“Now therefore, give me this mountain.” Joshua 14:12
The Caleb character is legendary, almost mythological. Out of our league. We’re more likely to identify with murderous Cain, lying Abraham, deceitful Jacob, unfaithful Samson, promiscuous Mary Magdalene or cowardly Simon Peter than someone like Caleb. But, if you are majoring in self-defeating, self-loathing miseries, if you are burying yourself in your troubles and traumas, you are not doing yourself any favors by continuing to wallow in the mud. When you ingest, digest and regurgitate trouble, you will dig yourself a hole so deep you will never get out.
It is time to identify with someone like Caleb. At this time of this bold proclamation, Moses had been dead for over five years and Caleb had not yet gotten his inheritance. He’d survived forty years of wandering in the wilderness, plus the five-year campaign taking Canaan. Now, he intended to claim his promise, but there was a small catch. The mountain was infested by giants. Israel’s enemies were strongest here. A little late in life, one would think. At age eighty-five, he should have been settling back into his rocking chair, taking off his army boots and putting on his slippers. I’m sure people tried to talk him out of it. “Caleb, you’re crazy. It’s too much. Just let God handle it!”
Yes, there are times we should “let go and let God.” That time is when we have done all we can do, using the strength and good sense God has given us. Just know this: God isn’t into blessing laziness, cowardice, fear and capitulation to the enemy. God won’t bless an evasive, pass-the-buck, non-committal kind of spirit. Life is a struggle, a warfare. When you are faced with the mountain of adversity, don’t back down. “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.” Ephesians 6:13. Caleb said, “The Lord helping me, I will drive them out!” Joshua 14:12. God didn’t call you to claim your mountain alone. If God leads you to face a mountain, He plans to help you conquer it!
When you run from your mountain, it will overwhelm you. “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!’” Zechariah 4:6-7. Caleb did not just want to climb the mountain; he wanted to possess the mountain! Tell the devil today that you are not just going to beat him, you are going to own him! Embrace your mountain. You will find God is there.
Jesus had something to say about the mountain. “Assuredly if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.” Matthew 21:21. Jesus used a Jewish idiom meaning to overcome a difficulty. It’s a great word picture. Too many people let the mountain bully them. “Ha! You don’t have a chance. I will swallow you up!” Caleb said, “Give me the adversity. The mountain may be bigger than me, but it is not bigger than my God!” At the same time, you must be willing to be the tool in the hand of God to do the removal! Don’t be so worried about the process that you forget about the outcome. Don’t let the mountain talk to you; you have to talk to your mountain.
Jesus conquered His mountain, Mount Calvary. “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Luke 12:50 (NIV). Is your mountain talking to you today? Threatening you? Shout your answer back! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”