the land of Hebron they had conquered in advance (2 Samuel 5:3).
Christ came through the descendants of Caleb and David, and the way for all nations to be saved opened. Caleb held onto the covenant, saw in advance, and prepared the future when he chose the land of Hebron (CVDIP). Our small devotion and choices become God’s future, a hundred-year answer, and eternal blessing.
Conclusion – If Joshua is a model of a pastor, Caleb is a model of a believer (church member) and church officer. May you stand as the main figure of this blessing.