The Conquest of Canaan and the Kingdom of God (14) Give Me This Mountain (2)

(Jos 14:7) I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,
(Jos 14:8) but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.
(Jos 14:9) So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.
(Jos 14:10) “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!
(Jos 14:11) 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.
(Jos 14:12) 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.”
 
Review
Over the past several weeks, beginning with Pentecost Sunday, we’ve taken time to reflect on who the Holy Spirit is and how He works in our lives. Now, I’d like us to return to our original focus—continuing our conversation about the Kingdom of God.
 
The Kingdom of God is the most important theme in the Bible. Jesus Christ came to this earth to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The central message of that gospel, the very heart of the Kingdom, is that God reigns and rules.
 
Jesus Christ shed His blood and died on the cross, bearing our sins, so that we might live in and for that Kingdom where God rules. Therefore, as Christians, we must understand what the Kingdom of God is and what it means to live as its people.
 
The Bible contains many different themes. However, if we were to choose one overarching, comprehensive theme that encompasses all others, it would be the Kingdom of God. We can see this not only in the New Testament, but also throughout the Old Testament.
 
Over the past few months, we have reflected on what the Kingdom of God is and what it means to live as its people by looking at the Exodus of the Israelites, their journey through the wilderness, and the conquest of the land of Canaan.
 
God did not deliver the Israelites from Egypt merely because He heard their cries or felt compassion for their suffering. He had a greater purpose in mind. God rescued them from Egypt in order to fulfill what He had spoken to their ancestor Abraham 400 years earlier: to lead them into the Promised Land, the land of Canaan, drive out the sin and wickedness that was there, and establish His Kingdom upon His Word and will.
 
That is why God did not lead the Israelites directly into the land of Canaan after delivering them from Egypt. Before entering the Promised Land, God wanted them to first have a clear identity as His people. So He led them to Mount Sinai, where He did three important things.
 
First, God made a covenant with them through His word and by the blood of the covenant. Second, He gave them His laws including the Ten Commandments which they were to keep and follow as the people of His Kingdom. And third, God commanded them to build the tabernacle so that He might dwell among them with His presence.
 
This preparation did not take very long. From the time God brought them to Mount Sinai until they completed the tabernacle and resumed their journey, it took about one year.
 
After that, God led them to Kadesh Barnea, a location that served as an entry point into the land of Canaan. There, God commanded them to go in and take possession of the land.
 
However, the Israelites wanted to scout the land first, so they sent twelve spies. After forty days of exploration, the spies returned, but ten of them gave a negative report. They said the land was indeed fruitful, but its cities were fortified and its people strong, and they insisted that it was impossible to conquer them.
 
Although the other two spies, Joshua and Caleb, argued that with God on their side, they could certainly take the land, the Israelites listened more to the negative report and refused to enter.
 
That is why they ended up wandering in the wilderness for another 38 years. During that time, the entire first generation that came out of Egypt—the adult men who were 20 years old or older when God made the covenant with them—all died in the wilderness.
 
Moses also died before entering the land of Canaan. And now, God appointed Joshua as the next leader and commanded the second generation of the exodus to enter the land of Canaan and conquer it. They crossed the Jordan River by trusting in God’s word, and they conquered Jericho and Ai.
 
  In the previous sermon, we looked at a person who, along with Joshua, played a significant role as the Israelites entered the land of Canaan and conquered it. That person’s name is Caleb.
 
  Caleb was one of the twelve leaders chosen at Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land of Canaan. While ten of the spies gave a negative report, Joshua and Caleb said this:
 
 “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.” (Nm 14:7-9)
 
What Joshua and Caleb saw in the land of Canaan was not different from what the ten spies who gave a negative report saw. But they gave a completely opposite report. That was because their focus was different.
 
The ten spies focused on how strong the people of Canaan were compared to their own strength. But Joshua and Caleb did not focus on their own abilities or the power of their enemies. Instead, they turned their eyes to God and fixed their gaze on Him. They were convinced that no matter how strong their enemies were, if God was with them, they would surely be able to overcome them.
 
Although the Israelites did not listen to the positive report given by Joshua and Caleb and ultimately failed to enter the land of Canaan, God remembered the faith of Joshua and Caleb. And near the end of their time in the wilderness, Moses said this about Caleb.
 
“No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.” (Dt 1:35-36)
 
Here we see the reason Caleb was able to remain fully faithful to the Lord until the end. He had an undivided heart toward God. The other ten spies also had some level of belief in God. The problem was that their hearts were not fully turned toward Him. Their hearts were divided—between faith in God and fear of their enemies.
 
Such a divided heart ultimately led to distrust in God’s word and disobedience to His commands. But Caleb’s heart was fixed on the promises of God, rooted in complete trust in Him. That trust and faith enabled him to obey God’s word to the very end.
 
This is the kind of heart we also must have as citizens of God’s kingdom. The psalmist prayed to God like this:
 
"Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." (Psalm 86:11)


The kind of heart we must have to build God’s kingdom on this earth as His faithful people is a heart that is wholly surrendered to Him—an undivided heart.
 
When we have this kind of heart before God, we will not be shaken by any temptation or attack that comes from the world. When our eyes are fixed on the eternal kingdom of God and on His unchanging and certain promises, we will overcome our fears and weaknesses. We will be able to live in victory and remain fully faithful to the mission of building His kingdom on the earth He has entrusted to us. This is the first lesson we can learn from Caleb.
 
All right, that’s what we’ve covered so far. Now, let’s continue learning about the kind of mindset we, as people of God’s kingdom, should have by looking at Caleb’s life.
 
Now Give Me This Hill
In today’s passage, Caleb said, “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’ Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So 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.” (Jos 14:7-12)
 
In this passage, we can glean several insights about Caleb and the conquest of the land of Canaan. Caleb’s confession came after the conquest and distribution of the land among the Israelites had been largely completed.
 
When Caleb was sent to explore the land of Canaan at Kadesh Barnea, he was 40 years old. And the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 38 years, which meant that Caleb was 78 years old when he crossed the Jordan River.
 
So, considering that Caleb states his age as 85 at the time the conquest was completed, we can infer that the conquest of Canaan after crossing the Jordan took approximately seven years. For 45 years after the promise that he would possess the land was given, Caleb faithfully remembered and held on to that promise.
 
Forty-five years is by no means a short period of time. Even I, the oldest among us here, have not yet lived even forty years. During all those long years, Caleb had not yet received what had been promised to him—but he did not give up. He did not forget the promise. He kept remembering it, reminding himself of it, believing it, trusting in it, and faithfully living according to it.
 
Remembering the promise God had given him, and pressing on toward that promise—that was the very source of strength that kept Caleb alive, vibrant, and passionate even in his old age.
 
Though his body had aged, his heart was still burning with passion. Caleb’s strength was not just physical—it was spiritual. His spirit had not grown weary because his hope was deeply anchored in God’s word and promise.
 
The reason Caleb believed that he could still conquer the land even in his old age was not because he trusted in his own strength or ability, but because he trusted in the power of God who was always with him—in God’s promises and in His word.
 
From this, we learn an important attitude we must have as people of God's kingdom.
 
It took Caleb forty-five years to finally receive the inheritance that had been promised to him. And the promises God has given us are no different. God has promised us to give His kingdom as an inheritance.
 
The apostle Paul said:
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Rom 8:17)
 
The apostle Peter also wrote:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3–4)
 
However, this promise has not yet been fulfilled. It will be fully realized on the day when Jesus Christ returns—when He transforms us into His glorious resurrected form and leads us into the eternal kingdom that He has prepared for us. Until that day comes, God’s people are called to live with a deep longing for His promises, to hold them close each day, and to faithfully build His kingdom right where He has placed them.
 
But, at times, God’s promise can feel delayed. The inheritance of His kingdom was promised more than 2,000 years ago, and yet we still wait for its complete fulfillment. It’s possible that we, too, may not see the fullness of this promise in our lifetime.
 
That reality can sometimes lead us to discouragement. We might forget the promise or live as if it has nothing to do with us. It is not easy to pursue one single promise faithfully over such a long time.
 
But in those moments, there is one truth we must hold fast to:
God is faithful to every one of His promises, and He is fully able to bring them to pass.
 
 As Paul said, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 1:20)
 
This is how we respond to God’s promises—with a resounding “Amen.” We should continue to remember His promises, trust in Him fully, and walk with Him daily as we await the day of fulfillment. The promise of God’s kingdom is given to those who, even in the midst of hardship and trials, continue to believe in and trust that promise until the very end.
 
So remember, the kingdom of God is not for the faint of heart. It is for the faithful—those who keep their eyes fixed on God’s promises and walk steadily with perseverance. It is for those who live wholeheartedly toward God, trusting Him completely and depending fully on His strength. As we remember, trust, and walk forward in God’s promises, He will reveal them to us more clearly and give us the strength to press on toward their fulfillment until the very end.
 
Jesus said to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:10, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” (Rev 2:10)
 
May this word echo in our hearts today. I want us to have the spirit that God gave Caleb—a man who held fast to God’s promises through decades of waiting, trials, and uncertainty. Like Caleb, we are called to live with eyes fixed on the hope of God’s kingdom, to walk with perseverance, and to trust wholeheartedly in His faithfulness.
 
Though the fulfillment of God’s promises may sometimes feel delayed, we shouldn’t lose heart. God is faithful, and He is working in and through us to build His kingdom here and now.
 
May the Lord grant us the courage to be people of unwavering faith. May we remember His promises daily, trust Him fully, and press on with endurance until that glorious day when Jesus returns in glory.
 
Let us live as Caleb did—not faint of heart, but full of faith—knowing that God’s promises are sure and His love never fails. Amen.
 
Let’s read Hebrews 10:23 before we wrap up.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Heb 10:23) Amen.
 
Now, let’s sing ‘The Power of Your Love’ one more time and take time to pray.
 
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Now, I want to invite each of you to take a moment for personal prayer. Let’s quiet our hearts and bring our hopes, struggles, and faith before God.
 
As you pray, ask God to strengthen your faith like Caleb’s, to help you hold fast to His promises even when waiting feels hard. Pray for the perseverance to walk steadily in His calling and the courage to live fully for His kingdom today.
 
Take this time to listen, to be still, and to rest in God’s presence. Let’s bring ourselves to God and pray.
 
[Prayer]
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the example of Caleb—his faith, his perseverance, and his unwavering trust in Your promises.
 
Lord, we confess that sometimes we grow weary waiting for Your promises to come to pass. We struggle when the path seems long and the future uncertain.
 
But today, Father, we choose to fix our eyes on You. Help us to remember Your faithfulness, to trust Your timing, and to walk boldly in the calling You have placed on our lives. Strengthen our hearts when we feel faint. Renew our spirits when we feel weary.
 
Lord, may Your Holy Spirit empower us to live with eyes of faith, feet of perseverance, and hands ready to build Your kingdom here and now. Teach us to rely fully on Your promises until the day You lead us into Your everlasting kingdom.
 
We surrender our doubts and fears to You. Fill us with courage and peace as we press forward, trusting that You will fulfill every promise You have made.
 
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
 
[Reflection Questions]
1) What promise of God are you holding on to today? What are some obstacles that make you forget or give up on it?
 
2) Caleb said, "I am still as strong today..." How would you describe your spiritual strength right now? How do you continue to stay spiritually strong as time goes by?
 
3) Caleb remembered God’s promise for 45 years. What spiritual practices help you hold on to and actively pursue God’s promises in your life?