The 45-Year Wait

Of all the people who received an inheritance in the Promised Land, only Caleb completely drove out the enemy. And Caleb faced some of the most formidable foes in the entire land.

Caleb was an 85-year-old man. And he had been waiting for 45 years. He had to endure everyone’s whining and griping the entire time. Caleb was there when they cried out for meat and complained about the manna God had provided for them. He was there when they rebelled against Moses. And he had to put up with it.

While others looked back, Caleb looked forward. While others wanted to please themselves, Caleb wanted to please God. And after resisting the temptation to go along with the crowd for so many years, he was ready to receive his reward. He believed that God would keep His promise.

Caleb said to Joshua, “I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then” (Joshua 14:11 NLT).

Being an older guy, Caleb could have asked for a nice, comfortable plot of land where there were no enemies to drive out. But he asked for one of the toughest assignments. He asked for Hebron. This was no garden spot. It was a rugged, treacherous area where there was a powerful enemy stronghold guarded by the strongest men.

I wonder if some of the young men of Israel snickered at this point. Maybe they even laughed. But no doubt, their jaws dropped when Caleb drove out his enemies.

Like Abraham, Caleb took God at His Word. He stood on the promises of God. And we need to do the same.

Caleb’s example gives us hope that it can be done. We can remain people of integrity. We can cross the finish line.