Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
The verse names Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of the tribe of Judah. He was chosen as its ruler and representative among the twelve. He was one of the twelve men selected to search, inspect, explore, and spy out Canaan, the promised land. After forty days he returned with the other spies and agreed with them that the land was fertile and rich.
With Joshua he was one of the two faithful spies who gave a faithful report of its richness and true counsel. He boldly stood firmly for God and the right while the others complained cowardly, drew back from risk, and stressed the dangers. He saw the dangers plainly yet remained faithful to his God-given duty and accepted the difficult responsibility. He urged Israel to go up at once in God's strength, trusting God to overcome its inhabitants and take possession of Canaan. In standing with those who opposed the spies' unbelief, he experienced the sorrow and discouragement it caused.
The spies' report was followed by Israel's refusal to trust God, rebellion, and forty years of wilderness wandering. The ten unfaithful spies perished, and the rebellious generation above twenty years of age lost the promised land through unbelief and rebellion. Israel's later attempt to enter the land was defeated.
His courage in standing for what is right is timely instruction and an example needed in the work of the church. It applies especially to God's people near the second advent of Christ, when darkness and unbelief increase, truth becomes unpalatable to the carnally minded, and hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent so that few dare to come boldly forward as Caleb did. Servants of God who bear the burden of His cause with strict self-denial and suffering privation to help His people are unappreciated and, because they will not turn from integrity to gratify the selfish and unconsecrated, become the target for hatred and malicious falsehood while Satan works warily. God calls for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to resist his artifices, long bearing with His people, forgiving their wanderings, waiting for room in their hearts despite false ideas, jealousy, and distrust crowding Him out, and giving His servants continual evidences of His wisdom and assistance so they need not become discouraged.
The verse names Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of the tribe of Judah. He was chosen as its ruler and representative among the twelve. He was one of the twelve men selected to search, inspect, explore, and spy out Canaan, the promised land. After forty days he returned with the other spies and agreed with them that the land was fertile and rich.
With Joshua he was one of the two faithful spies who gave a faithful report of its richness and true counsel. He boldly stood firmly for God and the right while the others complained cowardly, drew back from risk, and stressed the dangers. He saw the dangers plainly yet remained faithful to his God-given duty and accepted the difficult responsibility. He urged Israel to go up at once in God's strength, trusting God to overcome its inhabitants and take possession of Canaan. In standing with those who opposed the spies' unbelief, he experienced the sorrow and discouragement it caused.
The spies' report was followed by Israel's refusal to trust God, rebellion, and forty years of wilderness wandering. The ten unfaithful spies perished, and the rebellious generation above twenty years of age lost the promised land through unbelief and rebellion. Israel's later attempt to enter the land was defeated.
His courage in standing for what is right is timely instruction and an example needed in the work of the church. It applies especially to God's people near the second advent of Christ, when darkness and unbelief increase, truth becomes unpalatable to the carnally minded, and hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent so that few dare to come boldly forward as Caleb did. Servants of God who bear the burden of His cause with strict self-denial and suffering privation to help His people are unappreciated and, because they will not turn from integrity to gratify the selfish and unconsecrated, become the target for hatred and malicious falsehood while Satan works warily. God calls for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to resist his artifices, long bearing with His people, forgiving their wanderings, waiting for room in their hearts despite false ideas, jealousy, and distrust crowding Him out, and giving His servants continual evidences of His wisdom and assistance so they need not become discouraged.