Caleb: “Give me this mountain”

1. Caleb: “Give me this mountain” Joshua 14:12

2. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • Introduction: Remember Rom. 15:4 • A. Caleb, one of the twelve spies, Num. 13, 14. • B. All brought back favorable report of land. • C. But they saw large fortified cities and giants. • D. Ten spies said “we are not able… they are stronger than we.” 13:31.

3. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • I. “But my servant Caleb has a different spirit in him, and has followed me fully.” Num. 14:24. • He said, “Let us go up at once and take possession for we are well able to overcome it,” 13:30. • Not half-hearted. Didn’t serve God “half-way.” • Recognized God’s will and was fully committed to doing it.

4. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • A. Caleb had faith instead of doubt. Num. 14 • 14:8, “If the Lord delights in us…” • 14:9, “The Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” • They didn’t think so! Felt alone, facing giants. • Job 23:8-9, “I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot see Him.” • What about us? Phil. 2:12, 13, God is involved!

5. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • 14:11, “How long will they not believe me? • Did they say “we don’t believe God?” • Their actions said it “loud and clear.” • To say “we cannot” means “God cannot.”

6. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • B. Caleb had courage instead of fear. • Deut. 1:21, “'Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.‘ • Caleb believed this at first and still believed it after 40 years in the wilderness.

7. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • The other ten spies said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we” (Num. 13:31). Grasshopper complex, v. 33. • But Caleb saw same fortified cities and giants they saw. • And he said, “We are well able to over come it.”

8. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • C. Caleb was optimistic rather than pessimistic. • They said, “a land that devours its inhabi-tants… men of great stature… we were like grasshoppers.” Num. 13:32, 33. • Caleb said, “they are our bread; their protection has departed from them.” 14:9. • Phil. 1:12-14 Was Paul the prisoner overcome by despair? 4:23.

9. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • D. Caleb was a man of hope, not despair. • Num. 14:1-4, “lifted up their voices and cried… if only we had died in Egypt…(or) in desert…” • How soon they forgot the “iron furnace” of Egypt • Caleb had no desire to return, much less die there or in the wilderness. He “was bound for the promise land.”

10. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • It’s so very hard for some brethren to break with the world. Still holds great attraction for them. • Must remember that we are “pilgrims” (1 Pet. 1:17; 2:11). • Our citizenship is in heaven, Phil. 3:20.

11. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • II. Caleb knew that the struggle was worthwhile. • Num. 14:7, “The land… is an exceedingly good land… a land that flows with milk and honey.” • Is our “promised land,” our “home over there” less valuable? Is it worth the effort and the struggle?

12. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • Anything that is good and desireable costs. Effort, time, money, exertion, sacrifice. • To refuse to deny ourselves, put forth genuine effort, make sacrifices means “it isn’t worth it.” • Is that what we think of our salvation, the church, salvation of others, our marriage, rearing our children, etc.?

13. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • III. Caleb knew they were not alone. • Num. 14:8, 9, The Lord “will bring us into this land… The Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” • Josh. 1:5, “I will not leave you or forsake you.” • Heb. 13:5, “I will never… forsake you.”

14. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • Cannot overemphasize this point. God is involved in our lives. We’re not on “automatic pilot.” • Think how interested He is bound to be in His church, His people, His work. • We know how involved He was with Joseph, Esther, Daniel, Paul. • Could He be less interested and involved in the lives of His people now?

15. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • IV. Caleb knew that it was “now or never.” • So he said, “Let us go up at once.” Num. 13:30. • 14:29, “your carcasses shall fall in this wilder-ness… you shall by no means enter the land.” • 14:40, Then they were ready! “Here we are, and we will go up to the place the Lord has promised” • 14:42, “Do not go up, lest you be defeated… the Lord is not among you.”

16. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • We are so sure of the future. There’s “time enough yet” and “nothing is going to happen to me.” • Untold thousands are dying daily. For them it was “now or never.” • Matt. 25:11, 12, they arrived too late!

17. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • V. Caleb did not vote with the majority. • Ten spies said “we are not able.” Caleb voted with the minority (two against a multitude). • Only he and Joshua said “we are well able.” • Rom. 12:2; 1 Pet. 4:4, let them think it’s strange. • 2 Tim. 4:16, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me…But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.”

18. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • VI. Caleb did not let old age stop him! • Josh. 14:7-11, spy at 40, warrior from 80 to 85. • Did not say, “I’m old… tired… done enough… want to retire.” Phil. 3:12, 13. • He didn’t seek the path of least resistance. • Caleb sought new conquests, new horizons.

19. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • “Give me this mountain” (mountainous region, Hebron). What did he mean? • You younger men conquer it for me? Fight the giants and fortified cities for me? • No, but rather “Give me the privilege of con-quering this land.”

20. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • It is very encouraging to see people accept challenges in spite of youth, advanced age. • Many handicapped (“challenged”) accept great challenges. “Show me what you CAN do.” • Key word of Revelation: “overcome.” Rom. 8:37.

21. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • Members of the church of Christ that seek an “easy religion” are in the wrong church. • The church of Christ is the church purchased on “Mount Calvary.” Acts 20:28.

22. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • VII. What are the “mountains” facing us? • Great challenges for elders, deacons, evangelists, teachers, all the members in the Lord’s work. • Problems? Frustrations? Give me this mountain.

23. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • Young people must face challenge of “peer pressure” to conform, 1 Pet. 4:4; Rom. 12:2. • Must always have a “different spirit.” • Challenge to remain chaste and pure. • Challenge in the class room (or wherever) if teach evolution, or that homosexuality acceptable

24. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • Jesus never said “it’s easy.” Matt. 7:14, “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” • Matt. 10:34, “I did not come to bring peace…” • Matt. 16:24, “deny himself, take up his cross…” • Eph. 6:10-19, “put on the whole armor…”

25. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • Conclusion. Let’s remember Caleb! • He didn’t vote with the majority. • He had a “different spirit, followed fully.” • He had faith instead of doubt… courage instead of fear… optimism instead of pessimism… hope instead of despair… • He knew the struggle was worthwhile. Anything that is worthwhile costs… but is worth it.

26. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • He knew they were not alone and for God there are no “fortified cities” or “giants.” • But if we say “we cannot” we’re saying “God cannot.” • He knew it was “now or never.” No tomorrow! • He didn’t let his age stop him. • Let’s have the “different spirit” of Caleb and follow the Lord not half-way but fully!

27. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • For many people conversion itself is a great mountain to conquer… or to “come back.” • Deny self, take up your cross, follow Christ -- put Him first! Solid commitment to attend services. • Before family, pleasure, business (job or profession), school, sports. • Whatever the challenge: GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN!

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30. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • IV. He knew it was “now or never”! Num. 14:29. • A. True of untold thousands every day. • B. They were ready when it was too late, 14:40. Matt. 25:12. • V. Did not follow path of least resistance. • A. Didn’t seek conformity, Rom. 12:2; 1 Pet. 4:4 • B. Didn’t join the nation of forgetters and quitters.

31. Caleb – “Give me this mountain” • VI. Caleb “has followed me fully.” Num. 14:25.

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