''Lord, Give Me This Mountain!''
Joshua 14:1-15
INTRO. In our text, we read the account of the division of the land after the conquering of the Land of Promise by the Israelites. The land was divided by casting of lots. Each tribe would receive territory proportionate to its population.
The time for casting of lots came and Judah, according to v6, assembled at Gilgal to cast lots. But before lots could be cast, Caleb stepped forward and said to Joshua, "Thou knowest the thing the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-Barnea." If you recall, back in Numbers 13:27-33, Moses had sent out 12 spies to spy out the Land, among them were Joshua and Caleb.
Only Caleb and then Joshua said the Israelites could take the Land. Because of Caleb's conviction, God had promised him a special blessing. And in Deut. 1:36, we see that the blessing is this, that God Would give “Caleb…to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.” Caleb, standing here before his old friend Joshua, now brings Joshua's attention to the promise given to him.
Caleb, now 85, was given 2 promises from God. First, His life would be prolonged. We see that this has happened. And secondly, He would someday inherit the territory He had explored near Hebron. God had kept the first promise sustaining Caleb, according to vlO, these 45 years. Now Caleb was ready to receive the second.
But standing in his way, according to v12, was the Anakims, a nation of giants. This, however, didn’t stop Caleb. Instead of requesting a quiet place to spend his last days; He desired the mountain that had brought so much fear to the 10 spies beforehand.
He believed, even at 85, if God was with Him he could drive them out! Joshua, in v13, gives Hebron unto Caleb, believing God would be with Caleb. We, too, can conquer our mountains in our lives, if we realize God is with us!
WITH GOD WE CAN CONQUER THE:
(1) Mountain of Indecision
1 Kings 18:21
Proverbs 3:5, 6
(2) Mountain of Indifference
John 10:27
John 14:21-23
(3) Mountain of Inability
Phil. 4:13-“I can do all things…”
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
CLOSING: If we rely on God we can overcome any mountain ahead in our lives,
but we must trust God! In 1 John 5:4, it tells us, “For whatsoever
is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our Faith."
There may be one lost here today, you are facing one of the hardest
mountains to overcome, the mountain of unbelief, but if you will
come and place your trust in Jesus today, He will help you conquer
that mountain also!
Christian, do you face any mountains in your life, if so be faithful
and bring it to Him. Trust Him and with Him you can conquer that
mountain!