Give Me This Hill Country

Caleb said, "Now give me this hill country the LORD promised me on that day...." Joshua said to the Israelites, "How long will you delay in going out to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, gave you?" - Joshua 14:12; 18:3

In these two verses we see sharply contrasting positions within the trans-Jordan Israelite community.

The latter of the two verses finds Joshua sharply rebuking seven of the tribal leaders for their complacency in claiming the land that God had promised to give them. He had told them to possess it, but they had not.

In the former, we read the words of Caleb demanding that he be allowed to claim that which God had so clearly promised. He had consistently believed God's promises and, having reached the age of 85. was one of only two adult survivors of the wilderness wandering. Caleb simply couldn't wait any longer.

Thank God for the faithful "Calebs," men and women of God who are filled with the Spirit and willing to fearlessly and unashamedly act upon God's Word for His glory. Pray that their tribe will increase, for today there are mountains that need to be claimed.

Our goal cannot be a timid, powerless survival; it must be the role that Christ called the Church to play, that of a loving, authoritative, healing, and compelling influence upon the world. Lacking such a turnabout, we may rightfully anticipate the virtual disappearance of the Christian Church in this nation. - George Barna