“The descendants of Y’hudah approached Y’hoshua in Gilgal, and Kalev the son of Y’funeh the K’nizi said to him, “You know what Adonai told Moshe the man of God about me and you in Kadesh-Barnea. I was forty years old when Moshe the servant of Adonai sent me from Kadesh-Barnea to reconnoiter the land, and I brought back to him an honest report. My brothers who went up with me discouraged the people, but I followed Adonai my God completely.“-Joshua 14:6-8
The land distribution on the west side of the Jordan (in other words, Promised Land territory) has begun!
From verse 6, we’re told the first tribe who would be receiving their land inheritance was Judah.
And then a couple of verses later we’re told exactly why Judah would be first in line to receive their inheritance.
Here’s the reason why.
When the Israelites were camped in Gilgal, it was the clan of Caleb (from the Tribe of Judah) who came forward and enthusiastically urged Israel to be courageous, trust God and go forward to invade the land.
Here in verse 8, in classic Middle Eastern style, Caleb is reminding Joshua that this exactly what happened many years earlier when Moses sent out 12 men to spy out the land of Canaan.
It’s interesting that Caleb and Joshua, the man he is now appealing to, were among the 12 men who were sent to scout out the land.
We all know what went down.
The Israelites were camped near Kadesh-Barnea (located far south in the desert area of Canaan) and were poised to make their move on the Canaanites.
However, the scouting party returned and with their negativity squashed dead any enthusiasm to attack the land before any offensive action was taken.
The negative party had every excuse in the book.
“The enemy was too well protected”.
“There were giants in the land called the Anakim who were too ferocious for them to defeat”.
“It was too dangerous blah, blah, blah”.
As a result, everyone reached the conclusion that they should NOT attack Canaan.
Everyone except Joshua and Caleb that is.
Joshua and Caleb well understood the challenge facing them was risky and dangerous…
…BUT THEY ALSO HAD FAITH THAT IF HASHEM WAS WITH THEM, THEY WOULD BE VICTORIOUS.
Unfortunately, the majority decided not to trust God and concluded it was just too dangerous.
Because of this decision, Israel ended up having to wander in the desert for another long 38 more years.
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