How Can Joshua and Caleb’s Powerful Faith Encourage You?
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Many of us have heard their names among other “greats” of the Bible – ordinary men and women whose obedience and faith made them worthy of stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. From David to Esther, from Abraham to Ruth and Naomi, from Moses to Rahab, their lives are lifted up as those who honored God, those who did the right thing when called upon to act.
Such is the case with Joshua and Caleb, two men whose names first appear in the Old Testament Book of Numbers, and who were among the remnant of Israelites permitted to enter the Promised Land after their forty years in the wilderness.
But who were Joshua and Caleb, and why does their story matter to us today? Read on to discover more about these two men of deep faith, who pointed to God and God’s power when everyone else around them faltered.
Who Were Joshua and Caleb?
We first meet Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 13, where they were gathered with Moses and the other Israelites in the Desert of Paran, not far from Canaan. God had told Moses to send some men to explore Canaan, about which God said He was “giving to the Israelites” (Numbers 13:2). God then instructed Moses to send one leader from each ancestral tribe, meaning the sons descended from Jacob, who was the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. These 12 tribes — Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin — had been led by Moses out of Egypt and into the wilderness, and they would eventually inherit the Promised Land.
We’re told Caleb, son of Jephunneh, was from the tribe of Judah, and Hoshea, son of Nun, was from the tribe of Ephraim; Moses renamed Hoshea “Joshua” (Numbers 13:16). Caleb and Joshua were two of these 12 tribal leaders who went to explore Canaan on God’s command. Moses asked them to assess the land, its soil, its people, and its level of protection, as well as to bring back some of the fruit of the land.
They did so. However, when they reported their findings — including the fortified cities and super-strong inhabitants they saw — Caleb and Joshua were the only ones of the 12 explorers to urge Moses and the people not to be afraid. Instead, they urged them to trust that the Lord would protect them and provide (Numbers 14:6-9). The other ten explorers showed fear, and discouraged the people from entering Canaan, but Caleb and Joshua exhibited great faith and honor for the Lord.
Because of this, God let only Caleb and Joshua (of all the adult Israelites) enter the Promised Land when the time came. Besides the remaining people left, all younger than age twenty, no one else was permitted to enter because of their lack of faith.
Where Do We Find Joshua and Caleb's Story in the Bible?
Joshua and Caleb are found in Numbers 13-14, and they are mentioned again in Numbers 20 in discussing the census, reiterating that only Joshua and Caleb of that entire generation would gain entry to the Promised Land. Later Joshua, described by the Lord as a man possessing “the spirit of leadership” (Numbers 27:18), is selected as the one to lead the Israelites in the Promised Land when Moses, too, is barred from that reward.
It is Caleb who stood up for the Lord and His plan when he, Joshua, and the ten other tribal leaders returned from exploring Canaan; Joshua stood with Caleb.
The other men said the land was magnificent, flowing with milk and honey, “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there” (Numbers 13:28). They did not think they could defeat them.
The Anakites, sometimes referred to as sons of Anak, were considered to be giants of men, strong and intimidating. Their mention was likely intentional, used to instill fear in Moses and others listening about the mighty people of Canaan.
But Caleb brushed this description aside and pointed to the Lord. Silencing the men, he insisted, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30).
But the men argued otherwise, continuing to emphasize the massive stature of Canaan’s inhabitants and contending they could not possibly attack a people that strong.
“The land we explored devours those living in it,” they said, noting, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (Numbers 13:32-33).
They worked the crowd into a frenzy of distrust and unfaithfulness.
But Caleb and Joshua tore their clothes, showing their anger and displeasure at the words and unfaithfulness of the crowd. They maintained the greatness of the land, and argued that God, who is almighty, would protect and ensure the Israelites’ success because God was on their side.
The crowd didn’t listen — and in fact even talked about stoning Caleb and Joshua to shut them up (Numbers 14:10).
Finally, God had enough. He appeared and told Moses He was tired of the people’s lack of respect after all the miracles and wonders He had done for them, and said He planned to destroy them. Moses begged God not to, and God agreed, but He said that though He would forgive them, none of the people would be permitted to enter the Promised Land.
God said, “In this wilderness your bodies will fall — every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun” (Numbers 14:29-30).
What Happened to These Men?
That is exactly what God did. God let the people live for a time in the wilderness before they eventually died, but He killed the ten faithless explorers with a plague.
Caleb and Joshua were the only two of that otherwise faithless generation who went on to enter the Promised Land. As Moses prepared to die, God commissioned Joshua as leader of the people, urging him to “be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you” (Deuteronomy 31:23). Joshua then led the people into the land.
As for Caleb, the Bible tells us that from his tribe, the Tribe of Judah, Jesus was descended.
What Does This Story Teach Us about Faith?
Even though these occurrences happened a long time ago, they still apply to us today. Faith isn’t always easy, but God is the Creator of the universe, the Alpha and the Omega, and God is all-powerful. On our own, we can do little, but when we are doing God’s will, God will always triumph. If God is telling us to do something, we must obey, even if we cannot see the outcome, and even if the outcome looks dire.
Throughout Scripture, we find stories of men and women who followed the Lord and did His will even when circumstances looked bleak. And for their faithfulness and obedience, God rewarded them.
Today, we must trust that when God speaks, we must listen — and obey. As Jesus said, we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). If we serve the Lord, we must serve Him wholeheartedly.
Caleb and Joshua did this, and their reward is a powerful example for us today. We, too, have a Promised Land awaiting us: our eternal home in heaven.
If you are struggling with a seemingly dire circumstance but you know in your heart God is calling you to step out in faith, take heart. For as Romans 8:28 states, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
May God’s will be done, and may we rest in the peace that comes in knowing we are on the side of the Lord.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Finn Hafemann
