Joshua 15

“Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he (Joshua) gave a share among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, namely, Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak) Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. Then he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir (formerly the name of Debir was Kirjath Sepher). And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.” Joshua 15:13-16 (NKJV)

Modern-day Hebron is a very troublesome place to live. Just watch the nightly news, and it is sure to come up. Hebron is the second largest (second only to Gaza) city in the so-called “Palestinian” territories. It is the fourth most holy site for Islam. It is also the second most holy city for Jews (second to Jerusalem) because it hosts the tomb of the patriarchs and matriarchs.

Historically, David reigned as king in Hebron for seven years, and Hebron was where Absalom declared his kingship. Samson took the gates of Gaza and carried them to Hebron. Throughout history, Hebron has been a difficult place. Of course, God would choose Caleb to take possession of it!

Caleb actually had a history with Hebron about 40 years earlier. When the 12 spies were sent out by Moses to survey the Promised land, 10 of the spies gave a negative report about Hebron, where the Anakim (sons of Anak) resided.

“Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:28-30 (NKJV)

Forty years have gone by, and almost nothing has changed with respect to the harshness of the land (hill country) or its people (Anakim – GIANTS). But more importantly, nothing had changed in Caleb’s faithfulness. Friends, we must fight to fully lay hold of what we have been endowed by grace. Yes, Jesus had paid the fullness of the penalty for our sin. Yes, we are saved by grace and not by works. But once we have received His atonement, we are given the charge to drive out those “former inhabitants,” old sin patterns. It is God’s command that we fight those former inhabitants, and by employing His Spirit, our victory is guaranteed.

The foe is no smaller (or greater) in our generation than it was in Caleb’s. Faithfulness among God’s people in our day is as rare as it was in Joshua and Caleb’s. Let’s be a generation that asks for the high and rocky land, one that does not fear in the presence of giants who are dwarfed by our mighty God!