Yeshua = Joshua = Jesus

Goshen

Sinai

Kadesh

R JordanMed Sea

Red Sea

Jericho

Dead Sea

Caleb & Joshua’s report on God’s landGood News and Bad News

14:6Joshua Caleb tore their clothes 14:7and said, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.

14:9Do not be afraid of the people of the land, Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

Goshen

Sinai

Kadesh

R JordanMed Sea

Red Sea

River Zered

Jericho

Dead Sea

Goshen

Sinai

Kadesh

R JordanMed Sea

Red Sea

River Zered

Jericho

Dead Sea

This was Caleb and Joshua’s Journey

What about our Journey into our promised land?

Joshua 146Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,

and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me.

7I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,8but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people sink. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.

9So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children for ever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'

10"Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!

11I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

12Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

13Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

14So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

15(Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.

Thank God for his written Word to us

6 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him,

… Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me

made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’[a]

Caleb knew and believed the promises.

7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. a]

Caleb waited!

He used the waiting as a testimony to God’s faithfulness.God was preparing Him, let us not waste or lament waiting.We too are in a time of waiting.

10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness.

So here I am today, eighty-five years old!

Advent

We wait for:A child born into povertyA child who will save the world

Is your heart ready?Re-live the Christmas storyWelcome Jesus into your heart

O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in; Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel!

12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD

promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were

there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

Waiting ends!

13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

What would we like God to give us?

Peace at Christmas?

Being generous?

Physical wellness?

What can we ask that He can bless?It will bind us to Him and each other when we are part of the process.

Then the land had rest from war.

We know we will rest from war after waiting and struggle and victory– then the land can the place of greater things! For now we fight.