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Let’s Follow the Faith of Caleb

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Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said." [Joshua 14:12]

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Finally, the Israelites arrived at the land of Canaan since they had left from Egypt about forty years ago. Moses, the greater leader of the Israelites, died, and Joshua became the new successor leader.

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Joshua fulfilled his duties well, in fighting the battles in Canaan because he obeyed as God said.

So the Israelites could live in the land of Canaan.

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Joshua distributed the lands of Canaan to the people.

Because the Israelites were divided into 12 groups, Joshua gave the land as they needed to each group.

Everyone followed what Joshua ordered without any words of complaint.

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But the tribe of Judah came to ask for another land from Joshua.

They required him to give the land called Hebron if they conquered it as well.

There was Caleb who was a very famous faithful person among the tribe of Judah.

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Caleb was one of the spies who had gone to explore this land with Joshua a long time ago. Moses had picked one person from each tribe and sent the twelve spies to explore Canaan.

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That time, ten of the spies were afraid of the Canaanites. Because the people of Canaan were so big and strong, they thought that they would never win the battle. They did not have faith in God because they doubted God's ability while they called themselves faithful people.

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But only Caleb and Joshua said faithfully, "If God is with us, we will win the battle although the Canaanites are big and strong!!"

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Moses said to faithful Caleb, "The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly." Caleb had believed in those words until now.

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Caleb said to Joshua, "You can remember what God had told us through Moses.

When I said with faith, Moses told me with God's name that I will get every land wherever I walk."

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"45 years have passed since Moses told us about that.

I am 85 years old now but I am still healthy enough to go into battle.

So I have come to ask for Hebron."

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"I know that the Anakites are very big and have iron chariots.

But if God helps me, I will drive them out just as He said.

Promise to give me the land I conquer."

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Caleb asked so confidently and forcefully that Joshua could not turn down his request.

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"I hope that God does as you have said.

I am sure that God will bless you and allow you to get the land."

Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him the land that he requested.

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Although Caleb was 85 years old, he believed in God's promise so strongly that he could gain the land.

Caleb defeated the Anakites with their iron chariots, and conquered the land.

So he made it his own land.

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Everything is possible with faith. When 85 years old Caleb believed in God's promise and did not give up, he could get it.

God helps faithful people and gives them grace and even performs miracles.

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Therefore, whatever you do, if you proceed with the courage of faith, a strong mind, and prayer before God, you can receive amazing grace as Caleb did in receiving Hebron. I hope that you all can experience God's amazing miracles, too!