Morning

April 28

Joshua 14:13-14 ¹³Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. ¹⁴So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

Caleb reminisced with Joshua about spying out the Promised Land some forty-five years earlier. He reminded Joshua about how faithful he was to report that they could take the land because of his godly convictions. Then he reminded Joshua about the promise Moses had made to him. He could have whatever land he walked on. Caleb picked the Hebron area. There were still fortified cities with giants in them, but Caleb knew the LORD was with him. He felt as strong at eighty-five-years old as he did at forty.

Joshua blessed Caleb and honored Moses' promise, because Caleb wholeheartedly followed the God of Israel. It sounds like Caleb was going to take the area with his own clan, without the assistance of the other tribes. What a guy! Eighty-five-years-old and he's ready to take on giants and start a new homestead.

What was Caleb's secret? He wholeheartedly followed the God of Israel. He stuck with his convictions despite what the majority said. He did not fear but recognized the hand of God was with him, no rationalization, no justification, just convictions backed up by action.

Do you have a spirit like Caleb's? Why or why not? He wasn't born with it. It was instilled in him because he was willing to believe God.

Meditation: The LORD rewards those who follow Him with their whole heart.