Introduction

We are taking a break from Romans to revisit our 2024 theme, “Your Next Step.” The concern behind this theme is that we all tend to stagnate. You slow down in pursuing Christ, you take your marriage for granted, you grow lazy as a parent, you do the minimum at work, and I am especially concerned that you might stagnate in the work of ministry.

It’s easy to get comfortable and stop growing your ministry impact. So, Paul challenged Timothy, a man who was very capable and wholly dedicated to the ministry, “Take pains with these things, be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all” (1 Tim 4:15). That’s convicting. I must be so absorbed in improving my ministry that my growth is evident to all. What about you? Are you absorbed in the ministry God has given, and is “your progress evident to all”?

This morning, I want to you to look in the face of a man who exemplifies this sort of godly ambition. I want you to honor him the way God’s Word does, and I want you to leave determined by the grace of God to imitate his example (read 14:6–15).

What an incredible testimony! Caleb had served God for 85 years, but he wasn’t done. He was eager to lead God’s people toward God’s good will. So, this morning I want you to fall in love with incredible Caleb, and I want you to strive by the grace of God to be like Caleb. More specifically, ambitiously pursue God’s purpose to the very end. So, how can you be a Caleb? First…

I.  Stand by faith (14:6–9).

Before we go further, I must set this passage in the context. First, it had been about 7 years since Joshua led Israel across the Jordan and into Canaan. Joshua 1–12 describe how God defeated Israel’s enemies and gave them much of the land he had promised. God had done great things!

But opportunity still abounded. There were more enemies to conquer and more lands to seize. And driving out those Canaanites was essential to God’s bigger, redemptive purpose for Israel. Taking the land was a big part of God’s covenant with Abraham.

Unfortunately, the conquest stagnated before Joshua even died. Some tribes were content with the land they had. Others were lazy and shunned the brutality and hardship of war. And very often, they were spiritually weak, and they lost their battles because they lost God’s blessing.

So, in the middle of a long and seemingly boring section detailing the geographical borders of the 12 tribes and their many depressing failures, Joshua pauses to emphasize his good friend Caleb and his bright and shining testimony. Joshua clearly wants to highlight his incredible example of how Israel must continue driving out the Canaanites.

And he wants every generation to learn how we must aggressively advance the redemptive mission God has given us. So, the most significant application for us is how we pursue the Great Commission.

With that in mind, at this point in the story, Joshua has broken the Canaanite stranglehold. It’s time to divide the land and for each tribe to finish off their Canaanite neighbors. So, the leaders of Judah approach Joshua to receive their inheritance, and one of these leaders is Joshua’s old friend Caleb.

Caleb quickly reminds Joshua of their very significant history together. Most of you know the story. 2 years after the exodus, Moses appointed 12 spies including Caleb and Joshua to examine the land of Canaan.

It was an incredible experience. The 12 men saw fruitfulness like they had never seen before. They couldn’t believe how much grain and fruit the land produced. But the Canaanites terrified them. They were mighty soldiers, and they had strong, fortified cities.

And the “sons of Anak” who lived in Hebron were especially terrifying. Some of them were giants! The spies reported, “We became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Num 13:33).

The sights melted 10 of the spies. They created a hornet’s nest in the camp with a terrifying report. Caleb tried to calm them. “Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it’” (Num 13:30).

Caleb gave a rousing testimony, but it didn’t work. The nation melted, they rebelled against Moses, and God judged them with 38 more years in the wilderness. It was a crushing day for Caleb and Joshua.

Now, 45 years later Caleb looks his old friend in the eye and speaks with the same conviction (vv. 6–9). What an incredible legacy! Wouldn’t it be awesome if your children and grandchildren remembered you for being like Caleb? Notice first, that…

Caleb was a man of faith (v. 7). Caleb was not intimidated by the giants because he knew that God is greater than any human power. Instead, v. 7 says Caleb has “brought word back as it was in (his) heart.” He called the people to fight because he believed, “We will surely overcome.” Caleb had great ambition because he had great faith.

What about you? When you look at your unsaved neighbor, do you only see the hardness of his heart and all the roadblocks to his salvation, or do you believe with Jesus that “The fields…are white for harvest” (John 4:35)?

Or what do you see when you look at people in our church? Do you only see the immaturities, the sinful habits, and all the excuses not to serve? Or do you think like Jesus? The first time he met Peter, he didn’t focus on Peter’s pride, his foolishness, and all his other problems. No, the first time he met Peter he said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas (i.e., the rock)” (John 1:42). Jesus saw what God would do. Be like Jesus and be like Caleb. Don’t waste your Christian life amused with the roadblocks. See every challenge as an opportunity for God to show himself strong. 2^nd…

Caleb was a man of conviction (v. 8). Imagine the scene in Kadesh-barnea. The other 10 spies, “melt (the nation) with fear.” They’re angry. They’re ready to kill Moses and Aaron. But Caleb believed God. He challenged the million-man mob. He spoke the unpopular truth. He would not be dissuaded. 45 years later he can testify, “I followed the Lord my God fully.”

And v. 9 adds that Moses commended Caleb, “because you have followed the Lord my God fully.” Caleb was a man of bold conviction. He wasn’t trying to straddle the fence. His heart fully belonged to God.

Be like Caleb. Maybe you’ve stagnated. You’re doing stuff, but there’s no conviction behind it. You’re frustrated and fruitless. You need the conviction of Caleb. Great growth and great impact always begin with strong, ambitious convictions. Like Caleb, “follow the Lord your God fully.” 3^rd…

Caleb endured for the Lord (vv. 9–10). Again, Caleb took a bold stand at Kadesh-barnea. He knew what God could do, and he was ready to seize God’s promise. So, imagine how crushing it was to hear God say Israel would have to wait 38 years to receive the promise.

But Moses encouraged Caleb that someday he would conquer the lands where he had walked. Someday, Caleb would crush the giants who crushed Israel’s spirit. He would have to wait a long time—45 years, but God would give Caleb a great inheritance. And Caleb did not forget. 45 years later as an 85 year-old man, he’s ready to seize God’s promise.

That endurance is crucial if you are going to make an impact for Christ. Ministry is hard. It’s filled with disappointments and roadblocks. Sometimes, it takes years to see fruit. Caleb waited 45 years! But God is faithful. Just as he promised to give Israel the land, he has promised to save the lost and build his church. He promises not to forget “your work and the love which you have shown toward His name” (Heb 6:10).

So, don’t quit on God’s promises. When it gets hard, you let yourself down, people let you down, or the wait is long, stand with the enduring faith of Caleb. Then pursue the Lord’s work with faith-fueled ambition and confidence. So, if you want to be a Caleb, stand by faith. Second…

II.  Glorify God’s grace (vv. 10–11).

These are incredible verses. Caleb is 85 years old. He and Joshua are 20 years older than anyone else in the nation. But Caleb doesn’t look or act like an old man. He declares that he’s as strong today as he’d been 45 years prior. He’s ready to go to war.

Some of you are jealous. Your heart is young and ambitious, but your body is old. You can’t do the things you once did. It drives you mad. But I love Caleb’s perspective.

Caleb gave glory to God. Caleb didn’t boast about his ancient grains diet or his workout routine. He didn’t even boast that he earned a fountain of youth for his bold faith. Instead, he humbly confessed, “The Lord has let me live.” Caleb saw the grace of God and rejoiced.

I love that because most worldly ambition is cocky ambition. Most politicians, powerful businessmen, and great athletes are intolerably arrogant. Godly ambition is confident, but that confidence is not in me but in the Lord, in grace and his promises. This confidence pushed Caleb to…

Caleb recognized God’s purpose. He didn’t see his good health as a blessing to waste on himself or as a ticket to dominating the senior circuit of the PGA Tour. No, he understood that taking the land and eradicating the Canaanites were essential to realizing God’s promises to Israel and maintaining their devotion to God. He’s focused on what God commanded through Moses.

I want to be very clear, that Caleb is not selfishly grasping for the best claim. No, taking the land is something like Israel’s Great Commission. And Caleb saw that God had graciously prepared him to lead the tribe of Judah in fulfilling God’s purpose. His ambition was for God’s purpose, not himself.

Of course, God has not called you to conquer any cities, but he has called us to make disciples. And God has given every Christian grace to fulfill a specific role in building Christ’s church. If you are saved, God has equipped you to serve. It’s not arrogant to recognize that grace; it’s godly.

The question is not if you have a role; the question is do you see God’s grace in your life, and are you determined to steward it well. Don’t be like Samson. He was brimming with giftedness, but he wasted it on himself. Be like Caleb, determined to steward God’s gifts and the opportunities for impact he provides as well as you possibly can.

And if you’re 85, and unlike Caleb, you feel like your 85. You don’t think there’s nothing you can do. You have a role. Or maybe you are discouraged for some other reason. Understand that God has a purpose for every member of the body. He has given you grace. Identify it, and ambitiously pursue God’s purpose for you. Glorify God’s grace. Third, if you want to be a Caleb…

III.  Act on God’s promises.

Caleb finally gets to his bold request in v. 12. Consider the excuses Caleb could have used for not making this request. He’s 85 years old. He’s faithfully served God for a long time. He endured 40 years in the wilderness with a bunch of godless complainers and all the judgments of God that came with it. Surely, Caleb had put in his time, and God would understand if he focused on his golf game.

Furthermore, the Anakim were Caleb’s nemesis. Again, the report of these giants and their massive fortifications had crushed Israel’s faith once before. Maybe Judah could ignore them. Or surely a younger man should lead Israel against such a terrifying foe.

But Moses had promised Caleb the Anakim territory 45 years prior, and Caleb knew he was the right man to lead this symbolic battle. Afterall, Caleb had experienced the exodus. He had seen God’s power like no one else. He knew he was uniquely qualified to lead a new generation to experience that power and God’s faithfulness for themselves.

So, Caleb didn’t retire to the country club. Instead, he looked Joshua in the eye and said, “give me this hill country. Give me the Anakim. Give me the hardest battle.” So, I want to challenge you to…

Stay ambitious. Some of you are around 85, and you feel it. Maybe you hate the idea of slowing down. I hear you lament the fact that you can’t do what you once did. You desperately want to be useful. Praise God for that testimony. It’s having a greater impact than realize. Embrace where God has you and be the best steward you can be.

But others may be ready to slow down when God has more for you to do. Understand that you are surrounded by people who need you to lead them like Caleb led the next generation. Stay ambitious. Engage with the next generation. Tell of God’s works. Encourage them toward godliness. My title today is “85 and Ambitious.” By God’s grace leave the same legacy as Caleb.

Maybe you’re not 85 and tired; you’re 35 and lazy. You’d rather pour your life into your career, your hobbies, and your comfort than ambitiously pursue the work of the ministry. Don’t waste any more time.

Get in the Word and get serious about your own Christian walk. Take hold of godliness. Build strong relationships and invest in people. Read some books, get some training, and expand your ministry skill, your capacity for impact. Identify the task that God has for you and pursue it. Don’t be lazy. Stay ambitious. And Caleb also challenges you…

Seize God’s promise. Joshua loved Caleb’s speech. This is how he wanted all the tribes to respond. Therefore, v. 13 says Joshua, “blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb.” You can see on the map that Hebron is in the center of Judah’s territory. It will become something like the capital of Judah. David will rule from Hebron his first seven years.

But first Caleb had to drive out the dreadful Anakim. Joshua 15:13–14 add a few details (read). We’d love more details about the battle. How did they destroy the walls? Who killed the giants. But God knows those details would only distract us from the point. Notice again 14:14–15.

That’s the 3^rd time the text says Caleb “followed the Lord God of Israel fully,” so it’s important. For 85 years Caleb was fully dedicated to God. Finally, God used him to seize a massive victory for God’s people, God blessed him with a home he had waited to receive for 45 years, and God gave him a legacy that we still remember 3,400 years later.

So, God wants to challenge you to also “follow the Lord God of Israel fully.” Then seize God’s promises. For us, the most important application is that Jesus commanded us, “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (John 4:35).

God is on a sovereign mission to save the lost and to gather them into disciple making churches all over the world. He’s doing that work here in Apple Valley. God is saving the lost and transforming lives through the work of this church. So, will you sit on the sidelines and complain about how hard it is or will you seize the promises of God?

God wants you to take your next step. So, be diligent about cultivating godliness. Get equipped for greater ministry. Seek out a mentor. Push yourself into uncomfortable relationships and roles so that you learn how to handle them. Be more disciplined with your time so that there’s space for greater commitment. By God’s grace take your next step. Finally, Joshua highlights one other way you can be a Caleb.

IV.  Inspire others to follow (15:15–19).

This is a fascinating addition to the story. Caleb has conquered Hebron, the inheritance Moses had promised. But Caleb wants to inspire Judah to keep going and drive out the rest of the Canaanites. So, he puts out a challenge to take the city of Debir which was south of Hebron (map).

He adds an enticing reward. He promises his daughter Achsah to the man who conquers Debir. I know that’s odd to us, but let’s stay on target because it works. Caleb’s younger brother Othniel responds to the challenge. He rallies Judah to continue the conquest, and they win another victory. Othniel takes Debir for the tribe of Judah.

So, Caleb wasn’t just ambitious; he inspired his brother, who had to be at least 20 years younger, to continue the fight. And continue the fight he did. Judges 3:9–11 say that after Joshua and presumably Caleb’s deaths, Othniel became Israel’s first judge. He won a great victory over the king of Mesopotamia and lead Israel to 40 years of peace. Caleb’s godly, ambitious legacy lived on.

And did you catch the fact that Achsah, Caleb’s daughter, also inherited his godly zeal? As soon as she’s married to Othniel, she’s pushing for more territory. Again, that’s not greed. God commanded Israel to conquer the land and possess it.

So, she persuaded Othniel to ask her dad for permission, probably to conquer more territory. Othniel agrees and notice again vv. 18–19. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it? Othniel keeps fighting and secures the “springs of water.”

I think it’s fair to assume that Caleb’s spirit spread throughout all of Judah. Judah’s inheritance becomes so large that Joshua 19 says that the tribe of Simeon ended up receiving a portion of Judah’s land because it was too large for Judah. That’s a far cry from the other tribes.

Caleb’s ambition made a broad impact. He didn’t just complete a task; he was determined to raise up other leaders behind him who would share his godly ambition and confidence in the Lord.

You can do the same. Don’t be content just fulfilling ministry tasks. It’s been said that the task of every minister is to work himself out of a job. Some of you have great capacity of ministry, and you are using it. Praise God! But make sure your vision extends beyond the task itself. Raise up an army behind you who will succeed you and hopefully surpass you.

Conclusion

God is conforming you to the divine image, and he is using us to form that image in new believers and in the church at large. God has given us a marvelous mission. And he has promised to complete it. So be a Caleb. Be a man or woman of godliness and faith. Be zealous for God’s will. Ambitiously pursue God’s purpose to the very end.

I want to conclude by emphasizing that being a Caleb must begin with a genuine relationship to Caleb’s God. You must receive Jesus as the only Lord and Savior. Do you know that Christ has forgiven your sins, and are you resting wholly in his grace for your salvation. If not, everything else I have said is immaterial. Receive Christ today. Then you can find your joy in ambitiously pursuing God’s good, glorious, and eternal redemptive purpose.