Skip to content Joshua and Caleb: Faithful Leadership Apr 22 · 12 min ...more
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Support this leader
Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Give
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
93.9K followers
Family Research Council is serving in the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, & freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
93.9K followers
Up next Autoplay More from Tony Perkins Ron Johnson, Andrew Clyde, Blaise Misztal, Michele Bachmann, Gary Hamrick Tony Perkins
11/9/2026 Reflections on How the Midterms Will Shape the Future Congressional Agenda and Foreign Policy Tony Perkins
From Tekoa to Bethel: A Shepherd’s Warning of Judgment Tony Perkins
Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment: God’s Desire to Restore Tony Perkins
David Wurmser, Ryan Bangert, Jeanne Seaver, David Closson Tony Perkins
11/6/2026 America’s Future Foreign and Domestic Policies and Responding Biblically to Cultural Challenges Tony Perkins
Joel 1:14 — Consecrate a Fast: A Pastoral Call to Repentance Tony Perkins
Randy Fine, Chris Mitchell, Amanda Dixon, Igor Bandura, Casey Harper Tony Perkins
11/5/2026 How Will Democrats Govern With Growing Anti-Semitism in Their Party? Tony Perkins
Hands on the Bow: Prophetic Authority and National Repentance Tony Perkins
Eric Burlison, John Rogers, Jack Hibbs, Suzanne Bowdey, Casey Harper Tony Perkins
Comments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
Joshua: Old, Focused, and Called to Act 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning as we look at Joshua chapters 13 and 14, verse 8 of chapter 14. Nevertheless, my brethren, who went up with0:21 me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the lord my god. In chapter 13, there's a description of the land that is yet to be conquered, and then the inheritance on the0:33 east side of the Jordan for the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. Then in, chapter 14, we have the west side story with the beginning of the division of the land with0:45 the tribe of Judah. Now let's start with chapter 1, chapter 13 verse 1. Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the lord said to him, you are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land0:57 yet to be possessed. Wow. When god tells you you're old, you must be old. So exactly how old was Joshua at this point? Well, we're not certain. The1:09 Bible is not, doesn't say so specifically, but it's estimated that he was somewhere between 90 years old and 100 years old. So would was god commenting on1:21 Joshua's physical ability? Maybe. But I think there was another reason here. God was telling him this. Joshua, you're old, and there is still much work to be done, and your time1:33 is short. God was telling him, I believe, focus. Let's get the job done. See, we need to be reminded of life's brevity so that we stay focused on our mission and1:44 its priorities. You know, as Moses prayed, he he prayed and is recorded in Psalm 90. It's 1 that I look to very often. He said this, teach us to number our days that we may apply1:56 our hearts under wisdom. Wow. That's so good. See, occupying all the land and driving out all the inhabitants was their priority. There were setbacks both externally and2:08 internally. There were giants, and there were enemies in the land that had to be overcome. There was the ever present threat of spiritual compromise, which was eventually what led to their downfall and being2:21 driven out of the land themselves. But if we are to occupy, and this is where we take, application, if we're to occupy the abundant life that Jesus has made available to us, we must be2:32 focused. We must be intentional. It doesn't just happen. K? Things don't just good things just don't happen. Paul in Romans chapter 12 writes this. He said in verse 2, and do not2:44 be conformed to this world, but be transformed, how? By the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. You see, that2:56 transformation doesn't happen by accident. It doesn't happen by osmosis. It happens when we are in the word and being led by the Holy Spirit. Our children do not learn to3:08 walk with the Lord by chance. Disciples are not made randomly. This is done with it's done deliberately. It's done with intentionality. In short, I think god3:19 was telling Joshua, look. Your tomorrows are few. Don't wait to take the next steps that I've given you. Then in verses 2 through 6, god lists the land that's left to be3:31 taken. Let's look at verse 6. All the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon as far as the brook of Mephistophe and the Sidonians,3:43 them I will drive out from before the children of Israel, only divide it by lot to the children, to to Israel as an inheritance as I have commanded you. Now therefore divide3:55 this land as an inheritance to the 9 tribes in half the tribe of Manasseh. So my take is that Joshua was waiting for the perfect opportunity to divide the land to give the4:07 inheritance before, letting and and letting the people settle. They needed the land so they could settle and begin to occupy. But they were they were not going to take all of this4:19 land. You see, Joshua was waiting for that perfect moment, but they were not gonna take all of the land that had been promised. Joshua was not going to be able to get all of that done. In fact, they still haven't taken4:31 it. That is yet to come. But notice notice what god tells Joshua. I'll take care of that. You take the next steps that I gave you to take. In verse 6, it says, I'll drive out from before the4:42 children of Israel, only divide it by lot as I have commanded you. So I'm gonna take care of driving out all of the occupants. That land will be given to them at some point, but4:54 you take the next steps. So I think, again, the takeaway is don't wait for the perfect moment to finish the work that god has called you to do. Be mindful of the shortness of time. Don't waste5:06 it. Now let's go to chapter 14, and we're gonna read of Joshua's, colleague, Caleb. Now this chapter is, is actually a more detailed description of what weCaleb: Wholly Faithful at 85, Claiming the Promise 5:17 read, in chapter 11, which was an overview of the conquering of the land. This is kind of a subset of 1 particular incident. Verse, 6, then the children of Judah5:29 came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, the Kenzanite, said to him, you know the word which the Lord said to Moses, the man of God, concerning you and5:41 me in Kadesh Barnea. I was 40 years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Cadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was5:53 in my heart. Nevertheless, my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the lord my god. So Moses swore on that day saying, surely the land where your foot has6:05 trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the lord my god. And what what what a blessing, a declaration6:16 there. But there's more here. And now behold, the lord has kept me alive, and he said these 45 years, as he said, these 45 years6:28 ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness. And now here I am this day, 85 years old. And as yet, I am as6:40 strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me. Just as my strength was in, so now is my strength for war both for going out and for coming in. And and as we read on,6:52 he he does, in fact, take the land. I mean, there there's so much in this passage passage here. Caleb, like Joshua, wholly followed the lord. And and look who was left of their7:04 generation, just the 2 of them. I mean, their class reunion was probably pretty small. They were faithful to god, and guess what? God was faithful to them. Both of them took 1 of their7:16 most significant assignments when most people were looking for cemetery plots. Right? Here's how I see Caleb based upon this passage. He lived in anticipation of the7:28 fulfillment of god's promise. That anticipation had him in preparation. He said, I'm as strong as I was the day Moses sent me to spy out the land. And7:40 I and I think this was not just physically, but I think mentally and spiritually. He kept himself prepared for the fulfillment of the promise. Now I don't know what all that7:52 took and what all that meant, but, you know, I don't know who maybe after 40 years in the wilderness, he was out there doing push ups every morning, getting ready. I I don't know. But he lived in anticipation of the8:01 fulfillment of god's promise. What has god promised you? Are you are you living in anticipation, preparing, preparing, not just sitting watching and waiting, but preparing? I remember8:13 years ago when I was just a couple years out of high school and it was before my 3 year enlistment in the Marine Corps, I I was running in a 10 k race, and I was huffing and puffing. I was not in good shape. And8:25 along came a man about, I don't know, he he was in his eighties, and he zipped by me. I mean and that was a pivotal moment for me. After that, I realized I needed to make some changes.8:37 And and, you know, that was, that was many, many years ago. And today, I I live with anticipation of seeing God's promises fulfilled by being prepared, physically, spiritually, mentally8:49 prepared, and and it takes intentionality. I think Caleb was intentional in preparing. You know, yes, there are things that happen. I mean, god the the things that I've9:01 most of what I've done, I was not anticipating a particular opportunity, but I was prepared. And and I believe Caleb was the same way. He he he didn't know when the moment was gonna come, but9:13 he knew it was gonna come, and he was prepared. And I believe we need to prepare ourselves. And and I I share this with you just to encourage you to to prepare yourself. Take care of your physical body. Give what9:24 whatever god has entrusted you, take care of it mentally, physically, spiritually. You know, there was 45 years between the promise that Caleb had9:36 for wholly following the Lord and the fulfillment of that promise. Wholly follow the Lord, waiting on him with anticipation and preparation for the opportunity to see his promises fulfilled9:49 in your life. Alright. Verse 12. Now, therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day, for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there and that the cities were great and fortified.10:01 It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said. And Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, as10:13 an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, the Kenzanite to this day because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. The Lord promised10:25 it, and when the door opened, Caleb was prepared and he took it because he wholly followed the Lord. What what a great passage this morning. In fact, we're gonna read more10:37 about Caleb next time. Father, we thank you for your word, and and and, lord, we know these examples are there for our edification when we see that Caleb wholly followed you.10:49 And, lord, your promises were fulfilled. There was a delay, a 45 year delay from the time the promise was made and the fulfillment of that promise. And and Caleb, because of the sin of11:01 the people, he he had to spend that time in the wilderness, but he was preparing. He was ready when that moment came. Father, I pray that we would11:12 live with intentionality, prepared and ready for the opportunities that you give us to advance your kingdom, to prepare the next generation to bring glory and honor to your11:24 name. Lord, we continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us on this journey, showing us and teaching us how to apply the truths and principles of your word to our lives in this world in which we live. Thank you,11:36 lord, and we, we praise you this morning. In Jesus' name, amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time, keep standing on the word.11:49 Today's study comes from the stand on the word Bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you12:01 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Joshua: Old, Focused, and Called to Act5:07 Caleb: Wholly Faithful at 85, Claiming the Promise
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.