Even though it feels like the Israelites lived in a war culture it’s apparent that they lived in a God culture too. When Caleb requests land he ties everything to God. “…the Lord said” (v. 6), “I…followed the Lord…wholeheartedly” (v. 8), “the Lord promised” (v. 10), “the Lord helping me, I will drive them out” (v. 12), “because he followed the Lord” (v. 14)

Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly and as a result he was blessed with Hebron. God rewards a step of faith. When ten spies brought a discouraging report about Hebron, Caleb and Joshua brought an encouraging report that clearly demonstrates their faith and it was paid off.

Caleb was not afraid to ask a difficult place, great fortified

Caleb asks for a prominent place, a burial place of Abraham, Sarah and others. He was blessed because he wholeheartedly followed Christ.

Faith of a senior citizen Picture this. Ruthless wars taking a toll on your body. Seeing enemies slaughtered everywhere damages the soul. Nomadic. Always on-call. Mortality rates were low in those days. Surrounded by people who are tired of too much conflict. Tribes.
Caleb is 85. His faith is vigorously active. He looks upon Yahweh’s goodness in the past, drags it into the present and thanks God for all of it. Here is the model of faith. Going from strength to strength. Husain bolt’s final dash at the 100’s. There is energy in this faith. Caleb is Hall of Fame Faith.
As Lewis puts in the Great Divorce. “There is enough joy in the wrinkled finger of (Caleb) to awaken all the dead things in the universe to life” ( modified)

No wonder Caleb lived long

Caleb was claiming a promise made by God through Moses 45 years ago and it was fulfilled by God through Joshua. Our God is an amazing God who fulfills his promises given we are with Him like Caleb followed God through out that 45 years wholeheartedly.

(v. 8) Caleb said “I followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly”. Moses affirmed it “the land on which your feet have walked will be yours and your children, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly”.
-(v13-14) Joshua also affirmed it and blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron as his inheritance, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.
-If we follow the Lord wholeheartedly, He will affirm us and bless us, and through His Grace we will get “eternal”, that will be our inheritance!

vv. 12-14 Caleb drives the Anakims out of the mountains. He relied upon the promise of God and not upon his own strength or his courage. Caleb waited for 45 years to receive his land. Sometimes, we have to wait a long time for our prayers to be answered. Waiting for a long time is a test to our “Faith”.we need to lean on faith rather than our fears..Caleb was able to do this difficult task because he stood firm in faith and hope and followed God wholeheartedly. what a testimony!!

v. 10 …here I am this day , eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; ….
12 …It may be that the Lord will be with me , and I shall be able to drive them(Anakim) out as the Lord said.”
– Caleb nicely presented his great testimony
– he claimed the land as promised by Moses
– he declared that he has enough strength as in 40s!
– but didn’t relay on his own strength to drive out Anakim.
– past : Moses blessed & promised; present : Joshua blessed & full filled His promise; future : Lord promised