A Spirit like Caleb’s

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Spirit Caleb's

Wednesday 12/11/19

Series: Thru the Bible

Message – A Spirit like Caleb’s

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Joshua 13

“(1) Joshua was now old, advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, “You have become old, advanced in years, but a great deal of the land remains to be possessed.  (2) This is the land that remains: All the districts of the Philistines and the Geshurites:  (3)  from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)–the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvites  (4) in the south; all the land of the Canaanites: from Arah of the Sidonians to Aphek and as far as the border of the Amorites;  (5)  the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon east from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath–  (6) all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, all the Sidonians. I will drive them out before the Israelites, only distribute the land as an inheritance for Israel, as I have commanded you.  (7) Therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.” 

(Pic 1)

“(8)  With the other half of the tribe, the Reubenites and Gadites had received the inheritance Moses gave them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the LORD’s servant had given them:  (9) From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, all the Medeba plateau as far as Dibon, (10) and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the Ammonites;  (11)  also Gilead and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah–  (12) the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei; he was one of the remaining Rephaim. Moses struck them down and drove them out,  (13) but the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites and Maacathites. So Geshur and Maacath live in Israel to this day. 

(14)  He did not give any inheritance to the tribe of Levi. This was its inheritance, just as He had promised: the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel.  (15) To the tribe of the Reubenites by their clans, Moses gave (16) this as their territory: From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, to the whole plateau as far as Medeba,  (17) with Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau–Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, (18) Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, (19) Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley, (20) Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth–  (21) all the cities of the plateau, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Moses had killed him and the chiefs of Midian–Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba–the princes of Sihon who lived in the land. 

(22) Along with those the Israelites put to death, they also killed the diviner, Balaam son of Beor, with the sword. (23) The border of the Reubenites was the Jordan and its plain. This was the inheritance of the Reubenites by their clans, with the cities and their villages.  (24) To the tribe of the Gadites by their clans, Moses gave (25) this as their territory: Jazer and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites to Aroer, near Rabbah;  (26) from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;  (27) in the valley: Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon–the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon. Their land also included the Jordan and its territory as far as the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth on the east side of the Jordan.  (28) This was the inheritance of the Gadites by their clans, with the cities and their villages.

(29) And to half the tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the tribe of Manasseh’s descendants by their clans, Moses gave (30) this as their territory: From Mahanaim through all Bashan–all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, including all of Jair’s Villages that are in Bashan–60 cities.  (31) But half of Gilead, and Og’s royal cities in Bashan–Ashtaroth and Edrei–are for the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh, that is, half the descendants of Machir by their clans. (32) These were the portions Moses gave them on the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. (33) But Moses did not give a portion to the tribe of Levi. The LORD, the God of Israel, was their inheritance, just as He had promised them.”

Joshua 14

“(1) The Israelites received these portions that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes gave them in the land of Canaan.  (2) Their inheritance was by lot as the LORD commanded through Moses for the nine and a half tribes, (3) because Moses had given the inheritance to the two and a half tribes beyond the Jordan. But he gave no inheritance among them to the Levites.  (4) The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. No portion of the land was given to the Levites except cities to live in, along with pasturelands for their cattle and livestock.  

(5)  So the Israelites did as the LORD commanded Moses, and they divided the land.  (6) The descendants of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, 

“You know what the LORD promised Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.  (7) I was 40 years old when Moses the LORD’s servant sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land, and I brought back an honest report.  (8) My brothers who went with me caused the people’s hearts to melt with fear, but I remained loyal to the LORD my God. (9) On that day Moses promised me, ‘The land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever, because you have remained loyal to the LORD my God.’  (10) “As you see, the LORD has kept me alive these 45 years as He promised, since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old. (11) I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then.  (12) Now give me this hill country the LORD promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the LORD will be with me and I will drive them out as the LORD promised.”  

(13)  Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as an inheritance.  (14) Therefore, Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he remained loyal to the LORD, the God of Israel.  (15) Hebron’s name used to be Kiriath-arba; Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. After this, the land had rest from war.”

Joshua 15 (Pic 2)

“(1) Now the allotment for the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans was in the southernmost region, south of the wilderness of Zin to the border of Edom.  (2) Their southern border began at the tip of the Dead Sea on the south bay  (3) and went south of the ascent of Akrabbim, proceeded to Zin, ascended to the south of Kadesh-barnea, passed Hezron, ascended to Addar, and turned to Karka.  (4) It proceeded to Azmon and to the Brook of Egypt and so the border ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This is your southern border.  

(5)  Now the eastern border was along the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jordan. The border on the north side was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.  (6) It ascended to Beth-hoglah, proceeded north of Beth-arabah, and ascended to the stone of Bohan son of Reuben. (7) Then the border ascended to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to the Gilgal that is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is south of the ravine. The border proceeded to the waters of En-shemesh and ended at En-rogel.  (8) From there the border ascended the Valley of Hinnom to the southern Jebusite slope (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. (9) From the top of the hill the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, went to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then curved to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).  (10) The border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, went to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), descended to Beth-shemesh, and proceeded to Timnah. (11) Then the border reached to the slope north of Ekron, curved to Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went to Jabneel, and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.  

(12)  Now the western border was the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. This was the boundary of the descendants of Judah around their clans.  (13) He gave Caleb son of Jephunneh the following portion among the descendants of Judah based on the LORD’s instruction to Joshua: Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak).  (14) Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. (15) From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir whose name used to be Kiriath-sepher,  (16) and Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Achsah as a wife to the one who strikes down and captures Kiriath-sepher.” (17) So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother, Kenaz, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as a wife.  (18) When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What do you want?” (19) She replied, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me the springs of water also.” So he gave her the upper and lower springs.  (20) This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans.”

Now this portion I am NOT going to read for 2 reasons:

  1. Many of the names I can’t pronounce with any real certainty.
  2. You would most likely check out on me.

That having been said I will again stress WHY IT IS IMPORTANT that God had these things recorded in such detail.

  1. A written record for “legal” purposes. (like county records of zoning and which portions of property belong to whom).
  2. For future generations to confirm what land belongs to them (esp. Helpful when returning from captivity).
  3. Modern geological and historical evidence and proofs of the reliability of scripture – that it is both inspired AND that it IS IN FACT a literal historical narrative.

This (Pictures 3 – 4 – 5) is the work of an archaeologist who used great care in locating the cities with their correct archaeological excavation site.

Each city, geographic feature and boundary was meticulously studied and compared to the writings of Joshua chapters 13-22 to create the borders.

“(21)  These were the outermost cities of the tribe of the descendants of Judah toward the border of Edom in the Negev: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,  (22) Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, (23) Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, (24) Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, (25) Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),  (26) Amam, Shema, Moladah, (27) Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet, (28) Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah, (29) Baalah, Iim, Ezem, (30) Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,  (31) Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, (32) Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon–29 cities in all, with their villages. (33) In the Judean foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, (34)  Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, (35) Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, (36) Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim–14 cities, with their villages; (37) Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,  (38) Dilan, Mizpeh, Jokthe-el, (39) Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, (40) Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish, (41) Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah–16 cities, with their villages;

(42) Libnah, Ether, Ashan,  (43) Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, (44) Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah–nine cities, with their villages;

(45) Ekron, with its towns and villages; (46) from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, with their villages; 

(47) Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, to the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.

(48) In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, (49) Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),  (50) Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, (51) Goshen, Holon, and Giloh–11 cities, with their villages; (52) Arab, Dumah, Eshan, (53) Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, (54) Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior–nine cities, with their villages; 

(55) Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, (56) Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, (57) Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah–10 cities, with their villages;

(58) Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, (59) Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon–six cities, with their villages;

(60) Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah–two cities, with their villages. 

(61) In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, (62) Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi–six cities, with their villages.

(63) But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah to this day.”

An incomplete occupation: 

As we will see in upcoming chapters, Judah was not the only tribe to fail in their duty, and it always cost them at some point.

Jerusalem remains in Canaanite hands.

I like what Guzik says about this…

“We can understand why Jerusalem was a city hard to conquer. The fact that it was set on a hill made it easy to defend.

Yet, no matter how hard the struggle, with God’s promise, and God’s help, we can triumph – there is really no good excuse for why this city must stay in Canaanite hands until the time of David (2Sam. 5:6-10).”

…Blessings! 

I hope this message will bless you richly…not because I taught it, but because it reveals Christ. He alone is our blessing and if in any way – whether big or small, 100% accurate or even just partially so – I have revealed our great God and Savior to you in a relationally knowable way, then this was time well spent on both our parts.

We at Living Grace Fellowship encourage you to place your trust in Jesus Christ, deliberately choosing Him and bowing the knee to Him as your Master and Lord, so as to come to realize Him as your Savior.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. The fact that you exist… that you are His creation, says you were in His heart, you are His delight!

If you do not know Him, please reach out to us. Give us a call at the number located on every page of this website or use our ‘Contact Us‘ page. We would be deeply honored, if you gave us the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will EVER be mentioned.

If you HAVE been spiritually fed by this ministry and WANT to give, we truly appreciate that and you may do so here, but please understand that all the outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

Blessings!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!