Caleb: Give Me the High Country

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Caleb was Joshua’s second. They stood together in solidarity when the 10 spies convinced the Israelites to rebel against God as they stood just outside the Promised Land the first time (Numbers 13). They rent their clothes in disgust as the 10 spies convinced the congregation to not trust in God. They stood tall and strong as the people came together in one voice in a desire to stone these two as well as Moses and Aaron.

Joshua and Caleb saw the same thing that the other 10 spies saw but were not discouraged. They were not unfaithful to God. But in spite of their protestations, in spite of their faithfulness, and in spite of their encouragement the people of Israel rebelled, refusing God’s good graces and ultimately experienced the consequences of their terribly faithless decision.

God wanted to destroy the people, but in reality, He was testing (not tempting), Moses as He did with Abraham long before. As God knew He would, Moses stood in for the people and asked God not to destroy them. Even though God told Moses He would make a great people from his loins, Moses didn’t want that. He was concerned about the people and about God’s Name and reputation.

Forty years later, in Joshua 14, the people once again arrive at the border of the Promised Land. The previous generation of rebels had died in the wilderness and once they were all gone, the Lord allowed them to come back to virtually the same spot. There, God would wait for them to decide what to do and this time, they went in, with Joshua and Caleb to lead the way, the two of 12 spies who knew God would provide the victory forty years before.

In this 36-minute video, we highlight aspects of Caleb’s life at these two junctures, and how, even at the age 85, Caleb was ready to receive his promised inheritance in the mountain area of Hebron, where he knew that he would have to fight the descendants of the Anak. He was willing to do so because of his faith in God. It never wavered.

In fact, of Caleb, God would state…

“But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it,” (Numbers 14:24).

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective