Caleb: Having a Different Spirit

by Teresa Carr

Caleb: Having a Different Spirit by Teresa Carr In today’s society if you’re not part of the majority and doing the “IN” thing you basically different from the others. Not being like everyone else isn’t such a bad thing. It’s really a good thing. Having a positive attitude, standing up for what you believe in, and having the faith that it will change the world you live in makes all the difference. Standing out in the crowd by having the courage to conquer the odds of the impossible. Richard Edler wrote: “Safe living generally makes for regrets later on. We are all given talents and dreams. Sometimes the two don’t seem to match. But usually we compromise both before ever finding out. Later on, we find ourselves looking back longingly to that time when we should have chased our true dreams and our true talents for all they are worth. Don’t let yourself be pressured into thinking that your dreams or your talents aren’t prudent. They were never meant to be prudent. They were meant to bring joy and fulfillment into your life.” One such patriarch in the Bible by the name of Caleb was just that person who had a different spirit with such “positive boldness” God blessed him at the end of journey in the wilderness to the Promised Land. Caleb was a friend of Joshua, the successor of Moses who brought the children of Israel through the wilderness and was bringing them to Canaan the land where God had promised them. Caleb was one of the twelve spies who scouted the land in Canaan. Along with Joshua, he recommended that Israel attack the Canaanites immediately (Num. 13:30). Caleb’s name meaning “bold” was of the tribe of Judah, the lineage to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a man who loved the Lord God (Yahweh). He was a man who desired a mountain. He was incredible and invincible in driving out the giants from the Promised Land (Numbers 13:33), even when he was 85 years of age. He was courageous. He fully followed the Lord God with great faith. He was perpetual and unlimited by time or circumstances. He stood with the minority and declared “God is on our side.” He and Joshua searched out the land and saw it was good. Like Caleb, we need to be sold out to the Lord and not the world. Let’s be different, not “go with the flow and expect the status quo.” This world is rapidly slipping away. Make your life count for something in the Lord just like Caleb did. You can be all you can be. Caleb had another spirit within him. He did follow the crowd in his day when the children of Israel belief the false reports of the enemies who occupied Canaan. Instead, Caleb calmed the people and held firm that what God has already promised. Caleb would not listen to the popular voices. Doesn’t it sound familiar of the peers that talk the talk, but don’t usually walk the walk? When the people of Israel were troubled by the evil reports, Caleb stilled the people before Moses. A different spirit has a different ending. When the generation that came out of Egypt didn’t obey God’s voice and His Great Promise, they died in the wilderness. In the end, it was Joshua and Caleb who entered the land. Caleb was a separated saint from all the others (Joshua 14:7) by way of the Gospel. The spirit of God had raised Caleb up. God said, “My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his descendents shall possess it (Numbers 14:24). He said to the people of Israel, “Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun” (Numbers 14:30). Caleb lived to enter the land forty years later and was given the city of Hebron for his faithfulness (Josh. 14:6-15). Caleb must have been more than eighty years old when he was finally rewarded. He was about forty when he served on a scouting expedition into Canaan (Josh. 14:7), and another forty years had passed while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness (Num. 14:33). God’s promised reward maybe slow in coming, but He always delivers! When you get off the beaten path and journey to a path not taken you have raised the human quietness without doubting great blessings will be there. If you can pursue all things and follow the will of Master, who is wonderful and fearful, He will take you to places where everyone else feared to tread. What do you believe God has called you to do? Go and do it! God’s not limited to your IQ, education, status, or your will. Anything is possible with God. Put God to the test and do what He’s created you to do. Joshua and Caleb were outside the mold. They were different and they trusted in the Lord God. What God is telling those who seek Him. Don’t tarry, but go and possess the land with Holy boldness by faith. Don’t procrastinate go now. God will give us the ability to do. If God be for us who can be against us. Say to yourself, “I can do all things in Christ which strengthens me.” With that different spirit follow God wholeheartedly. He will bring you into the Promised Land. Caleb was 85 years old when he went into Canaan land. The Lord was with him. Caleb was faithful and holy because he followed the Lord (Joshua 14). God wants to do something awesome for you. Will you be like Caleb and enter your promise land? Much later after Caleb had settled in the land and his descendants were brought up there. Othniel the son of Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb lived in a time when their enemies oppressed Israel. It was then God raises Othniel up to deliver Israel from an evil Mesopotamian king Chushanrishathaim. It was Othniel who also took Kirjathsepher at the request of Caleb. Because of Caleb’s faith and courage it was passed down through his family to Othniel. Caleb’s character molded Othniel’s life. Have you ever had someone in your family you truly admired for the positive effect they had in your life? The positive influence that one person has on another will always be with them and helps them to grow to be a model leader in society. This subject was taken from a sermon at the Campbells Creek Nazarene Church. In relation to this story, I had a dream a few days before I attended that day the sermon was given. In the dream I identified a man whose name was Caleb. He was a tall, strong looking, older man about mid-40’s dressed in an ancient tunic and a banded head covering and wore a beard. I was speaking to Caleb and asked him where he was going. He didn’t answer. I believe it was God’s message that connected my life to Caleb. I was amazed that after I had the dream that the pastor at the church was giving a sermon on Caleb. So this was a turning point in my life to be a warrior like Caleb. God was revealing to me live a life of positive boldness and strength and use my given talents and dreams. When God guides us to a place, obey what he says and trust in him. He keeps his promises. My pastor always encourages us to be a lighthouse to the community, a soul saving station. This is what our gifts and talents reflect to call out to others for the kingdom of God. I’m trusting and believing that God will walk through the valley with me to the promise land just like Caleb did. If you think you’re beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win but you think you can’t, it’s almost certain you won’t. Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who believes he can. Caleb, Sermon, Pastor Richard Baker, Campbells Creek Nazarene Church, Charleston, WV Holy Bible, Numbers 14:6, 10, 14, 24; 35-38, Numbers 13:6, 22, 30, 38; Joshua 14:6, 7, 14; 15:13-18; 21:12 (Caleb’s conquest) 23:8, Numbers 26:65; 32: 12, 13, 14; 34:19; Deut. 1:36; Judges 1:12-15, 20; 3:9: I Chronicles 2:9, 18, 19, 42, 50; 4:15; 6:56; Psalm 27:1; Romans 8:31; Phil. 4:13. Rivers, Francine. The Warrior, a Novel. Doors, Ed Young Ministries ©2007, Teresa Carr, Skyhouse Communications & Mega Grafx® Studio

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