The Choice That Prepares God’s Blessing (Joshua 14:6–12) 1/4/2026
The Choice That Prepares God’s Blessing (Joshua 14:6–12) 1/4/2026
In this year’s New Year message, we held on to two things. First, we reflected on what God desires to accomplish through us, the conclusion of God and the conclusion of the Bible. This is the blessing of the three courtyards, and through it, the blessing of the true Church, the eternal Church, which is brought to completion. Second, we considered the answers and blessings God has promised to each of us personally, making it inevitable that we will be used for this work. This is God’s conclusion for each individual. It is the blessing of being leaders, and spiritual commanders, and witnesses who save all nations.
God will surely fulfill what He has promised. When will He fulfill it? There are two conditions.
First, it is when we look to the God who gave the covenant and believe that covenant as our own. We must not receive God’s promise merely as knowledge or comfort. We must stake our lives on it, hold it as our own, and believe. Then the covenant will surely be fulfilled, and its answers and blessings will be passed on to the next generation. This is what is emphasized in Deuteronomy 6:1–9 (the Shema).
This was spoken while Israel was still in the wilderness. God promised that Canaan would surely be conquered and that they would greatly prosper in that land. For this reason, Israel was commanded to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength, to engrave His words on their hearts, and to pass them on to their descendants without fail.
There is another condition. We must make choices that gives God no choice but to bless us. Many things will happen this year as well. As prophesied, even more difficult situations may arise. At such times, everything depends on what kind of choice we make.
Zig Ziglar, author of the bestseller See You at the Top, said, “It is not environment or circumstances, but choices that make my life.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II, said, “The choices we make today shape the reality of tomorrow.”
Caleb in today’s passage goes even further. This passage speaks about the land of Hebron that he chose. At a decisive moment, his choice became one that saved his family and descendants, saved all Israel (the Church), and saved the eternal future prepared by God.
- What kind of place was the land of Hebron that Caleb chose?
1) It was the land the Israelites feared most and therefore spoke ill of. Among the twelve spies sent by Moses, ten cried out in fear that the land should be abandoned. Because of this, Israel fell into unbelief, and as a result of that unbelief, they suffered the pain of not being able to enter Canaan (Numbers 14:23). In our lives as well, fearful environments and problems that can easily lead us into unbelief may come near us or stand before us. What choice should we make then?
2) It was the land where a confession of faith was proclaimed through Joshua and Caleb. “The LORD will bring us into this land and give it to us. It is a land flowing with milk and honey” (Deuteronomy 1:8). It was the land promised by God in response to that confession of faith. “But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it” (Numbers 14:24). Not a single confession or choice made in faith ever falls to the ground.
3) As the result of that faithful choice, that land became a place where the masterpiece of God’s greatest plan was fulfilled. Later, Moses blessed Caleb, giving him priority and the right of inheritance, saying that whichever land Caleb chose and set his foot on would become his everlasting possession (v. 9). He could have chosen an easier and more peaceful land, but he gave that up and made this choice. The result was tremendous. Later, David, a descendant of Caleb, became king in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:3–4), and eventually this land became the core city of the “city of refuge,” a place where even manslayers could live and where the high priest’s land was established (Joshua 20:7). Upon this foundation, the true Church was established.
- How was Caleb able to make such a choice? Through Caleb, God teaches us three things.
1) Hold on to God’s “only” and “absolute.” Within this are only Christ, the Kingdom of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Even salvation requires holding onto this (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). For believers, every choice must be based on this “only” and “absolute” standard of God.
① Only what God gives is complete and eternal. This is impossible by worldly or human standards. Only Christ, because we ourselves could not solve the problem (original sin, Satan, destiny), the Son of God came and personally made atonement (Hebrews 9:12). He died and resurrected for us and even now intercedes and prays for us at the throne (Romans 8:34). We are to move forward looking to His grace and help (what the Reformers proclaimed as “Only Christ”, Solus Christus). At that moment, Christ reigns over us, and the Kingdom of God comes. Only then is the power of darkness broken (Matthew 12:28). Then His wisdom and power come upon us, enabling us to transcend ourselves and make choices that see the future God has prepared.
② At that point, there is no need for us to fear the environment, reality, or threats.
Caleb enjoyed this. Whether 45 years earlier as a spy or now at age 85, he was not afraid.
③ That is why he chose the land everyone feared, because it was the land God had promised. “If the LORD is with me, I will drive them out,” he declared (v. 12). Faith gives birth to faithful choices and challenges. This is why daily hearing the Word, meditating on it, and allowing the covenant to be imprinted and rooted in us is so important. What is imprinted and rooted will inevitably be manifested.
2) Make the choice of a true leader. Caleb was a hidden leader, overshadowed by Joshua, yet a leader God used. God has promised to use us as leaders for all nations, calling us ambassadors of Christ and a royal priesthood. Leadership must be trained even in small choices. This should be trained from childhood. We must develop character and a way of life that can yield, hide oneself, lift others up, and give all glory to God (Matthew 6:4; Philippians 2:3–5).
The Reformers also proclaimed this: “Before God alone” (Coram Deo), and “Glory to God alone” (Soli Deo Gloria).
① The hidden leader Caleb chose the land that everyone feared and spoke ill of. This is the choice of “Nothing.” To human eyes and standards it is nothing, but to God it can become everything.
② The hidden leader Caleb chose the land that everyone ignored. This is the choice of “No one.” Choosing what others do not—hidden work—is the mark of a leader hidden from view but used by God.
③ The hidden leader Caleb needed no help from anyone except God. This is the choice of “Nobody.” God has promised us foundational help, absolute help, and eternal help (With, Immanuel, Oneness).
3) Make the choice of a true spiritual commander.
① He resolved to stand at the forefront of the conquest himself. Even at age 85, he said he could still go to battle (v. 11). This was not merely a physical war but a spiritual one. That is why God calls us to become prayer watchtowers whom He cannot help but use.
② The one who helped Caleb complete the conquest of Hebron was his son-in-law, Othniel. Caleb declared that he would give his daughter to the one who captured the land (Joshua 15:16–17). He set no other conditions.
Conclusion – After Caleb conquered the land of Hebron, the Bible says that the land had rest from war (v. 15). Through the choice of one person and one family, peace came upon Israel (all churches and believers), and through his descendant David, the eternal Kingdom of Christ came.
May we all be within this blessed choice every day, every moment, and in every situation this year.
2026.1.4 The Choice That Prepares God’s Blessing
2026-01-04 Pulpit Meditation and Forum