One of the most extraordinary figures in the Bible is Caleb. Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent to report on the land of Canaan. When he and Joshua refused to side with the bad report of the other ten, he became one of the greatest examples of trusting in the Lord.
When Israel arrived at the river Jordan, they were fully equipped to trust in the mighty power of God. They saw how the Lord parted the Red Sea and swallowed up Pharaoh’s army (Ex. 14:28-29), they saw the Lord deliver them from the Amalekites in Rephidim as Moses raised his hands (Ex. 17:8-13), and they heard the voice of the Lord as Moses brought to them the Ten Commandments (Ex. 19:9-25).
But, when the spies returned from the Land of Canaan, they feared the inhabitants over the power of God. In Numbers 13:28, the fearful spies reported to Moses, “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.” These ten spies still had not learned to trust in the Lord. Arrogantly, they tried to use their majority to dominate the report and sway Moses to retreat from Canaan.
Caleb, however, refused to let their numbers intimidate him. In verse 30, the Bible says, “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.’” Caleb defied the majority and stood up for the Lord who guided them out of Egypt.
Caleb would go on to defend the Lord with Joshua against the congregation of Israel, but they did not listen. Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and none of their generation entered the promised land except Caleb and Joshua. The majority succeeded swaying the crowd, but Caleb succeeded at remaining in God’s favor.
Caleb stands as an example for us to never let the majority be the arbiter of righteousness. It does not matter how many voices are behind something if it defies the will of God. Faithful children of God must be willing to stand up and quiet those who speak against the commands of the Lord.
Many today say that if the church doesn’t modernize her doctrines, she won’t survive the changing culture. They are cowards. We must be like Caleb and defiantly trust in the Lord. We know the power of God and that He has promised that the church will endure any trial (cf. Matt. 16:18). Then, we know what we must do. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13).
