Tuesday, April 16th: Joshua 13:1-14:15, Luke 18:1-17, Psalm 85:1-13, Proverbs 13:7-8 ~ Jeannine

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Joshua 13:1-14:15, Luke 18:1-17, Psalm 85:1-13, Proverbs 13:7-8 

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. 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. ow 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.”

Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

Joshua 14:6-13

I love the story of Caleb, it's partially why our youngest child carries that name. Caleb was a man who was willing to stand up for truth, even if it meant being a minority. So often we let the opinions of others sway us and we willing to ask our friends and other experts what to do but often avoid asking God what He has to say about the issue. I love this quote in my bible's commentary on Caleb...

"Caleb was not so much a man of great faith as a man of faith in a great God!"

And here in today's passage we see the fruit of his faith. It took a while...45 years to be exact...but here we see him standing before Joshua receiving the blessing that the Lord promised him so long ago.

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

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Joshua 15:1-63, Luke 18:18-43, Psalm 86:1-17, Proverbs 13:9-10