Joshua 14:6-15. Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 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, 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. 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.’
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! 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. 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.”
13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)
Then the land had rest from war.
When you discover the true worth of the gospel, you will no longer live for temporary success, comfort, or recognition. You will live a wholehearted life for the sake of the gospel.
Like David, you will live with a God-given cause (1 Samuel 17:29). While everyone else saw Goliath as a giant to fear, David saw an opportunity to reveal the glory of God. A person who holds onto God’s covenant is not shaken by crises or opposition because he sees God’s greater purpose behind every situation.
Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you will refuse to bow before the idols of the age. Even in the face of death, they stood boldly by faith and confessed:
“But even if he does not… we will not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:18). True faith is not conditional. It does not depend on circumstances or visible answers. When the gospel becomes your absolute value, you gain spiritual boldness that overcomes the pressure of the world, even the fear of death.
Like Paul, you will consider your life worth nothing compared to the mission God has entrusted to you: “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). Paul’s life was centered completely on Christ and world evangelization. Nothing could stop him—not persecution, imprisonment, hunger, rejection, or even death.
When Paul was stoned in Lystra and left for dead, he miraculously rose up and went back into the city (Acts 14:19–22). Why? Because there were disciples there whom God had prepared, including a young disciple named Timothy (Acts 16:1). Paul understood that one disciple raised correctly could save future generations and an entire age.
This is the kind of life God has called you to live. Having discovered the greatest treasure in Christ, the Early Church lived with wholehearted devotion:
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God, and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Ac 2:46-47).
Like Caleb in Today’s Word, you are called to conquer the mission field God has given you. Because of one man of faith, “the land had rest from war.” When you hold onto God’s covenant, people around you will come to experience the true rest found only in Christ.
On the way to the promised land of Canaan, Moses sent twelve spies to explore the land (Numbers 13:1–33). Although they all saw the same land, ten spies returned with a negative report filled with fear and unbelief. They focused only on the giants, fortified cities, and impossible circumstances. Only Joshua and Caleb remembered God’s covenant.
The Israelites became deeply discouraged. In fear and despair, they wept, grumbled against Moses, and even talked about returning to Egypt. At that critical moment, Joshua and Caleb boldly proclaimed words of faith that would change the course of the nation (Numbers 14:1–9). God then gave this promise concerning Caleb:
“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it” (Numbers 14:24).
Caleb held onto this covenant for forty-five years. Through every hardship, wilderness journey, battle, and delay, he never let go of God’s promise. This is true faith, a lifelong covenant journey.
When you place God’s Word in your heart and make a resolution of faith in every season of life, God will surely fulfill His promises. He will give eternal answers through your life and allow your faith to be passed on to the next generation. Therefore, always choose faith. That was the decision Caleb made again and again throughout his life.
When Israel finally faced its last major battle against the Anakites, Caleb—now eighty-five years old—stepped forward in faith. Though advanced in age, his spirit had not weakened because he had spent his entire life holding onto God’s covenant.
Caleb trusted completely in the promise God had given him when he was forty years old. He understood the true reason for conquering Canaan. It was not merely about gaining territory or defeating enemies. It was about restoring the blood covenant of the promised Messiah and preparing the way for world evangelization. Caleb saw beyond the physical battle and held onto God’s eternal plan.
For this reason, he followed God wholeheartedly throughout his entire life. He witnessed the mighty works of God during the Exodus, at the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and at the Jordan River. Every event strengthened his faith in God’s covenant.
Even after Moses died and Joshua became the new leader, Caleb humbly submitted himself to God’s order and pledged his loyalty to Joshua (Joshua 1:16–18). He did not seek a position or personal gain. He simply believed that God would fulfill His promise and lead His people into the land of Canaan.
Caleb knew exactly what stood before him—the Anakites and their large fortified cities. Yet he looked beyond visible reality and held onto the greater reality of God’s presence and promise. Therefore, he boldly confessed: “The Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said” (Joshua 14:12).
His faith never wavered. Caleb was both humble and bold. He did not trust in his own strength but in the power of God who had called him. God responded to this man of faith by sustaining him with extraordinary strength throughout his life. Caleb testified:
“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” (Joshua 14:10–11).
God is searching for a remnant like Caleb today. There are still countless places where Christ is unknown and where people live without the gospel. Therefore, renew your faith in God once again and focus your life on what God desires most—saving lives.
God has already given you the ultimate cause for your life. He has also revealed the only way to save the world: Christ (Acts 1:1), the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3), and the filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
As you hold onto this covenant, God will use your life to transform your mission field, your church, and even this age. He will turn the culture of idols into the culture of the gospel. Through one person of wholehearted faith, God can bring rest, healing, and life to many.
Prayer. Father, help me to live a single-minded life for Christ and a wholehearted life for the gospel. Like Caleb, help me to hold onto Your covenant without wavering until the very end. Strengthen my faith to overcome every circumstance and help me continue to walk as an evangelist who saves lives. May I enjoy the blessing of Your presence throughout the entire day and be used to change my mission field and this age for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.