The title is an abbreviated version of a quote by Abraham Lincoln: Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. God promised a man a piece of property and he was determined to occupy it. It would be a long, difficult, and sometimes frustrating journey, but his commitment would transform that promise into reality.
A day came when the wandering Israelites were gathered before Joshua. It was the day that the land of Canaan would be divided among the twelve tribes. But a gray-haired, eighty-five-year-old man stole the show. He stepped forward and demanded, “Give me my mountain.”
The story of Caleb is well known. One of the original twelve that were sent to spy out the land of Canaan and, with Joshua, made up less than 17% of those who voted to trust the Lord. Unfortunately, although all the spies saw, tasted, and touched the good of the land, they failed to believe in God for the possible. He was so disappointed, he tore his clothes. (Numbers 14:6) As bad as the decision was not to go into Canaan, he stayed in the Israelite camp. He had decided to wait, believing his time would come. Joshua 14:8 tells us that Caleb ‘wholly followed the Lord’. This means that he was fully committed to God.
For the next forty years, he lived with this congregation who had chosen a wilderness existence, always demanding miracles but were never content. These people who considered themselves grasshoppers kept him in the wilderness. He went with them every day when they went out to collect manna. But still, Caleb waited. He did his duty. He stood by Moses and Joshua in war and strife. He was satisfied to be counted as one of the congregation. He lived with the cloud and the pillar of fire. He saw the water flow from a rock, ate quail, and wore shoes that never gave in. For forty years he walked around a mountain with the congregation. He was committed to these people. Come what may, he would not abandon them.
He watched as Moses climbed the mountain and disappeared in the cloud of thunder and lightning for forty days and nights. This was a mountain he did not climb. It was not his mountain. He climbed Mount Nebo with Moses and looked over the promised land, but that was not his mountain. He crossed the Jordan without getting his feet wet and he went to war. He fought to help the other tribes gain their promised portion of the land. He fought until the Israelites were established as the dominant force in the land. Still, he waited. Then one day, he came to Hebron, and turning to Joshua he said: Give me this mountain! It was promised to me. (Deut.1:34-36) He had overcome the grasshopper mentality. He had overcome his gray hairs. At a time when most are stepping back, he stepped forward.
More than four decades earlier God had promised him this piece of land and he had waited. Now was his time. I can imagine him with a sword in one hand and the promise of God in the other shouting at the giants, the sons of Anak: Get off my mountain. He evicted them. He overcame the giants that stood before him.
His commitment to God and the Israelites paved the way. His unwavering belief in God's promises brought him success.
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