220. NUM 14:24. CHARACTER OF CALEB

Num_14:24. Character of Caleb

"But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land," &c.’97Num_14:24.

Imperfections have distinguished some of the most eminent servants of God, whose history is presented in the holy oracles of truth. We do not refer to the glaring defects of Samson, Jephtha, Solomon’97but to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, &c. Yet there are some few whose lives were eminently holy, and free from public moral deformities. Among these, was Enoch, Samuel, and Daniel. And not less, the renowned Joshua, and Caleb, the subject of the text. God deigns to give us his own estimate of this illustrious worthy. "But my servant Caleb," &c.

Let us notice,

I. The Spirit he possessed.

II. The Course he adopted; and,

III. The Distinctions he received.

Let us consider,

I. The spirit He possessed.

This is jailed in the text "another spirit." That is, a different spirit to that possessed by the other spies who went out to new the good land, and who brought an evil report upon it. Now Caleb’s spirit was,

1. A spirit of affectionate obedience.

He loved God, and cheerfully obeyed his holy commands. They yielded on willing and reluctant obedience.

2. A spirit of faith and hope.

Theirs a spirit of distrust and fear. He both believed and hoped in God. They said the land was inhabited by giants, and that they never could possess it. He said, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able."

3. His was a disinterested and self-denying spirit.

He sought not his own welfare, comfort, or ease. His soul was ever solicitous to glorify God. They were always selfish, and regarded merely present advantages.

4. His was an active and zealous spirit.

He was willing to toil and lay himself entirely out for the honor of God, and the welfare of his cause. He glowed with ardent zeal, and his life was characterized by unremitting activity. They wanted the rest without the journey. The reward without the labor. The victory without the warfare.

5. His was a constant persevering spirit.

He stood firm. Held fast. Went forward. No wavering or halting. They were unstable as water, &c. Now hot, then cold. Now humble, and believing and obedient, then self-willed, faithless, and disobedient.

Observe,

II. The Course which Caleb adopted.

"He followed the Lord fully."

As such,

1. He possessed a right spirit.

Without this his following of the Lord would have been as imperfect as that of the other spies. His heart was right with God. The tree was good, hence also the fruit. The fountain was made pure, hence the streams also were pure. The law of God was in his heart, therefore none of his steps did slide.

In following the Lord,

2. He was regulated by a right rule.

He did not consult events, feelings, notions, or the suggestions of others; but the will of God. He followed the Lord in the way he commanded him.

3. He followed Him with all his heart.

"Fully." It was his business. His preeminent pursuit. The first and leading work of his life. His soul was consecrated to God, and of course all else was freely surrendered.

4. He followed him to the end of life He spent all, and was himself entirely spent in God’s cause. Faithful to death. Ran until he reached the goal. Fought until he gained the crown. Persevered, until he obtained the promised rest.

Observe,

II. The Distinctions he received.

He received,

1. Divine approbation.

God saw, approved, and publicly commended. He designated him his "servant." Noticed his superiority, and exalted him before the hosts of Israel. So will Jesus confess all his people at the last lay.

He received,

2. A glorious recompense.

"Him will I bring unto the good land," &c. The others, save Joshua, were excluded from God’s rest. They fell as monuments of the Divine displeasure against unbelief, in the wilderness. But he entered the land of promise’97of rest, and of abundance. Jesus will give to all his faithful servants, the unfading, incorruptible inheritance of the saints in light. They shall see the King in his beauty, &c. He will assuredly give unto them eternal life, &c.

Application

What spirit do you possess? What course do you pursue? What prospect have you of entering the good land? Like Caleb, you must possess "another spirit" than that possessed by the world, or by mere professors. It must be a renewed and consecrated spirit, full of love, and faith, and zeal for the glory of God. Such only will the Lord approve, accept, and reward.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS