Chapter Study & Analysis
Overview
Joshua 14 details the distribution of land by lot. Caleb, at age eighty-five, reminds Joshua of God’s promise and requests the mountain of Hebron, declaring that he is as strong for war then as he was forty years earlier.
CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS
1. Wholeness of Heart: Caleb "wholly followed the Lord" (v. 8-9, 14). Consistent, wholehearted devotion is the prerequisite for receiving the fullness of God’s promises.
2. Strength in Old Age: Caleb’s vitality was sustained by his faith (v. 11). Spiritual maturity should lead to increased boldness, not a retreat from the challenges God calls us to face.
3. Claiming the Promise: Caleb did not ask for the easy land, but for the mountain where the giants (Anakims) were (v. 12). We should have the faith to tackle the hardest problems with God’s help.
Practical Lessons
FORMAL PRAYER
Almighty God, grant us the spirit of Caleb to follow Thee wholly. Renew our strength as we age, and give us the faith to claim the difficult mountains Thou hast promised us, trusting in Thy presence. Amen.