Joshua 15:13-19

In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai—descendants of Anak. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?"

She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.


And we do see Caleb making the effort to get rid of Anakites in Hebron. I was just thinking, even as Caleb held on to His faith that God will give his people the Promised Land despite the difficulties, ultimately God refused to let Caleb reap his reward until he proved it himself that his faith is a real one that can be put into action. And he did want to put his faith into action, as talked about in Joshua 14.

This makes me think a bit. God wants us to demonstrate faith with action. And yet God wants to give us and bless us with good gifts as well. Matthew 6:33, my favourite verse, says so that we have to demonstrate our faith by putting first His kingdom and righteousness before we will be given and added upon the things of our heart. And we need to mean what we say. Caleb meant what he said and he did it, with God's help, of course.

I often ask people and myself, that we often say we trust God, that we have faith in Him. Do we really have faith in Him? Where is the action that accompanies the faith? 3.5 years as a Christian, I see people 'putting their faith' in God and not doing anything about it, not claiming God's promises. I think we have to wake up our ideas a bit, and start claiming promises in the bible if we claim to be men and women of faith. Caleb claimed the promises and he had his land. It's a physical and tangible way of God saying "my good and faithful servant".

Now are we really the good and faithful servant?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Parable of the 'Good Samaritan'

Of Teaching and Learning

Iakobou Epistode: From Confusion to Clarity