Caleb: A Spy with a “Different Spirit”

Caleb: A Spy with a “Different Spirit”

Caleb the son of Jephunneh Numbers 13 • 6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;

Different Servant • Chosen by Moses to spy the land • Selected for the service • A different type of servant: • When the other spies gave a bad report, and the people were afraid: • Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Num 13:30) • Stood up with truthful message despite his peers

Different Spirit • Numbers 14:1-38 • 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. • 30 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. • 38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.

Different Vision • All twelve spies had seen the same cities, fortifications and the giants. • They were all exposed to the same facts • Ten of them gave a negative report and two of them gave a positive report. • What made such a drastic difference of opinion? • They had different visions • The ten spies compared themselves to the problem and the two spies compared the problem to the promise.

Different Vision • Comparing ourselves to the problem, we will always seem inadequate, weak and incapable to challenge it. • “...we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Num 13:33). • grasshoppers in size and ability • Can not take on the enemy • “your adversary the devil walks about like a roaringlion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1Pet 5:8) • [Sin] “has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men” (prov 7:26)

Different Vision • By comparing the problem with the promise that God would give them the land, Caleb and Joshua came back with a totally different conclusion. • “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33) • “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Lk 10:19)

Different Vision • The two spies: you are a lion and the inhabitants of Canaan are your prey. • Canaanites were giants in comparison to Israel • The other ten spies: you are grasshoppers to be stepped on by the giants of Canaan. • Canaanites were minute in size in comparison to God • David’s vision of Goliath…

Different Majority • So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. (Num 14:1) • After hearing the negative report • Impossible task • They accepted the report of the majority • Persuaded by reason, logic and natural facts • The majority is not always right

Different Majority • Stand alone! • “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went…”(Num 14:24) • Caleb and Joshua • Noah • Elijah – “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.” (1Ki 18:22) • "Athanasius contra mundum" ("Athanasius against the world")

Different Majority • Requires faith and courage • “…and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.” And all the congregation said to stone them with stones.” (Num 14:9-10) • “When they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go… And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” (Acts 5)

Different Majority • Are persecuted • “The children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left.” (1Ki 19:10) • “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” (Matt 5:11)

Different Majority • Late glory • Receive glory later (after death) • Caleb received the inheritance 45 years later (Jos 14:6-13) • “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them…” (Heb 11:13) • “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous…” (Matt 23:29)

Different Persuasion • “According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.” (Num 14:34) • Caleb endured all of the complaining, grumbling, rebellion, strife, jealousy and was not influenced or corrupted by it. • He continued to keep his heart right and fully follow the Lord. • Do we find similar situations: life, church, work? • How do we react?

Different Energy • Jos 14:6-13 • Always youthful • 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. • Always eager • 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day • Always remembering God’s strength • 12It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.

Different Energy • Spirit of youth all our life: • Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecc 12:1) • What is our spiritual age? • Do we age at 30? 50? 100? • Pope Shenouda III: 88 years old! • No retirement plan! • “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isa 30:41)

Caleb: A Spy with a “Different Spirit” • “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went…” (Num 14:24) • Different Servant • Stood up with truthful message despite his peers • Different Vision • Compared the problem withGod’s promise not with himself

Caleb: A Spy with a “Different Spirit” • Different Majority • Stood alone for the truth • Requires faith and courage • Persecution; Late glory • Different Persuasion • Was not affected by the complaining and grumbling of the people • Different Energy • Always youthful • Always eager • Always remembering God’s strength

Caleb: A Spy with a “Different Spirit”