The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR OCT. % BY THE
REV. I. w. HENDERSON.
Subject: Caleb's Faithfulness Re-
warded, Josh. 14:6-15-Goiden
Text, Matt. 25:23-MemorF

Warded, Josh.
Text, Matt. o5:23-Memors
Verses, =, documentary.
Caleb's reward is indicative of the
f%aithfulness Of Jehovah to actuallze
lis promises. Caleb had been a care
full and courageous investigator and
reporter in the days when Moses
wished to know of the character or
the land and the people of canaan
(Cf. Lesson for September u. he
had valiantly and consistently main
tanned a spirit Of optimism nj OF as
sistance to Moses when 1sraels days
were dark. God had promised him
that he should live to see the reallza-
ton of his dreams, the fulhllment OF
his prophecies, the fructifying OF the
hopes of his people. And the prom
Use is kept. :.
Gods promises we're effective in
the life of Caleb for the reason thai
is stated in the fourteenth verse OF
the lesson-"becauge he wholly fol-
lowed the Lord God of Israel" That
was the ground of promise. 1t was
the ground also for the realizing OF
the promise. God makes few prom
ises to poor followers. There can be
no promises to those who refuse to
do His will. The promises OF God
are many and beautiful and possible
of fulfllment in the lives Of those
who, after the pattern OF CALEB,
wholly followed the Lord God. Ca
leb heard the voice Of God because
he lived for God and within God. and
had confidence in Him. The prom
ises of Jehovah were completed for
him because he was steadfast In the
divine life and continued and ex-
banded in his faith in God. Caleb
had an abiding belief in the integrity
of God. Therefore God was able to
speak plain words to him. The man
who doubts God neve hears the sub
FINEST messages Jehovah sends to
men. Only the souls who believe on
Him, who trust Him, who obey Him,
who are faithful to Him, hear, or are
able to hear, the messages, the prom
ises, the condolences of God. 1t could
not be otherwise. 1t is not otherwise.
The twelfth verse Eliminates the
character of Caleb. The Anakim en-
trenched among the hills were the
most formidable enemies with which
Israel was called upon to deal. They
were most powerful and to be feared.
They were the sort of opponents that
Caleb chose. He wanted no easy task.
His arm was mightiest and his heart
most courageous against the most ter
rifying foes. AS he possessed extra
ordinary strength and faith so he de-
sired the most dangerous expeditions.
His trust in God e1celled any awe he
may have had for his foes. His con-
fdence in the enabling of Jehovah
made him fearless where others
might have been afraid.
Caleb requested the infested noun
tain of the Anakim as his portion.
The sons Of Anak were to fly before
his proves and the power of his God.
Trusting in the promises of God his
Lord, Caleb demanded Hebron for
an inheritance and was certain OF his
ability to conquer and to hold it.
What to him were giants and cities
great and fenced. He would under
God overthrow the giants and de-
stroy their cities and topple down
their walls.
Those characteristics in the person
alities of Caleb and God that the les
son unfolds are applicable to pres
ent conditions and the modern life.
If they are not they are hardly
worth the study of those who
are engrossed with the cares OF
to-day and the expectations of
tomorrow, who are compelled to
live and to labor in the days that
are. If they are not they are sub
jects most for the historian and the
study. Those Sunday-school lessons
that do not relate themselves to the
needs and the men Of to-day, that do
not apply themselves with readiness
to the solution and exploitation Of the
problems of the modern world ought
to be laid aside. But this lesson is
relative, it applies.
For the f~aithfulness Of a pTomis-
ing Father is daily proven. Multi
tudes daily test Him and find Him
trustworthy. He is as faithful to
us as He was to Caleb. Whenever we
keep our covenants with Jehovah we
discover that He more than keeps His
agreements. There is not a promise
that God makes to obedient souls
that is not abundantly fulfilled. Those
who are valiant and consistent and
courageous, trustful; who maintain
their spiritual and moral Wilderness
and their confidence in God; who put
themselves and God to the test en-
10y the realization of the ultimate
promises of God.
With US as with Caleb these prom
ises become effective when we wholly
follow the Lord our God. Caleb en-
joyed the favor of God because he
served Him. He heard the voice Of
God because he listened for it. He
saw the realized and objectified glory
of God because he kept his Eyes open
to discern the wonders of the ma
jesty and might of God. That is to
say that Caleb followed God with
every faculty. When we walk after
God and before Him after that man.
ner we too shall perceive His glory
in the land of the living. When we
open our eyes we shall see His ma
jesay revealed. When we open u
ears We shall hear His voice. When
we submit ourselves to His will we
shall realize His power.
Living like this we shall be like Ca
leb who longed for the largest tasks,
the most vicious enemies, the stern
est strife. We shall welcome the la
bors that are most irksome and the
difficulties that are commonly re-
garded as insuperable. We shall
welcome them with Joy. For We shall
have confidence in God.