The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-07-06
Lesson for July 9
CALEB

LESSON TEXT-Joshua 1864.
GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed is that man
that maketh the Lord his trust ana
respecteth not the proud, nor such as
turn aside to lies. Psalm 4O:4.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Truthful Sol
der.
JUNIOR ToPIc-A Fearless Soldier
Rewarded.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Caleb the Courageous.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Calebs Confidence in God.
Caleb stands out in Bible history
as a strong personality. He was a
man of such character as deserves
special study.
!. Elements Of caIeb's Character.
/. independence of spirit (Num.
Is :3O). Though, the multitude clam
ored to follow the report OF the ten,
Caleb determined to stand alone. This
is a highly important element in hui
man character. One should stand for
what he knows to be right regardless
Of the sentiment Of the crowd.
2. Loyal to convictions Josh. 1915;
CT. Mum. 1869. What Caleb knew
and felt he spoke out. He did not
wait for the opinion Of others and
then shape his own to suit that of the
crowd. The man who can be trusted
is the one who is loyal to his convic-
-tions. Joseph was an earlier, and Dan
iel a later example of the loyalty to
conviction exhibited by Caleb.
8. .Unselfish Josh. IA :12). He did
not wish to thrust some one else into
the place of difficulty. He desired to
20 into the place where it would re-
quire fighting in order to drive out
the giants which were in the land.
4. Courageous (Josh. 14:12; CT.
Mum. 10 800. This courage he dis
played when he insisted that they
were able to 60 up from Kadesh-
Barnea and take possession of the
land. Forty-fve years have elapsed
since that time Josh. 4:10). Though
he would be now considered an old
man, he still desired that place for an
inheritance which would require fight
ing to possess. He said, Il am as
strong this day as l was in the day
that Moses sent me: as my strength
was then, even so is my strength now
for war;"
5. Loyal to God Josh. 14:S; ct.
Mum. 14:2N. He served God with
whole-hearted devotion. A man who
is thoroughly loyal to God is always
true and magnanimous in his dealings
with his fellows.
u. Caleb Laying Claim to His In
heritance Josh. IA :6-12).
Caleb was accompanied by the chill
dren Of Judah. He did not come alone
to present his claim, lest he be sus-
pected Of taking advantage. Then,
too, he did not wish to wait until after
the lot was cast for God had already
given a certain portion to him (Num.
1890. The basis Of his claim was:
l. The ground of his service wv.
6-S). He had endangered his life in
spying out the land-had gone to
Hebron when the giants were there.
He brought back true report even
when his brethren were all against
him. He bore his testimony and in
sisted that they 60 up and take the
land even though to do so incurred
the displeasure of his brethren, max
ing It necessary for him to stand
alone.
2. On the ground Of the oath Of
MEonor en- him ~ T0chno hoA Pna
spect for Moses, and was bound to
follow the counsels Of his faithful
master whom he succeeded.
8. On the ground Of Gods prov1den-
tial dealing with him wv. 1912. God
had preserved him in bodily health.
His natural forces were undated,
though he was now eighty-five years
old. He still regarded himself as capa-
BILE of driving out the giants who pos
sessed the land. The preservation of
ones health is an indication of Gods
will that there is still work to do.
III. Joshua Giving the Inheritance
to Caleb Josh. 14:13, 1Q.
l. Caleb blessed by Joshua ". 13).
ne uOL OHlE dCqulSSSSu III ShiCO .
claim, but bestowed the blessing of
God upon him in it.
2. The inheritance given wv. Is,
l4). Hebron, which means fellowship,
was the name of the inheritance. Only
those who fully follow the Lord can
enjoy fellowship with him. Though
Caleb now legally possessed Hebron,
it was necessary for him to fight to
drive out the giants who infested it.
In the Lord Jesus Christ We have an
inheritance which God has given us.
We, too, must fight because the enemy
is unwilling to relinquish the claim
upon it. Caleb got what he asked for
because it was in keeping with the
will of God. We, too, are sure, to get
that which we claim when we lay hold
on that which is according to Gods
Word.