33 lines
7.1 KiB
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33 lines
7.1 KiB
HTML
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<h2>45. CALEB'S REWARD</h2>
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<h3>JOSHUA 14:5-14</h3>
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<p>The men of the Bible have generally one trait in their character which is more prominent than another. Moses is the man of meekness; Abraham, the man of separation; David, the man of courage; Joseph, the man of purity; John, the man of love; Peter, the man of zeal; and Caleb, the man of faith.</p>
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<p>I shall call attention to a sevenfold aspect of faith, as brought out in Caleb.</p>
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<p><b>1. Claim of Faith</b> (<a id="fem45-si1" onclick="return mV('Jos',14,6);">Jos 14:6</a>). Faith's claim is always based on God's promise. "The thing the Lord said concerning me," is ever the language of faith. Faith has nothing to say about itself, other than "The Lord says." When men claim that which God has not promised, it is presumption, and not faith.</p>
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<blockquote><p>"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
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<br>And looks to God alone.
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<br>Laughs at impossibilities.
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<br>And cries 'It shall be done.'"</p></blockquote>
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<p>2. <b>Consecration of Faith</b> (<a id="fem45-si2" onclick="return mV('Jos',14,68);">Jos 14:8</a>). The word "<i>consecrate</i>" in <a id="fem45-si3" onclick="return mV('Exd',28,41);">Exd 28:41</a>, and <a id="fem45-si4" onclick="return mV('Exd',29,9);">Exd 29:9</a>, is the same as we have rendered "<i>wholly</i>" in describing Caleb's obedience. Trapp remarks, "The Hebrew signifies 'I fulfilled after the Lord.' A metaphor taken from a ship under sail carried strongly with the wind, as if it feared neither rocks nor sands. Thus he commended himself, that none might tax him with injustice or ambition for that which he now required from Joshua." Caleb's devotion in following the Lord fully is noted in <a id="fem45-si5" onclick="return mV('Deu',1,36);">Deu 1:36</a>; <a id="fem45-si6" onclick="return mV('Num',14,24);">Num 14:24</A>; <a id="fem45-si7" onclick="return mV('Num',32,11);">Num 32:11</a>; <a id="fem45-si8" onclick="return mV('Jos',14,8,9,14);">Jos 14:8, 9, 14</a>. Faith's consecration is summed up in one word—"Obedience." Consecration on the Godward side of it, is the indwelling presence of Christ acting within to reproduce His own behaviour in the life (<a id="fem45-si9" onclick="return mV('Gal',2,20);">Gal 2:20</a>); and on the manward side, consecration is the response of the believer to the word of God's grace in simple, whole-hearted obedience (<a id="fem45-si10" onclick="return mV('1Pe',1,'14-21');">1Pe 1:14-21</a>).</p>
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<p>3. <b>Confession of Faith</b> (<a id="fem45-si11" onclick="return mV('Jos',14,10);">Jos 14:10</a>). "The Lord hath kept me," is ever the glad confession of faith. "No might" (<a id="fem45-si12" onclick="return mV('2Ch',20,12);">2Ch 20:12</a>) is the plea of faith in prayer for the Lord's protection. Caleb had kept himself in the Lord's keeping by his whole-heartedness, and now, as a consequence, he can proclaim what the Lord had done for him. As the electricity runs along the wire that is connected with the battery, so the Lord's keeping grace is found along the line of faith (<a id="fem45-si13" onclick="return mV('1Pe',1,5);">1Pe 1:5</a>), which faith shows itself in obedience; and when we have experienced the keeping power of God's grace, then we can bear our testimony to His faithfulness, and not otherwise.</p>
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<p>4. <b>Courage of Faith</b> (<a id="fem45-si14" onclick="return mV('Jos',11,6);">Jos 11:6</a>). Caleb feels that he is still able to go to war, for his strength, like that of Moses (<a id="fem45-si15" onclick="return mV('Deu',34,7);">Deu 34:7</a>), was not abated. His health of soul (<a id="fem45-si16" onclick="return mV('3Jo',1,2);">3Jo 1:2</a>) had conduced to healthiness of body. Godliness is profitable from this standpoint (<a id="fem45-si17" onclick="return mV('1Ti',4,8);">1Ti 4:8</a>). The secret of courage in the Christian life for warfare and witnessing is found in walking with the Lord. If we can look up into the face of God with an uncondemning heart (<a id="fem45-si18" onclick="return mV('1Jo',3,20,21);">1Jo 3:20-21</a>), then we shall be able to look into the faces of men in faithful testimony (<a id="fem45-si19" onclick="return mV('Act',4,13);">Act 4:13</a>).</p>
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<p>5. <b>Company of Faith</b> (<a id="fem45-si20" onclick="return mV('Jos',14,12);">Jos 14:12</a>). The presence of Jehovah was Caleb's joy. He felt he could do anything, be anything, and go anywhere, if only the Lord was with him. If the Lord is with us, victory is sure (<a id="fem45-si21" onclick="return mV('1Sa',14,6);">1Sa 14:6</a>), our feet are kept from slipping (<a id="fem45-si22" onclick="return mV('Psa',18,32,33);">Psa 18:32-33</a>), our faith is bold (<a id="fem45-si23" onclick="return mV('Psa',27,1,2,3);">Psa 27:1-3</a>), our soul is comforted (<a id="fem45-si24" onclick="return mV('Psa',23,4);">Psa 23:4</a>), and we are encouraged (<a id="fem45-si25" onclick="return mV('Phl',4,13);">Phl 4:13</a>).</p>
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<p>6. <b>Confidence of Faith.</b> "I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said" (<a id="fem45-si26" onclick="return mV('Jos',14,12);">Jos 14:12</a>). Caleb had the Divine promise of victory over his enemies (<a id="fem45-si27" onclick="return mV('Jos',3,10);">Jos 3:10</a>), and therefore he was confident of success. The difference between faith and presumption is this: presumption acts on its own authority, but faith always depends on "Thus saith the Lord" (<a id="fem45-si28" onclick="return mV('Hbr',11,29);">Hbr 11:29</a>). Self-confidence is man acting without God, but faith-confidence upon the Lord (<a id="fem45-si29" onclick="return mV('1Sa',17,45,46);">1Sa 17:45-46</a>).</p>
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<p>7. <b>Compensation of Faith</b> (<a id="fem45-si30" onclick="return mV('Jos',14,13,14);">Jos 14:13-14</a>). Caleb is rewarded because of his faithfulness. Hebron becomes his inheritance. Hebron means fellowship. Fellowship with the Lord is the reward of walking with the Lord now (<a id="fem45-si31" onclick="return mV('1Cr',1,9);">1Cr 1:9</a>), and, in the hereafter, a crown. An "incorruptible crown" for diligently running the race (<a id="fem45-si32" onclick="return mV('1Cr',9,25);">1Cr 9:25</a>), a "crown of life" for endurance (<a id="fem45-si33" onclick="return mV('Jam',1,12);">Jam 1:12</a>), a "crown of righteousness" for those who love Christ's appearing (<a id="fem45-si34" onclick="return mV('2Ti',4,8);">2Ti 4:8</a>), a "crown of rejoicing" for those who bring others to Christ (<a id="fem45-si35" onclick="return mV('1Th',2,19);">1Th 2:19</a>), and a "crown of glory" for faithful service (<a id="fem45-si36" onclick="return mV('1Pe',5,4);">1Pe 5:4</a>).</p>
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