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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!
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