There are several things that separated Caleb from the millions of people that died in the wilderness.  For those who plan on surviving and thriving during the times of wilderness in their own lives, let’s gain some wisdom from Caleb as this series continues:

(Here is:

Part 1 -Through The Wilderness 

Part 2 – The Word of Promise and 

Part 3 – You Know The Word in case you missed them)

Not only did Caleb have the word and declare it out continually to all the people around him, he followed the Lord God completely!  As Caleb begins to speak before the congregation, he recounts the history of their first entrance into The Promised Land in these words:

Joshua 14:8 “My brothers (fellow spies) who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the Lord my God completely.”

He knew that he had stood in faith and obedience in the word of God and even risked his life standing against the fear and onslaught of the enemy and his words.  The immediate result of Joshua and Caleb reminding the people of God’s promise to bring them in to the land and be with them, was the people literally wanting to kill them for speaking these words of faith and trust in the power of God to fulfill all He had promised.

Numbers 14:9-10 “If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”  But all the congregation said to stone Joshua and Caleb with stones. But the glory and brilliance of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) before all the sons of Israel.

Caleb received no tangible reward at the time, but God came, backed him up, and gave him a blessing and promise for his obedience.  His immediate reward was a special presence of God to strengthen, encourage, and sustain him for what he came to find out later would be 45 years in the wilderness.

Sadly, when you stand on the word of God and His promises, often you will be standing by yourself against the crowd.  The word of The Lord did not make sense in the natural. The people acting out of “wisdom” and “reason” could not come into agreement with The Spirit of Promise. It was literally outside of their realm of possibility because they were trusting in themselves, their own abilities, strengths, and securities, and not in the power of God.  

God confirms the Word of His promise and the truth of it through the words of Moses:

Joshua 14:9 So Moses swore [an oath to me] on that day, saying, ‘Be assured that the land on which your foot has walked will be an inheritance to you and to your children always, because you have followed the Lord my God completely.’ 

At the time, this may not have seemed like an amazing word until God declared that all the “wisdom” and “reason” carnally minded people would die in the wilderness because they did not partner with faith and obedience in the supernatural life-giving Spirit of Promise.  Walking in the flesh they literally could not transition out of the wilderness.  The only way to transition and advance out of the wilderness is by walking in The Spirit by the straight and narrow way of The Word of God. 

This is a key that can be easily overlooked because it is counter-intuitive.  We trust in what we can see and plan out, but we are called to trust and obey the supernatural life-giving Spirit of God and His promises.  This is true faith.

God speaks a word of promise to Caleb. Immediately after this, Caleb and all the people begin to wander in the wilderness.  Despite this, Caleb takes possession of the word and begins to declare it out to his people. He continually speaks out this word and is obedient to follow The Lord completely in partnership with this life-giving word over a period of 45 years.  Caleb’s partnership with the word and faithfulness to walk in the way completely during this time is what causes him not only to receive an abundant inheritance in The Promised Land, but to be blessed with physical strength, heavenly wisdom, and supernatural honor from the Lord.

We will find out more of what happened to Caleb after 45 years of faithful obedience and partnership with the promise next time, in the final part of this series, but the question for today is:

What about you?

Do you remember a word or words of promise that God has revealed to you?

Are you partnering with these words?

Are you following the Lord completely in them?

You may not be able to say you are currently being fully faithful to the words spoken to you, but Holy Spirit is able to redeem the time and cause these promises to be renewed and refreshed in your life.

Join me in recommitting to follow The Lord God completely by walking in The Way:

Jesus, I love you.  Thank You for all the blessings, words, and promises that You have spoken over me and my destiny.  You have given Holy Spirit to help me walk more and more in my divine calling every single day.  Forgive me for forgetting, neglecting, or walking away from You and Your faithfulness to bring these words into bearing fruit.  Help me to realign with You and Your word right now.  I want to follow You fully and walk completely in Your Way in Jesus Name!

Look for Part 5 – The Conclusion coming soon!

Jeremiah, Man on Fire!!!