How can Caleb's example in Joshua 14:10 encourage us in our daily walk? Scripture Spotlight “Now behold, the LORD has kept me alive these forty-five years, as He promised, since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Here I am today, eighty-five years old.” (Joshua 14:10) Caleb’s Persevering Faith • Caleb sees God’s promise as the controlling reality of his life—more decisive than forty-five years of desert wandering. • He credits the LORD alone for every breath of life: “the LORD has kept me alive.” • His age does not diminish expectation; instead, it highlights God’s sustaining power. Strength Through the Years • Verse 11 continues, “I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out.” The same God who empowered an energetic forty-year-old maintains an eighty-five-year-old. • Psalm 92:14 affirms, “In old age they will still bear fruit.” God’s purposes do not expire when the calendar turns. • 2 Corinthians 4:16 reminds us that though the outer man wastes away, the inner man is renewed day by day. Wholehearted Devotion • Numbers 14:24 testifies that Caleb had “a different spirit and has followed Me fully.” • Wholeheartedness is not a personality trait; it is a choice to align every ambition with God’s word. • Daily application: – Evaluate motives—are they driven by God’s promises or by immediate comfort? – Cultivate consistency: small, faithful steps over decades build a legacy of trust. Courage to Claim Promises • Caleb doesn’t ask for an easy inheritance; he requests the hill country still occupied by giants (Joshua 14:12). • Hebrews 6:12 urges us to imitate “those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” • Practical encouragement: – Face intimidating circumstances with faith-filled realism: God’s promise plus God’s presence equals victory. – Refuse spiritual retirement; keep pressing “toward the goal to win the prize” (Philippians 3:14). Daily Takeaways • Remember God’s faithfulness: yesterday’s survival is proof of tomorrow’s security. • Rely on God’s strength: physical limits cannot limit divine empowerment. • Remain wholehearted: sustained obedience flows from an undivided heart. • Reclaim courage: God’s promises are invitations to act, no matter the obstacles. Caleb’s story shows that a life anchored in God’s unchanging word can stay vibrant, courageous, and fruitful to the very end. |
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