And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: but as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: but my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. Numbers 14:20-24.
This morning, I was in a revelation where I found myself in a room with some other people and was approached by someone who appears to be a film director informing me that the role I am to play from the film script is the role of Caleb in the bible. Upon this I woke up and the spirit of God speaks unto me on THE GOD OF CALEB.
Have you ever noticed that some people went through life exactly just the same as some bible characters? While the accounts of how we live daily on earth is written on high for accountability, recompense or condemnation after death (Job 16:19), the scripts of your life is played out here on earth, for we spend our years as a tale that is told, like a dream interpreted by others – a film played for others to see. Psalms 90:9.
Reading from the bible, you should be familiar with the story of the Israelis rebellious act of unbelief that provoked God to curse them for what he called the breach of his promise (Numbers 14:34), when he partially changed and canceled the promise of the inheritance of the land of Canaan against the first generation of the Exodus Jews from Egypt, but instead, transferred the realization and fulfillments of the same promise to their children after them.
This measure taken by God was to serve as punishment for the Israelis for despising the presence and his promise, despite repeated miracles they’ve witnessed. Any of God’s promise is as good as God himself because (a) he magnify his word above his name. Psalms 138:2 (b) he is strong that executes any of his promises, – we can rely on his Omnipotent power to cause things to happen according to his word and promise. Joel 2:11: (c) God is not a man to lie, neither the son of man to repent or change his mind on any of his promises, if we walk uprightly and waited enough on him to make all things beautiful in his time. Do not my word do good to him that walks uprightly, says God? Micah 2:7.
How good is it for God to acknowledge us as his servants, to live for, and to seek for the praise and commendation or approval that comes only from him? God identified himself with Caleb as the God who Caleb represents – the one who knows his God, openly and proudly testified about him to Moses before the rebellious congregations, said, but my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereunto he went; and his seed shall possess it. Numbers 14:21.
There are two spiritual qualities God found in Caleb’s life, very pleasing to him, which were (a) another spirit found in him, and, (b) fully followed me which we shall elaborate upon after. This was the man who has chosen to stand on the word and promise of God, though others have chosen contra wise. This was the man, though others are saying, the ways and demands of God are too hard, it’s about time to go back to Egypt, they don’t want to engage the enemy in the battle: but he encouraged them against such ungrateful and cowardice decision against God’s plan, remind them to remember the faithfulness of God, how has brought them so far, and he will not leave them to be defeated before the enemy according to his word. Note: except we are faithful in our walk with God to his word and promise, to stand still in storm and drought on his word and promise, to embrace the word and confesses his promises in the dark hours of life, light will not shine in our darkness and the candles of the Almighty may not burn again – unto the upright there arises light in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. Psalms 112:4.
From the time we came out of the world into the kingdom of light unto the end of our sojourn on earth, the life of a believer is designed to be the continuation of showing of glory, power and transformation in what God has done to bring him out of Egypt – the world of sin and darkness, walking him through the wilderness of life -his spiritual experiences, – his resolution, faithful obedient to the word of God and been led of the Spirit of God, his attachments to the Lord in face of the oppositions from the enemy as the unsaved world of sinners are looking at them, the angels and men watching their patience of hope and labor of love in the Lord for their brethren, despite their trials and other troubles they endured – for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 1 Corinthians 4: 9 b. Note: though the devil may rise up in contention against what God want to do or what he is doing in your life, but as long as you cleave to God with all your heart, he will fail, – as long you’re led by the spirit of God, Satan cannot withstand you, no man be able to stand before you all the days of your life. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, we be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. Numbers 13:30-33.
There is no measure or limit to what God can do in your life, if he is not limited or constraints by your negative confessions, negative attitudes of unbelief, hasty spirit against his time or by any other thing – sin which is likely to cause the breach of any of his promise in your life. Numbers 23:21.
Who is he that speaks and comes to pass, when God has not spoken it? Lamentations 3:37. Though, others made negative conclusions and declarations over your life, decree a curse causeless on you, it’s up to you to keep saying what God has spoken or promised in the past and now over your life (this charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1Timothy 1:18-20) because your destiny is not bond to man’s views, judgment, conclusion or words, nor should you be bond or limited by what they concluded for you by their word if you know what God has spoken concerning you – And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. Joshua 14:6-13.
God is calling the church to consistent fasting and prayer life for power lifestyle (Matthew 17:21), but his children are ignoring his call, eating and drinking. Is the kingdom of God now of meats and drinks, – should we prefer the flesh that profits nothing over the spirit that quickens? Luke 5:35. Christ commission us and sent us out to cast out demons in his name, but men are afraid of demonic attacks to set the captives free, all we have today is word, no power. Is the kingdom of God in word and not in power? Who is greater, the one that lives in us or the devil that is in the world? Mark 16:17.
Caleb and Joshua stands out for God, not because they are arrogant, but by necessity to fulfil the word and will of God, they will not flow with the multitudes, neither shalt thou yield in judgment, to the opinion of the most part, to stray from the truth, lest they follow them to sin and perish together -thou shall not follow the multitudes to sin. Exodus 23:2.
The enemy wants to rewrite the purposes, will and word of God, but not where Caleb is found. The situations, challenges and intimidations of the enemy threatening to rewrite the plans and purposes of God concerning his children. While nearly everyone suggested that the way forward is to go back to Egypt, Caleb warned them against the implications of such rebellious spirit against God, tried to diminish the worth and might of the enemy which his brethren seems to esteem higher above God. How many are the children of God who are been afraid of Satan’s power than to rejoice in the highness of our God? Isaiah 13:3. God can count on Caleb to stand up in the defense of the truth at his own risk; he will not violated his will, Gid’s ways and word to please others.
The spirit of Caleb will speak to make bold declaration of God’s will, words and intents. Caleb, if no one will, shall be willing to risk it all alone for God, even when the views and opinions of the majority say otherwise. This is the spirit that stands on what is written in the word of God, though men and circumstances seems to rise up to fight against it. Caleb spirit was not the status quo spirit when it comes to God’s issue – protocols of the elders are overruled i n respect for the will of God.
Prophet Balaam declared in his prophetic words before the King of Moab by saying, must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth? Numbers 23:20. How many of the brethren in the Lord are magnifying and saying what the enemy is showing and presenting them before others, instead of declaring what the Lord has put in their mouths? Do they realise that God will hold them responsible to punish them for puting fear in the hearts of other people by their own fear? Nehemiah 6:14.
The Caleb’s don’t run away from engaging the giants of the land, if the Lord order the battle. They encourage others to move them along, but they are ready and willing to go alone as long as the Lord is present. The spirit of Caleb is the spirit of team work, but they know that it also rest on the responsibility and accountability of individual decisiveness not to be deterred or be swayed away from the purpose of God others who are not ready and willing – And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waited for the sons of men. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treaded down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. Micah 5:7-9.
Reluctant spirits from others cannot deter them from pursuing after the will, purposes and promises of God. Believers should overcome preference stability, to form an opinion or preference about a situation, other than how God sees it, it’s only God’s way leading us, even if the sons of Anakins are on the way. If the majority says and agrees to do other than what the word God says and his will reveals, Caleb will appeal to them for the defense of the truth, though may be hated and rejected by his own brethren in the Lord – these are the characteristics features of Caleb having another spirit which made him to walk whole heartedly before God – and all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Was it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which flowed with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. Numbers 14:1-9.
Though, it should be a team work, but spiritual short-sightedness, reluctance to contend against the giants of the land in battle, fear, unprepared heart, unbelief, instability and indecisiveness of others may for a short or long period of time have some effect on others who are willing to pay the price. They can negatively impact the spiritual progress, journey and destiny of their brothers and sisters for a while, delay and prolong the fulfillment of God’s will and purposes in others, but, now or later, God will vindicate to show himself strong with them that are of perfect heart toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9.
Caleb lived still. Numbers 14:38. God intentionally preserved Caleb from death, separated him from others who died as punishment in the wilderness – but had to wait for another forty eight years from the age of forty for the promise of possession of his inheritance in Canaan while God is preparing another generation – the children of the faithless rebels to grow and mature to inherit the land once despised by their fathers. This shows (a) the faithfulness of God to renew our youth like the eagle’s, so that our calendar years should not be a matter of little concerns to us, if we believe him that says, as our days, so shall our strength be – the older we grow to become, the strongest we’ll be in the Lord, either mentally, morally, physically or spiritually. Deuteronomy 33:25.
Was Moses at an hundred and twenty years not physically and mentally strong and healthy until his death? Moses was hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. Deuteronomy 34:7: (b) this further show there is no age limit against our fruitfulness and effectiveness of God’s using us – his faithful promise of the righteous to flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; to show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalms 92: 12-15: (c) it shows none of the promises of God is without condition, yet it shows the immutability of the promises of God, that though it can be breached upon to provoke a change of mind (Numbers 14:34), just as God sworn against the people who once received the promise of Canaan, that they shall not enter into his rest, but the promise is real, steadfast, for now as Caleb and Joshua obtained their inheritance at Canaan, and for eternity for us to inherit, if we will not faint or fear, discouraged by the brethren or backslide into Egypt, that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promise.