Recognizing Our (DOG) – Divine Obligation to God. 

Study Texts: Numb. 14:21-24  Joshua 14:6-9   Eph. 5:1–2

       

We would like to invite all persons Christians and unbelievers to share with us in this study which has been a tremendous blessing and general development to our own lives. As Christians, Preachers, and Teachers of God’s Word, we can declare from experience that all sixty-six (66) books of the Bible are a priceless treasure, that has the power to affect your life more than anything else for time- your everyday practical experiences, and also for eternity- that which remains a mystery to most of us but nonetheless affects every one of us in profound ways we might even try to deny.

Matt:4:4 says Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Believe it, this is more important than natural food to our bodies. The Patriarch David expresses his high value of the Word of God Ps. 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. v.11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned; and in keeping of them is great reward.

The main figure in our study is Caleb who has come to be identified with the more famous Bible character Joshua who succeeded Moses as a valiant Army Captain who finally led the Israelites into the Promised Land of Canaan. However the life of this lesser famous, but remarkable man Caleb cannot be fully understood without some knowledge of his relationship especially to Joshua and even to Moses from the very beginning. So first a quick introduction of Caleb. Caleb first came into focus in Numb. 13 as one of the twelve young men described as “spies”– who were sent by Moses the leader at the time to view or do a Military Reconnaissance of  Canaan. The land described as “flowing with milk and honey” Ex. 3:16. Of these “twelve spies” only two brought back favorable reports that the land of Canaan could be conquered by Israel- the people of God. These two faithful spies were Joshua and Caleb.

The other ten spies broke the heart of the fighting men of Israel with their report and lamentations about the tight security of the Canaanite cities, and that some of the men or soldiers there were “giants” in physical stature. Numb. 13:31  But the men that went up with him said, we are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.  The Lord’s anger was kindled against these ten spies whom he caused to die by a horrible plague.

Though Caleb and Joshua were both faithful in this regard it is clear that the most outspoken of the two was Caleb. He sought to encourage the soldiers and the people of Israel who wept all that night. He declared confidently that the land could be taken by the Israelites. Num. 13: 30- And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, let us go up at once and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. This only angered the people who rioted and sought to stone both Caleb and Joshua; Num. 14:10 but all the congregation demanded to stone them with stones…The Lord expressed very strong anger against the people of Israel who were now faithless and rebellious.

We are hopeful that the selected texts in an objective for brevity will also be able to give us at least a working profile of this great Servant of the Lord Caleb. We begin with the reading of our texts:  Num. 14:21-24. v. But as truly as I live all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. v.22 Because all those men who have seen my glory, and my miracles which I did in the wilderness, and have put me to the test these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice. v.23 surely they shall not see the land which I swore to give unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoke me see it. v.24 But my servant Caleb because he had another spirit with him and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land and his seed shall possess it.  

 Caleb Speaks Forty-Five (45) Years Later.

Joshua 14: 6-9 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal; and Caleb the son of Jephun’neh the Kennizzite, said unto him, thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-bar-‘ne-a. v.7 forty years old was I when Moses the servant the Lord sent me to spy out the land and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. v.8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed the Lord my God.  It is also very important to note the recurring phrase “wholly” and “fully followed the Lord”, in this study of the life of Caleb.    The supportive N.T verse from Eph. 5:1-2 reads. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. v.2  And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

The two books  used in our study, the Old Testament book of Joshua and the New Testament book of Ephesians, have an interesting and peculiar relationship, wider reading of these two books will help each person to benefit even more meaningfully from this study. These two books deal with God’s specially prepared place for his people and the battles that are fought and need to be fought for us to enter this prepared place for the Believer in the Word of God.

In the book of Joshua God gives us an object lesson of this place as “Canaan”– “the Promised Land” which was (at this time) an actual place in ancient Palestine. This land was figuratively described as “flowing with milk and honey…” Ex. 3:17 an allusion to its abundant fruitfulness. Joshua was the one chosen by God to lead the Israelites as an Army Captain into this  temporal place. He is recognized as a ‘type’, ‘shadow’ or “forerunner”  (in Biblical usage) of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even his name is the same in Greek- Iesous translated in English as Jesus – generally meaning Deliverer or Savior.

The book of Ephesians speaks of the real and permanent place to be entered by believers today, by our present  Salvation experience and our future hope of Glory or Heaven, our inheritance in Christ not of this physical realm. Eph. 1:4, 11. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, v.11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.     Eph. 6:11-12 calls us to warfare for our inheritance. v.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. v.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

All of the foregoing backgrounds are of indispensable importance to our study because we are looking at the person of Caleb who is indubitably the other main character to Joshua in the book of his name  as well as in the other earlier books of Numbers and Deuteronomy.

First of all, it is our personal conviction that Caleb was used by God in very much the  same  way that Joshua as a person was used to teach us practical things about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and also in the same way that the land of Canaan was used as an object lesson, symbolism or type to teach us practical things about this place God requires for us to enter in and have a relationship with Him today. Not all persons or Bible teachers might agree that Caleb is a direct type – But it seems impossible to truly study his life without seeing in it, at least a Divine Illustration primarily for the N.T believer individually, and by extension as the Church. This is on the reasonable basis that his life cannot be separated from  Joshua a clear type of the Lord Jesus Christ, this affinity is evident from the very beginning to the end of the lives of these two remarkable figures no other figure has a closer relationship to Joshua than Caleb to the extent the two names are naturally conjoined. Neither does the life of any other single person excepting Joshua has a more peculiar relationship to the land of Canaan, another clear type of our N.T inheritance in Christ than Caleb’s, to the extent some commentators feel Caleb had been highlighted above Joshua as it relates to the inheritance of Canaan. Joshua is clearly highlighted as God’s choice as the one who would actually lead the Israelites into Canaan. But there seems a special emphasis on Caleb’s place by God in several places, as we see here in Numb.14:24  But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath  followed me fully, him will I bring into the land where into he went; and his seed shall possess it. Further on in our study, this seeming oddity will be explained.

At this point, it behooves us to take a closer look at Caleb in Scripture to see if there is anything truly deeper or symbolic about his life. It is very interesting that the names of most notable Bible characters are seen  to have special significance to their Person and Mission. The primary meaning of the name Caleb in the Hebrew language is ‘Dog’. We might be inclined to pass this by as insignificant. But after a closer look. It dawns on us that the often-repeated phrases in Scripture in relation to Caleb such as: “followed me fully,” and “wholly followed the Lord”, curiously co-relate with the meaning of his name – Dog. The most popular English Dictionary definition of the word ‘Dog’ is generally: “a meat-eating mammal of the wolf family”. What is profound and awesome however is the primary figurative definition of the word which means; “to follow closely and persistently”. (Pocket Oxford English Dictionary), even the word Dogma is related to this word. In every-day language,  this simply “blew us away”. This is an awesome confirmation by even the secular world that the life of this man had a deeper purpose than is evident at a casual glance. It is most exciting to ardent students of theology as well as the average reader of the  Bible. All the passages that emphasize the phrase wholly and fully followed the Lord in reference to Caleb leave no doubt that there was obvious design in the use of this term by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the true Author of Scripture. 2 Pet. 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

And now though we are some distance from my topic and graphics some understanding of the purpose for my use of the acrostic DOG as meaning Divine Obligation to God should be evident to our valued readers. The life of Caleb has been deeply linked with an animal we might not consider as a symbol of respect or sophistication. But the ways of God are far superior to human wisdom or reasoning. The term ‘Dog’ when applied to humans is usually to demean them or “put them down”. It is also ironic, because of all animals, no other has a closer relationship with man, neither do any bear a title higher than the dog as “man’s best friend”. It is also sad, that many persons are convinced that dogs are more trustworthy than us humans. Today dogs are playing increasing roles of usefulness to man because of their keen sense of intelligence and even a sixth-sense that goes beyond scientific explanation.  No other animal exceeds the dog in the ability to track or follow other animals or persons. They are so created by God.

This is one of the primary traits God wished to highlight in the life of Caleb – Caleb followed the Lord with a dog-like vigilance and commitment which God expects us to recognize and pattern. So we are using the letters in the word DOG as well as its significance as the meaning of Caleb’s name. We also believe readers will more easily remember this study because of the acrostic DOG; in our topic: Recognizing Our (DOG) – Divine Obligation to God. 

I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead in this study because we are living in an age of burgeoning relativism. More and more so-called enlightened persons are saying there is nothing essentially wrong or right or that there is really no objective morality. They say it is really about how we see things and how we feel about things. A growing number especially of our youths are even embracing Atheism. This is affecting every area of our lives. God’s Word – the  Bible which was considered the absolute rule of life and conduct is now considered by many as a matter entirely of our opinion or personal choice. No dear friends this should not be. The first three commandments Ex. 20: 1-7   call man unconditionally to recognize God as the one and supreme authority and for man to Worship and serve him above all others. Ex. 1:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Eccl. 12:13-14  Says: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. If there is ever a verse in the Bible that sounds like Our (DOG) – Divine obligation to God. This is it  …for this is the whole duty of man.

God permits us free will but this does not change the fact that He alone still has absolute authority over our lives.  We can use our free will to break the Laws of the land but the Police will still arrest us and exact the penalties of the Law. The average human being is never perceived as a docile creature ready to dogmatically follow orders, even the infant soon expresses a desire for its own way. The purely intellectually- developed mind without spiritual insight (1 Cor. 2:14) considers such a condition inferior or even fanatical. It is especially noteworthy that Caleb is commended by God for exactly this unusual human trait. This is what is referred to in Num. 14:24  But my servant Caleb because he has another spirit with him,… This is not referring to the Holy Spirit, neither a special endowment not available to the others. It is referring to an attitude of simple obedience. Those who train dogs understand the importance of obedience training to them. Their masters must teach them to respond to commands absolutely.  Whenever a dog is given a command it does not act according to the situation. It will do exactly what it was commanded to do.

Caleb had responded faithfully to the command of Moses to search the land of Canaan. The other spies have basically also fulfilled this command but they saw things differently they saw a fortress of giants but Caleb along with Joshua saw the land as their inheritance because they believed God who had promised them the land of Canaan just as their forefather Abraham who had received the Promise of this land by faith. Rom. 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. It is clear that the N.T principle of Justification by Faith has its beginnings in the O.T. But certainly so important a principle must have some application to so important a figure as Caleb if he is a true illustration of the N.T Believer who would inherit the Promised land by faith and not  the works of the Law. The glowing declaration of God to Caleb and his seed only on the basis of his faith to possess the land is now clearer to us Numb. 14:24; as Justification (and even possession) by faith  him will I bring into the land where into he went and his seed shall possess it. 

In verse 30 we see Joshua again mentioned as an inheritor of the land but again we see that he is not mentioned without  Caleb.  Doubtless you shall not come into the land concerning which I swore to make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephun’neh, and Joshua the son of Nun. This is a good place to address the seeming overemphasis on Caleb as an Inheritor of the land in comparison to Joshua. It is important to remember that we already established that Joshua has a direct typical relationship to the land that is completely different from that of Caleb. He is a type (example) of the “Captain” of our “Salvation” the Lord Jesus Christ: Heb. 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things , and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to  make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Joshua is then as his name meaning: “The Lord is Salvation”, not set forth by God as a common Inheritor but rather in an higher place as the one who divides and allots the land as the inheritance of the people: Joshua 18:10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord; and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.  Note also  Caleb’s request of Joshua when he was eighty and five (85) years old and purposed to take additional territories from the Caananites.  He made a request of Joshua 14: 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, of which the Lord spoke…. v.14 and Joshua blessed him and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephun’neh, Hebron for an inheritance.

Caleb’s place as a type or Divine Illustration of the N.T believer should be clearer to us, as well as the practical lessons his life holds for us today. Caleb had a strong sense of his Divine Obligation to God (DOG). His dog-instincts to follow the commands of God regardless of the obstacles. The N.T  Believer is privileged to have far easier access to God than in the times of the O.T ., which required human mediators, expensive sacrifices, and rigorous ceremonial rituals. Today the pouring out of the Holy Spirit who is presently our Intercessor is a priceless gift of God: …but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom. 8:28.  We only need to be sensitive to the still small voice of the Spirit of God. It is interesting that another outstanding ability of dogs is that they can hear sounds at frequency the human ear cannot. Many times from the Old to the New Testament era, God has lamented the inability of his people to hear His voice. This is not referring to their physical hearing, but a spiritual-deafness. Deliberate disobedience or disregard of the Word of God will lead to decreased ability and finally total deafness of our spiritual-inner ear.

It is of the utmost importance that we seek to hear the voice of our master this is a constant endeavor of every faithful dog to its Master. Caleb is a perfect example of the N.T believer and collectively the Church who is commanded to hear and obey the voice of God. If we must enter God’s Promised Land of Rest in the present. We must endeavor to  hear the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. Heb. 3:7- Wherefore as the Holy Spirit saith, Today if you will hear his voice, v.8 Harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the wilderness, v.9  When your fathers put me to the test, prove me and saw my works forty years. v. 10  wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said they do always err in their heart, and the have not known my ways. v. 11 So I swore in my wrath they shall not enter into my rest. What a way to end the first part of this study friends. Here is a warning not to fall after the same example of those who failed to enter the temporal Promised Land, the unfaithful spies, and the rebellious people who refused to follow the example of faithful Caleb who is still an example to us today to follow the Lord Jesus Christ as a faithful dog its master, without questions, and most of all as our Divine Obligation to God – D.O.G

Be sure to see part 2 of this study: Deeper Things in the Life of Caleb – Understanding Our TNT Mission.

May God bless you as you help us share this study.