The Minority Report - Numbers 13-14

Caleb has been denied his inheritance he has suffered the penalty of having to wait for 45 years because of the faithlessness of other he has suffered because of the ungodly rebellion of he has been overruled by the majority is felt the sting of his own people saying let's put him to death by the time you meet him. 45+ years later he should be shriveled up man angry. Have you ever been in the position where you knew the right thing that you were overruled by others, or perhaps you can think of a time when you suffered a hardship, but it was through no fault of your own, you lost out because of the actions of others.

If you can relate to any of that and you certainly can relate to a man from the Old Testament named Caleb today on wisdom for the heart. Stephen Devi continues through his series entitled forgotten lives remembered trends you're going to be both challenged and encouraged today Stephen takes us to numbers 13 with the lesson he's calling the minority report pierced the read it but a parable about a knight in armor during the days of King Arthur. The parable goes he was about to embark on a long journey, so we try to anticipate all the possible problem you might encounter. So he wore his full coat of armor and sword in case he met up with some enemies. He brought along and ask for chopping firewood.

In case a group cold. He packed the tenants and blankets in case there wasn't a nearby home to provide hospitality. He brought about in plenty of errors in case he needed to hunt.

He brought along an assortment of pots and pans that jangled from the saddlebags in case he needed to cook even brought a large jar of medicinal salve in case he picked up poison ivy along the way he rode out of the castle across the drawbridge that spanned the moat clanking and swaying and clanging and we made it halfway across the drawbridge. The words gave way under all the weight he fell under the river and drowned. The moral of the story offers two possible conclusions number one, he should have packed a life jacket day or two.

It's impossible to plan for every possible danger in life. It would be number two follow-up our study this morning by looking at a living illustration of a fearless follower of faith and take a risk that's a little different than what we've been talking about is going to take the risk of being being in the minority to show you man was willing to take that kind of risk in standalone by the way, not for a week or a month, but for nearly 50 years.

Take your Old Testament and turn to the book of Joshua chapter 14 and I will show you a man whose faith and encourage will go largely unrewarded for 50 years. His name is Caleb Joshua 14, the time is come for Joshua to divide the land of promise land for each try to conquer and possess. This is land that was promised decades earlier. Look at verse six and the sons of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gill gal and Caleb the son of Jeff Kent as I said to him by the waiter. Some some speculation that he was actually a Gentile is interesting to consider. You know the word which the Lord spoke to Moses, the man of God concerning you and me in case Barney.

I was 40 years old and Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from case Barney to spy out the land member that and I brought word back to him as it was in my in my heart. Nevertheless, my brethren, who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with. But I followed the Lord my God fully miss none of the others would take the risk and trust the promise.

Caleb says but I did Joshua do you remember you were there you member if I told your finger here and go back a few pages to the book of numbers in chapter 13. This is where that signature event is recorded when a time to cover all the limit just drop down just touched down every so often for those of you present younger in the face of Joshua and Caleb in 10 other men are chosen to go spy out the fortresses of their enemies in this land of promise. There you go in and and check out the strength of the people, and this is the trip. By the way to the side whether or not they go in the conqueror. This is simply a planning a trip to judge the nations and evaluate how they stand as they prepare to act as the agent of God in judging these idolatrous now notice how Moses instructs these 12 spies. The universe in verse 18 of chapter 13, he says and see what the land is like and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and how is the land in which they live is good or bad and how are the cities in which they live.

Or they like open camps or with fortifications and how is the land is bad for lien are there trees in it or not make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land good at verse 22 and skim that with your eyes you'll notice that they come to Hebron and there are three giants, descendents of Adak who live there to stop that away for later. Verse 23 and they came to the Valley of Espoo: from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes and they carried it on a pole between two men with some of the pomegranates in the fittings Jewish tradition holds that these two men are actually Joshua and Caleb who carried the cluster back hanging from the pole that they have supported by their shoulders. We can't be sure but we do know they were the only ones who are going to bring back any good news, and this will be evidence that there is good news from the land. By the way, I found it fascinating that to this day I can go online and look at the logo for Israel's tourism department and it is a picture drawing sketch of two men carrying a cluster of grapes on a pole between them. Well here is young Joshua and Caleb returning with what will turn out to be the minority report verse 27 is the spies give their report. We went into the land where you sent us. It certainly does flow with milk and honey doubled its fertile and bountiful. Look here at its fruit.

Everybody's buoying and paying a look at the size of those grapes.

Verse 28. Nevertheless, oh boy, oh nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong in the cities are fortified and very large, and moreover we saw the descendents of a there. This is the giant race from which Goliath will be sent and the people, by the way in panic, fear, notice verse 30 then Caleb quieted the people notice is doing the talking. Joshua Caleb and he said we should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely overcome Joshua by the way, is standing there, no doubt agreeing.

Many believe that he was actually the timid. One of the two, even though both were courageous why you get over to Joshua chapter 1 and seven times God says of the same thing. Stop being afraid stop being afraid stopping for Caleb is the man here standing and speaking we can take these people we can take this land over chapter 14 Joshua and Caleb will plead with the nation to trust the Lord to not be afraid to not more importantly rebel against God's plan for their inheritance in possessing the land.

Yes, they had seen the Giants in Hebrew.

Yes, they had seen the fortified cities as well. There large sissy going to be a pushover here on the other men magnified the Giants. Joshua and Caleb magnify the power of God and ignore the problems they don't erase it and say a problem, they simply say we trust God, we can do this look over at verse 10 of chapter 14. Here's the reaction, but all the congregation said stone them with stones. Thank you very much for being in the minority. Imagine your following God's word you're obeying God's command. You're walking in faith you're attempting to influence others to join you in walking in faith and their gathering stones suddenly were told that the Shekinah glory of God. Just to sort of woo shows in and feels the tabernacle everyone silences God comes down as it were, to deliver his verdict look over at verse 29 he delivers the sentence to these people. Your corpses shall fall in this wilderness from 20 years old. Notice and upward. In other words, do all those 20 years of age and older. God delivers this irreversible center.

Verse 30. Surely, you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb, son of Jeff Joshua the son of by the way, before we leave the scene. I want you to see God's personal biographical statement of this man go back to verse 24 of chapter 14. Here's a verse to memorize and imitate, but my servant Caleb, but my servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed me fully. I will bring into the land which he entered my servant Caleb, who has a different spirit. What is that mean he follows me without reservation. If you go back to Joshua 14 you need to understand you are fast forwarding the tape. Caleb's life. Go to verse 10. Now Caleb is speaking to Joshua and look at the last line of verse 10.

I am 85 years old today. While 85. 40 years of wandering her over the young people have grown up now entered the land defeated Jericho and more. It's time for the tribes to Conquer their individual inheritance from God. In this land promised to Israel. Notice it's 40+ years later we don't know much of anything about those 40 years as a directly impacted Caleb here you see him first in line. He still able to see the promises of God sees them in light of God's promises even though they are problems.

It's as if he says Joshua maybe five and I'm ready to go not go up go in. I'm ready to be first with the spirit. Talk about a fearless man. Keep in mind, by the way he was born a slave about the time he been born a man named Moses had fled his adopted mother's palace for the deserts of Midian. Caleb had grown up to feel the lash of the taskmasters with he had learned to make bricks without straw.

He, along with the other people for delivery along to see the promise of God's redemption from Egypt become a reality, and then Moses reappears. Caleb lives through the plagues he is evidently struck in awe and wonder at the power of their true and living God.

He's thrilled to join several million Jews who walk out of Egypt and through the Red Sea as God parts the water. Caleb has tasted water from that rock. Caleb has eaten man. He has marveled at the providence of God. He is yes years earlier. He is seen and he's probably never forgotten the side of those Giants in Hebron. By the time you reach Joshua chapter 14 it's been a lifetime spent a lifetime spent a lifetime since he had been to Hebron and tasted those grapes 40 years at least 85 years of age. Notice verse 13 Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb for an inheritance.

Now why.

By the way, with would Caleb want Hebron and why would he want to city guarded by Giants and be the last place please let me remind you of a few things.

Hebron was located 70 miles from Jerusalem. It was a sacred place. It would. It was in those Judean hills of Hebron were Abram Kaman worship God. It was in Hebron where God came and reminded him of the covenant promises. It was in Hebron where Abraham illustrated his faith in the coming resurrection by placing his deceased wife Sarah in a cave people. It was in Hebron where Jacob lived.

It was in Hebron, where Jacob's favorite son Joseph tended she is in Hebron where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca, Leah, Joseph, Barry, this is one of the most sacred spots to the Israelite nation.

It was a place by the way, that signified communion with God. The hill country of Hebron represented fellowship, worship in the analogy of Scripture, the believer who follows Foley after God. I think it's not a surprise to consider the analogy that that place of communion is guarded as it were, with Giants not every obstacle possible. Every distraction every challenge imaginable will be thrown into your way to prevent you from that place of fellowship doesn't come easy. But let me make some observations from Caleb's testimony of three or four of them.

First, the walk of faith does not erase the problem of life as we learn what's needed most, is a different perspective. Is it really surprising with what we know of Caleb now that that he would settle for anything other than the place that represented communion with God. Is it really surprising to learn that that place would be guarded by giant. But you see that the majority of the spies earlier would enter the land and it seemed the Giants they measure themselves against the Giants and they said were grasshoppers Caleb and Joshua measured the Giants against God, and now who's the grasshopper they were still Giants and they would be Giants. He would have to overcome by faith and trust in the strength of God and he would be willing to walk in faith does not erase the problems of life.

Secondly, we say the same thing another way, when you desire to follow after God you invite trouble to follow after you. There are Giants ready to stand in the way of those who desire like Caleb to follow Foley after God effect life seems to get more complicated, the more committed you are the following God. He found it to be true average got out of bed event of your day that this is the day I'm going to fully follow after God and why am I mean, you're barely through breakfast and something like, it's complicated when you want to stand for the Lord like a little third-grader came up to me after morning service two weeks ago and with absolute precious sincerity. He asked me how he should respond to his third grade teacher who that week had told them they evolved from animals. How should I respond. I told him of course, be respectful, don't make it a public setting.

Talk to your teacher after class tell me you happen to believe in a creator God and then I said to him you know son, you're old enough now to understand what it means to stand alone, to be in the minority. You should see looking up at me and but the truth is, is asking for trouble. I'm in third grade is not going to be the same when you follow after God you invite trouble to come after you. Thirdly, when you desire the sacred place of communion, you'll discover it's an uphill climb.

Hebron was a hill he'd have to climb conquer just make up your mind to spend time with God and his word and watch how many things suddenly appear to slow you down throughout your calendar cloud your mind. That's why that's why we call spiritual disciplines spiritual discipline.

They are not referred to as spiritual vacations spiritual entertainment. They are first and foremost spiritual discipline one more the desired promises of God develop the most faith in those who are willing to wait. Caleb has been denied his inheritance he has suffered the penalty of having to wait for 45 years because of the faith, less nests of others. He has suffered because of the ungodly rebellion of his own people.

He has been overruled by the majority. He's felt the sting of his own people saying let's put him to death.

So get over that right.

By the time you meet him. 45+ years later he should be a shriveled up man, angry, resentful and bitter somebody you say forget this but that is until we find back six times in the biography of Caleb. You have the same basic phrase repeated expanded out. It reads Caleb followed God with a fully devoted heart six times Caleb followed God with a fully devoted heart followed God no reserves, no retreats, no regrets now use 85. He's well stricken in years and things are just about to take off, reminded me of another hero of the faith. By the time George Mueller had turned 70. He built orphanages with caring for a little more than 2000 boys and girls does work.

It started with just a handful of orphan girls decided it would only be girls and he changed his mind begin to expand the first girls he took in was in 1832. He was so trouble because in England during that period in time, there were nearly 10,000 children in prison under the age of eight. Most of all he wanted to see the providence of God fulfill the start of your ministry to children with according to his journal. This will redo the list change that is in money just change three dishes 28 plates three balls one jog for mugs three salt shakers one greater for knives and five forks muscle loss tonight. Somewhere in there, they would end up caring for over 10,000 orphans in all along the way. Distribute more than 2 million Bibles 3 million books and gospel tracts establish 117 schools and that he turned 70, he decided it was a time not to stop at the chain now in his early years he had applied the five mission agencies in it been rejected all five times. I don't know why I can find out why, but I just know is true now 45 years later, he decides he doesn't need a mission board anyway and he started out as he will travel over the next 20 years, 200,000 miles visit 42 countries and preach 6000 time's. He became his biographer wrote a living demonstration.

The hundreds of thousands of people that God is Hebrews 11 six. One of the favorite text. God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, which is another way of saying God has reserved special communion for those who follow God fully and at the age of 91, George Mueller said, quote I am unspeakably happy I am unspeakably happy to see Caleb up on his new home on the hill in Hebron established the worship of God with his family finishes home saying I am unspeakably not because life was easy. By the way we learn to pursue why these lessons. These lives those effectively say and live. We will follow God with a fully devoted every one of us need regular reminder to follow God with a fully devoted heart and I'm grateful for men like Caleb who give us an example of doing that even when it's very difficult if you joined us late. You been listening to wisdom for the heart. This is the Bible teaching ministry of Stephen Davey. You can learn more about stephen@wisdomonline.org that website is a treasure of biblical resources that will equip you in your walk with Christ, we have the complete archive of Stephen's teaching ministry posted there and you can listen online or read Stephen's printed manuscript. You can also learn about the many books, commentaries and other resources that Stephen's written wisdom for the heart is a listener supported ministry, and during the month of January. We have a booklet that were sending out for a donation of any size. It's a booklet entitled moving forward and reverse. To learn more about that.

Please give us a call at 86 648 Bible 866-482-4253 on tomorrow's broadcast. Stephen will continue through this series entitled forgotten lives remembering truth. Join us here on wisdom for the heart