Observation: As Joshua is assigning the promised land my lots, Caleb comes to Joshua to discuss his personal inheritance. He was to receive a special reward, because 45 years earlier, when the spies were sent into the land, 10 of the spies gave fear-filled reports about danger ... but Caleb and Joshua talked about how great the land was, and that certainly the Lord would conquer whatever people were there. When the fearful report swayed the people to not enter the land, the Lord punished them all, but rewarded Joshua and Caleb.
And here they are together, 45 years later. They are the only two men still alive from the rebellious generation that was forced to wander the wilderness. Joshua's reward was to become the leader that replaced Moses. Caleb's reward is to receive the land they visited, and thus he will be given the city of Hebron and its surrounds.
However, more than that, these two men have this (perhaps final) conversation. Caleb recounts that they were the ones faithful, and the Lord made promises to both of them. Joshua's reward has already been fulfilled, and it is actually up to Joshua to fulfill Caleb's promised reward. Of course, remaining faithful, Joshua will do so. And with that, the only two men who placed their faith in the Lord to be their warrior protector, are united in their old age, and their faith - and resulting bond - remains obvious and intact.
Application: There are so many things I thought about writing about today. One was from today's psalm, with David calling out those motivated by wicked intent, and how so many people are like that today ... and worthy of the curses David calls out. Another was from earlier in Joshua, where Israel failed to conquer the cities in their southwest area along the sea, which today is a place commonly called the 'Gaze strip' and from which terrorist groups still strike at Israel ... showing how failure to fulfill the Lord's full instructions can reverberate for millennia.
Instead, how about thinking on a kind and peaceful conversation between old friends! While it isn't said, certainly Caleb and Joshua has a special bond. They were on the spy mission together, which resulted in only the two of them being faithful to the Lord in their report. They united in their effort to overcome the nay-sayers, and when that failed and the Lord cursed the Israelites to wandering, they were given special long-term promises. All of this must have created a united past, and one would think a friendship for the future. That bond would have been obvious to everyone even decades later as everyone of that generation ... even Moses ... but not these two ... perished. However, these two not only survived but were allowed to enter the promised land.
I imagine this meeting involved much more than is reported. However, even just reading the report, there is an acknowledgement by Caleb that there were promises made by the Lord, and Joshua has received his (and Caleb honors that reward). It is in that understanding that Joshua received his reward that Caleb now will likewise receive his reward. That said, I imagine this was more like old friends remembering their past adventures together. Maybe they had not been around each other, especially for the last 5 years as Joshua had to lead a million people, but likely even longer as the overall size of Israel's camp and their advanced age may have kept them apart. But here they are now, recalling the grape fields they say, maybe still a little bitter that no one would listen to them ("but where are they now?" they laugh together). There is a final hug as Caleb departs and prepares to take his family out of camp and to Hebron. Joshua smiles, enjoying the distraction from the burden of leadership, before having to return to the assignment of all the other lands.
I am not yet 85, still decades from that. I hope to someday have old friends, and hope we will have good memories to talk about. I also know there will be a time when such a conversation with an old friend concludes with the knowledge that that will be our very last, final meeting. What I hope for the most is that, when that occurs, it only means it is our final meeting 'on earth'. I know some of my friends are bound for heaven. I need to be motivated to up that number.
Prayer: Lord, please give me the earthly courage to talk more and more about my faith to those closest to me. I have confidence in Rob and Brian, so my first thoughts are for Peter and Mark, but there are others that need to hear my testimony, and know your heart for them. Someday, when I remember life with these old friends, I sincerely hope it never involves a truly final meeting. Amen.
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