"CALEB'S MOUNTAIN" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 1/15/26

“Now therefore, give me this mountain...” (Joshua 14:12)

Caleb is a truly wonderful example of strong, unwavering faith. His was no “flash in the pan” faith. At the age of forty, he was one of twelve men chosen by Moses to go in and spy out the land of promise. He and Joshua returned with a good report, but ten of the twelve came back with a negative report. All twelve agreed that it was a land greatly to be desired, but only Caleb and Joshua believed that it could be taken from those who possessed it. It was not that Caleb saw the milk and honey flowing, observed the huge clusters of grapes, and became so enamored by the abundant riches of the land that he failed to properly consider the great difficulties that would be involved in taking possession of it. No, he, like everyone else, saw the great walled cities, and the people fierce and strong, whose presence had so dispirited the ten spies, whose report also disheartened the people. (See Num. 13:26-33)

Caleb took particular notice of one region, (an area which was apparently assigned to him to spy out) which was occupied by the Anakims, a ferocious giant sized mountain people. This mountain caught his eye, and he wanted it for his possession. This is Mount Hebron, but it was called “the city of Arba,” named for one of the mighty warriors of the sons of Anak. By faith, Caleb claimed this mountain for his own and was confident that God would deliver these giants into his hand.

It had to be an almost unbearable disappointment for Caleb to have his faithful report contradicted by the ten unfaithful spies, nevertheless, because he was faithful, and because he had another spirit with him, as a man who fully follows God, the Lord said, “…him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.” (Num. 14:24) This is the promise to which faithful Caleb is laying claim in our text verse: “Now therefore give me this mountain…”

Four decades in the wilderness had not diminished his faith by a single degree. Being in the midst of a complaining people during all that time had not lessened his trust in God even a little. Seeing his entire generation die in that wilderness because of their unbelief had fostered no spirit of unbelief in him. And now, that unwavering faith is about to be rewarded by the granting of his inheritance in the Promised Land.

The success of two major campaigns, one in the south and the other in the north, had given Israel the mastery over the majority of the Promised Land. Although there were yet battles to be fought, and additional territories to conquer, it was now time for Joshua, who like Caleb, was well stricken in years, to tend to the important matter of dividing the land. The massive kingdoms of Sihon and Og which lay east of Jordan had already been assigned to the two and a half tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. Now it was time to divide the land on the west side of Jordan.

In this process, priority was given to Caleb, not only was he worthy of this honor being the elder statesman (only he and Joshua remained of the former generation) but also, Hebron and the hill country surrounding it had already been assigned to him forty-five years before as a reward for his unwavering faithfulness. (Num. 14:23, 24; Deut. 1:36)

Forty-five years of waiting had not changed his mind, nor had his old age weakened his zeal for claiming the promise. The portion that his heart longed for was Mount Hebron, which he simply refers to as “this mountain.” The size and ferociousness of the sons if Anak had not frightened him at age forty, and he is still not afraid of them at age eight-five. His faith in his God, who had kept him physically strong, had not diminished at all. “Now therefore,” says the eighty-five-year-old Caleb, “give me this mountain...” It was his, by faith, all along, but very soon it shall be his in possession. “…If so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them (The Anakims) out, as the LORD said.”

The petition was granted, and the Lord did help him, and “the city of Arba” became Hebron, which later became the city of refuge, and also a city of priests. God is still able to turn strongholds of Satan into cities of refuge by the power of the Gospel. By faith we are able to move mountains, or by faith we can, like faithful Caleb, conquer them. What is the mountain that you would, by faith, conqueror?