Following Yahweh’s commission of Joshua to distribute the land west of the Jordan among the nine-and-a-half tribes in Chapter 13, Chapter 14 is the first chapter that began to detail the distribution. In these details, Joshua faithfully carried out the distribution of land as the Lord had commanded.

In this same narrative, an episode concerning a special allotment for Caleb was included. Caleb was the only ally of Joshua among the twelves spies who were sent into Canaan to assess the land. Now, Caleb reminded Joshua that Moses had promised him and his descendants an inheritance forever in the land his foot had trodden. This promise was made to him when he was forty years old, and he had waited for forty-five years to claim that promise.

Forty-five years may seem like a long time to wait for the fulfilment of a promise. However, it was precisely this trait that Caleb possessed that propelled him to say “yes” to entering the land forty-five years ago as well as “yes” to claiming the land at this point. This trait was that Caleb wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. How do we know that? This was a phrase that described Caleb in this chapter. And not only was this phrase repeated thrice in verses 8, 9, and 14, it was repeated following three pronouns. Verse 8, “I wholly followed the Lord my God”, verse 9, “You have wholly followed the Lord my God”, and verse 14, “He wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel”. Caleb not only declared himself to be wholly following the Lord, others affirmed him to be wholly following the Lord as well.

Caleb believed in God with a whole heart, and he was able to do so because he had full confidence in God’s faithfulness and His promises. It was so when Caleb was forty years old when he trusted God and knew that God will give them the land as He had promised. And it still was so when Caleb was eighty-five years old, when he claimed the land that had been promised to him. Throughout all the years of waiting, he had followed, trusted, and obeyed God. Hence, even at the age of eighty-five, he was willing to drive the Anakim out, because if the Lord had promised him the land, then the Lord will be faithful to enable him to conquer the land.

What an exemplary example of obedience and faithfulness to God. Caleb was wholly following the Lord, trusting and obeying Him. However, what was his obedience anchored on? Caleb was able to trust and obey God because God had shown himself to be faithful and that He keeps His promises. Caleb did not become an example because he was able to, but because God was faithful. The truth is the humanly example of Caleb was only pointing us back to our faithful God.

And God was not only faithful then, He continues to keep His promises all throughout the Bible, and He continues to be keep His promises today. Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah, the only way that can bring us back into perfect reconciliation with God. Jesus Christ came to earth, died, and rose again, giving the perfect victory over death. It was only in His death and resurrection that we are not cast to eternal damnation because of our sins. It was only in His death and resurrection that we may be perfectly reconciled with God. What great love our faithful God had shown us when we were redeemed from the depth of our sins.

As we reflect and ponder on God’s faithfulness in our lives, may we anchor our trust and obedience in our faithful God who keeps His promises. God has extended the new covenant to us, would we trust in Him? Would we desire to walk closer to God each day, and to learn to trust in Him in all aspects of life? May we desire to be wholly following Christ, to trust and to obey God.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you because you are a faithful God who keeps your promises. Please help me to trust and obey you all the days of my life, and to be wholly following you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.