THE TRUTH ABOUT CALEB'S STRENGTH (PART 1)
TEXT
"lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in." (Joshua chapter 14 verses 10 to 11, King James Version)
Let's observe something very strange about Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite. In Joshua chapter 14 from verse 6 to 12, Caleb was asking Joshua for Hebron, having been promised him for wholly following God. In Joshua chapter 14 verse 11, we note the confession of Caleb which we judge to be very outstanding. Hear Him:
"As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in."
On the natural plane, this is unbelievable! At the time that Caleb made that statement, he was 85 years old. Remember that the promise was made to him at 40 years of age. How was it that his strength didn't deplete a bit from 40 years to 85 years of age when he made that statement?
There's something that the Holy Spirit wants us to understand here! When Caleb made that statement, he wasn't actually talking about his natural strength. We all know that it's naturally impossible for an 85 year old man to go in the same strength he had at 40 years of age, let alone to go to war at that age. Truth is, Caleb was indeed talking about the strength that results from God being with him, the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit. He was, like we are, under God’s assignment; and such a man isn’t without God’s support and strength.
One characteristic of Caleb's strength, even at 85 years of age is that it never changed. As it was 40 years ago, it remained at 85 years of age. Truth is, as God does not change, so it is with His strength (see Isaiah chapter 46 verse 10 and Malachi chapter 3 verse 6). His strength doesn’t increase or decrease just as Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews chapter 13 verse 8).
As God's children under assignment on earth, His strength is always available to us; and like Caleb we can boast about this strength in us. We have received power because the Holy Spirit has come upon us (Acts chapter 1 verse 8). It is in consequence thereof that we have been counseled to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10 and 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 1).
Samson was a man under God's assignment. Whatever was written about him, particularly the effects of the anointing of the Spirit of God on his life, was an example for our learning and admonition (see Romans chapter 15 verse 4 and 1st Corinthians 10 verse 11). God gave us his account to educate us on the enormity of His strength and the possibility of humans functioning in God's supernatural ability.
Child of God, there's a supernatural ability that is in you, courtesy of Jesus Christ. First, you need to realize that it's there in you and second, you have to learn to put It to work for you. To say this in another sense, understand that "truth" has never set anyone free; but it's the 'knowledge of the truth' that sets free (John chapter 8 verse 32). What you don't know can hardly work for you. Again, if you don't learn to work out your salvation, you might live as though you were never saved (Philippians chapter 2 verse 12). Part of our responsibility as God's children is to learn to put to work the graces of God that are available to us in Christ.
Finally, how come that it was only Caleb that this thing worked for? What happened to the remaining spies? Was the Lord not the same God of the entire nation of Israel? How come that it was only Caleb that could enjoy and openly boast about the unfailing strength that was at work in him? Find out the answers in the second part to these series.
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for anointing me with Your enormous but unchanging ability and strength to carry out your assignment here on earth, in Jesus name.