Caleb is an important character found in the Old Testament. Although he isn’t mentioned even once in the New Testament, we can still learn a great deal from him as followers of Christ.
The Bible tells us in Numbers 14:24 that he was a man who had a "different spirit." It was because Caleb had a different spirit that he received a different outcome than his peers.
We’ll take a look at who Caleb was historically, his different spirit, his different outcome, and what we can learn as believers today.
Where Can We Find Caleb in the Bible?
The story of Caleb begins in the Book of Numbers after Israel had been delivered from the bondage in Egypt and led by God to the border of the promised land.
God had first promised the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He told Moses that was where he would lead them after departing Egypt.
The Israelites had been told this promised land was the destination, it was a land flowing with milk and honey, and that it was inhabited by the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites. When they arrived at the border God gave Moses instructions.
Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders (Numbers 13:2).
In the sixth verse, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, is chosen from the tribe of Judah as one of the twelve leaders to follow the instructions of the Lord.
Moses instructed the 12 leaders to go through the Negev, into the hill country, and see what the land was like. It was a reconnaissance mission to get the details on the soil, the people, the towns, the trees, and to bring back some fruit from the land.
Caleb did as Moses instructed. For 40 days he scouted the land, and like the others came back with a report on what he had seen.
They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan” (Numbers 13:27-29).
Immediately following this report Caleb displays his difference of spirit.
Caleb’s Different Spirit
Following the initial report given to Moses, Caleb silenced the people who were already murmuring and complaining. He spoke up with faith in his heart to go in and possess the land God had given to them. He believed they were well able to prevail and trusted that God was with them.
However, 10 of the other leaders who had also spied out the land did not concur. The men were filled with fear and argued with Caleb looking to their own abilities instead of to God’s.
They said they couldn’t take the land because the people were bigger and stronger than them, and the land “swallowed” the inhabitants. Their self-perception was that they were small little grasshoppers.
They spread this negativity among the people that led to weeping, grumbling, and a plan to stone the leaders, appoint a new one, and return to Egypt.
Caleb, joined by Joshua, Moses, and Aaron were deeply grieved.
The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them (Numbers 14:7-9).
The people did not listen to the leaders which led to their demise. God declared they would eat the fruit of their own complaining words. They were sent back to wander in the wilderness for forty years--one year for each day they had scouted the land.
…not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it (Numbers 14:23-24, emphasis mine).
Caleb was singled out of the entire nation of Israel due to his different spirit of wholehearted devotion to God.
Caleb’s Different Outcome
Even though Caleb was granted entrance into the promised land by God, he still had to wander in the wilderness with the others for forty years. Caleb was 40 years old when he went into the land of Canaan on the reconnaissance mission.
That meant that after 40 years of wandering, and the time came to return to Canaan, he was 80 years old. 80!
Before entering the promised land God mapped out the land and assigned the12 leaders who would receive a portion of Canaan as an inheritance. Caleb was the first to be listed. Clearly, Caleb’s age wasn’t a prohibiting factor for God.
Five years after the initial invasion into Canaan Caleb came to Joshua with extraordinary words.
Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years…here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 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 14:10-12).
Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him what he requested. Caleb successfully took possession of the hill country, also known as Hebron, as his inheritance forever. Hebron was not only a pleasant land to occupy, but also one with much historic significance with Abraham.
Caleb not only outlived his rebellious peers, and successfully overtook his enemies, he also enjoyed a time of rest in his land.
What Can We Learn from Caleb's Story?
Caleb’s life sets an example for us of courage, and faithfulness in the face of difficulty. These qualities were rewarded in Caleb’s life and will be in ours as well.
Caleb was strong and courageous in the face of his peers because he knew what God had promised and trusted him. We can learn what God has promised us and have courage to testify when we need to.
God promised Caleb an inheritance in Canaan and not only kept him alive but preserved his strength as well. We can trust God to fulfill his promises to us with strength and vigor.
Caleb “took his mountain” because God helped him. We can learn to trust in God’s help because we have been promised his help to do “all things through Christ” and that he always “causes us to triumph in Christ.”
Caleb had to patiently wait for his inheritance while wandering 40 years with a bunch of complainers. He must have tapped into the power of joy. The joy of the Lord that Nehemiah says is our strength, and the joy that Jesus set before him empowering him to endure the cross.
God set the promise before all of Israel, but many died without obtaining it due to unbelief. We can learn that it isn’t what we know, it’s what we believe that matters.
The judgment of God on Israel wasn’t given immediately, but only after a night of persistent rebellious unbelief. We can learn God’ grace is ever abounding to us in our weakness.
For further reading:
What Is the Significance of the Promised Land in the Bible?
What Was God’s Promise to Abraham?
What Is the Importance of Israel?
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Caleb Oquendo
Danielle Bernock is an international, award-winning author, coach, and speaker who helps people embrace their value and heal their souls through the power of the love of God. She’s written Emerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn, Love’s Manifesto, Because You Matter, and hosts the Victorious Souls Podcast. A long-time follower of Christ, Danielle lives with her husband in Michigan near her adult children and grandchildren. For more information or to connect with Danielle https://www.daniellebernock.com/
