I confess that I’m a bit partial to the name, Caleb. It’s a Hebrew name meaning “wholehearted, loyal, devoted.” And it’s the first name of one of my grandsons. My father was the only boy in his family (he had three sisters). I am the only boy in my family (one sister). My son is the only boy in our family (one sister). And Caleb is the only boy in my son’s family (three sisters). So, this little guy (age 4) will continue the Weatherby name (at least my branch of the clan).
So, who was his biblical namesake?
A Courageous Spy
We first read about Caleb in the fourth book of the Bible – Numbers. Moses had just led the Israelites out of Egypt in a very miraculous way (remember the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea?). He then sends twelve spies (one per tribe) into the “Promised Land” where God is leading them. It’s a land flowing with “milk and honey” (meaning abundant livestock and vegetation). The only problem is that the inhabitants are abnormally big and the cities well fortified.
The majority of the spies (10) bring back a negative report saying that the inhabitants are too strong to conquer. However, a minority of two (Joshua and Caleb) bring back a positive report saying that God is far bigger and able to lead them to victory if they trust Him. Caleb advised, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (Numbers 13:30)
Caleb’s advice (and that of Joshua) is ignored and the Israelites begin a 40-year trek into the wilderness where that generation is buried. How quickly they had forgotten how God had supernaturally freed them from their Egyptian oppressors. The lesson? Disobedience has consequences. In this case, a whole generation is wasted. Only Caleb and Joshua (of that generation) would eventually set foot in the Promised Land.
A Different Spirit
At this disappointing juncture in Hebrew history, Moses has a “one-to-One” with God. This is God’s assessment of the man who had courageously stood on His side. “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)
God’s assessment of Joshua was the same. Just as Joshua was Moses’ righthand man, so Caleb would fulfill that same role for Joshua. Both men had a different spirit from the rest. They had a spirit of faith and courage instead of a spirit of doubt and fear. With this spirit, they viewed their God as a “giant” and every challenge as a “grasshopper”. In contrast, their countrymen viewed their God as a “grasshopper” and every problem as a “giant”. Centuries later, the apostle Paul would echo this view when he wrote to Timothy, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (see 2 Timothy 1:7)
A Strong Senior
Fast forward 45 years. Joshua has now replaced Moses as leader. Caleb is now 85 years old. Both of them had attended a lot of funerals. Talking to Joshua, I’ll let Caleb speak for himself…
“You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 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.” (Joshua 14:6-12)
My prayer for my grandson is that he will have the same spirit as his biblical namesake. And my prayer for you is that you too will be a 21st century Canadian “Caleb” who is full of faith, courage, strength and not afraid to have “a different spirit” in our secular society today.
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor (who is 69 but some days feels like 85).
