Explore the Bible: July 12

Unwavering Determination • Joshua 14:1-15

By Roland L. McMillan

Joshua 14:1-15 introduces the division of the Promised Land, which Joshua 14–19 describes in detail. The story is not about land as much as it is about how God fulfilled his promise of land to Abraham’s descendants. The fact that Israel was in the Promised Land was established already in Joshua. In Genesis 15, God looked hundreds of years ahead and described to Abraham what was going to happen. This part of Joshua shows how it actually happened. Comparing Genesis 15 and Joshua 14 reveals God’s unmistakable faithfulness through the centuries. 

Joshua, Eleazar the high priest, and the leaders of the tribes met to divide the land in Joshua 14:1. They followed the procedure already provided in Numbers 26:52–56, 33:54, and 34:16-29. They determined how to divide the land by lot, but casting lots did not mean trusting in random chance. The idea was that God controlled the lot. God determined which tribe received what land. The parts of the Promised Land allocated to each tribe were like royal land grants. The supreme Emperor over all creation decided how to divide the land. Yet, the division of the land was not the end. This is only one part of the whole story of God’s people. In Acts 13, Paul included the division of the land in the story of God’s people as he told the people in Pisidian Antioch the Gospel story. Understood in this way, the division of the land was one more step toward the Messiah.

Within this larger story, Caleb appears. Joshua 14:6 describes him as a Kenizzite. This may be confusing, since Kenizzites were some of the people who were in the Promised Land before Israel arrived. Caleb was not a Canaanite, so why is he called a Kenizzite? The most likely explanation is that an Israelite named Kenaz was in Caleb’s family tree and the people related to him were called Kenizzites. Two different groups of Kenizzites existed in the same way that unrelated people named “Johnson” are all over the country. So, Caleb was part of one of the family groups that made up the tribe of Judah. The Kenizzites who were natives of Canaan were not related at all.

Caleb takes center stage in Joshua 14:6. He started talking, focusing on the past. His words reveal a strong personality. He was part of the original reconnaissance mission into the Promised Land forty-five prior. Of the twelve men from the mission, only Caleb and Joshua recommended trusting God and conquering the Promised Land. At that time, God had spoken to Moses, saying that Caleb someday would receive the land that he had explored (Numbers 14:24,30). Now, after forty years in the wilderness and about five years of conquest, Caleb was ready. He had taken an unpopular position in the past. He had stood nearly alone against his nation because of his faithfulness. He had been loyal to God throughout the years. In verse 10, Caleb shifted to talk about the present. Now, Caleb told Joshua that he was ready for his reward, and he received it. 

One part of Caleb’s talk may be a bit confusing. The CSB’s “perhaps the Lord will be with me” in Joshua 14:12 is a good translation, but it might be misunderstood. Other translations try to capture the “perhaps” idea by saying “if,” “it may be,” or something similar. Those also might be misunderstood. The basic concept is that Caleb would not presume on God. He had confidence in God’s word, but he refused to take God for granted. Caleb was showing proper respect. He spoke with hope in God, not with doubt. 

Having a “be like Caleb” lesson might be easy with a passage like this one. Caleb was a hero. He was faithful, brave, and strong. He stood for God against the crowd. He stayed steady when others faltered. This passage displays his record and his reward for all to see. Yet, Caleb would not have been Caleb without his place in God’s plan. He explored the Promised Land as a part of God’s plan. Forty-five years later, he received Hebron as part of God’s plan. Caleb had a unique place in the story of God’s people. Our job is not to be Caleb. Our job is to be faithful where God has placed us.

McMillan is senior pastor of Roseland Park Baptist Church, Picayune.