C is for Committed and Courageous Caleb

Caleb- One of the quiet heroes of the Bible.

Twelve spies went into the promised land to explore the area to see what kind of country it was. Most of them came back and reported that it was a great place but “there were giants in the land”. Their advice was to choose a different destination.

Joshua and Caleb came back from the same trip with a different story. They were excited that God had given them this land and said “let’s go get it!”. Unfortunately, the Israelites paid no attention to Joshua and Caleb.

God punished them all for their unbelief and lack of trust by making them stay in the wilderness for forty years until all the men (20 years and older at the time of the exploration) had died. Joshua and Caleb were they only adults to be allowed into the land at the end of the forty years.


So here’s my question. Poor Caleb, who didn’t do anything wrong, had to hang around the desert for forty years. Joshua ended up being the leader of the people after Moses died, so he got his reward (If you call that a reward!) What did Caleb get?

Well, after a bit of digging, I found out three things that I think are pretty cool. First of all, Caleb pretty much got the pick of where he wanted to locate in the promised land. He chose Hebron, where the giants really did live. He still had enough of an adventuring spirit to want to fight the giants!

Secondly, he was 85 years old when they divvied up the land and the Bible says that Caleb was just as strong as the day that Moses sent him to spy out the land.

And finally at the end of the chapter (Joshua 14), the Bible says that “Then they had rest from war.”




The pick of the land

Healthy strong body and a spirit of adventure

Peace from war.

I’d say those are pretty good rewards for a life well lived.



L