Joshua 14:6-15 (Caleb's Request and Inheritance)

Joshua 14:6-15

In this section we see something amazing to behold in the scriptures. In this little story, we see Caleb, one of the original spies, request and gain his inheritance. Now if you don't remember, Caleb was one of the original spies who went into Canaan, but Caleb along with Joshua were the only two who brought back a favorable report. Because of that faithfulness, Moses promised the land in which they had spied out to Caleb and his family. Now, as Joshua is dividing up the land, Caleb approaches Joshua and reminds him of what Moses had promised him. Caleb requests his inheritance and says that at 85 years of age, he is still as strong now to take the land as he was when he was forty. Joshua does indeed bless him and Caleb does go and take the land as his inheritance.

Now what is so cool to me about this passage would be the use of the phrase "wholly followed the Lord." In doing my research, I find that that phrase is only used to refer to Caleb and one other time in all the Old Testament. This seems to say to me that Caleb was dedicated to the Lord despite the people being against him, despite the difficult circumstances, and despite the waiting he had to do, he remained wholly devoted to the Lord his God and served him as best he could. This is an incredible testimony to Caleb, as he is now remembered in the scriptures as being wholly devoted to the Lord.

"Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD,"I remember the devotion of your youth,your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown." Jeremiah 2:2

"I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." 1st Corinthians 7:35

May that be said of me, that I was wholly devoted to the Lord, despite my circumstances, despite how people feel about me and what I say, and despite how long I have to wait for God's promises. I know that that is not how I live, but it really does need to be how I live, and I need to strive to be wholly devoted to the Lord, despite everything else. My devotion belongs wholly to the Lord, and I should give him that.

LORD, help me today to be wholly devoted to you and to ignore all else around me but be wholly yours today. God, may it be said of me after I am gone that I was wholly devoted and committed to you and to keeping your word and commandments. Amen.