In the book of Joshua, we learned how Caleb said, “Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon your feet have trodden shall be your inheritance, and your children's for ever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spoke this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old”, and in chapter fourteen and verse eleven of Joshua we learn how Caleb said, “I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me” where we read,
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me:
as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
The verse reads, “As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “as yet I am as strong this day” which means “and still at this point I, Caleb, remain sharp, mighty and bold” “as I was” or “similar and in likeness to the way I, Caleb, existed” “in the day that Moses” which means “within the time period that Moses whose name means ‘drawn out’ and was the prophet, lawgiver and leader of the exodus” “sent me” or “dispatched and assigned me, Caleb”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Caleb” said he was as mighty and bold as he previously was at the time “Moses” dispatched him to be a spy in the promise land.
The verse continues, “as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “as my strength was then” which means “similar and in likeness to the way my, Caleb’s, power, might and ability existed at that time and moment”, “even so is my strength now” or “also and indeed exists my, Caleb’s, power, might and ability at the present time”, “for war” which means “in support and favor of battle and fighting”, “both to go out” or “with the ability to exit, depart and proceed forward”, “and to come in” which means “and to besiege, befall, carry and attain”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Caleb” told Joshua that his power and might had not diminished during the “forty-five” years since he was originally dispatched by “Moses” to the promise land, and he remained powerful and mighty for battle and fighting as well as proceeding forward and besieging territories.
When we think through the words in this verse, we discover how “Caleb” continued to bring convincing words to “Joshua” concerning his ability to receive the inheritance that was promised to him. He acknowledged that “forty-five” years had passed, but even at “eighty-five” years old, he was as powerful, mighty, strong and bold as he was before to go to battle and to siege his inheritance. God gave “Caleb” these gifts, and when God is involved, age does not have to matter. God wants us to have the “spirit of Caleb”, and when we receive His Son Jesus who came into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of everyone and was raised from the dead after three days, He made the way through belief and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so that we too will be strong and mighty in the Lord even into our aging years. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:18; Ephesians 6:10)
Next time we learn how Caleb says, “therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spoke in that day”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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