Jump Start # 462 

Joshua 14:10b-12 “I am eighty-five years old today…I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken.”

  There has been many sermons based upon this statement of Caleb, “Give me this mountain.”  Caleb and Joshua were a pair. They were part of the 12 spies sent to look into the promise land. Ten of the spies came back frightened and with a negative report. Caleb and Joshua trusted the Lord and knew the land would become Israel’s. He followed God all the days of his life. He is know as having a “different spirit.”

  Our passage comes near the end of his life. He is an old man. Instead of taking the easy way, he wanted the hill country for his inheritance. The hill country was fortified with enemies. It meant yet another battle. He wouldn’t have the whole nation with him, but he had the Lord.

  Eighty five year old Caleb, full of energy, life and vision. Best step out of his way, because he’s coming through. A person’s got to love that spirit.

  One thought from this: the easy way is not always the best way. Sometimes, I fear, that too many want to took for whatever is easy. They don’t want the hill country, because that’s a lot of work. We’d be happy for someone to give us the hill country, after all the enemies are driven out, the homes built and all the work is done, but to start from scratch, naw, not for many of us.

• It’s hard going back to school—especially when you’re married, have a job and trying to raise a family. The easy way is to fall asleep on the couch each night watching TV. It’s hard dragging an already tired body to night classes, getting up extra early to read and study. But the hill country will be worth it.

• It’s hard having folks over to your home for a meal. It means you have to clean, cook and cleanup. Too much trouble some think…but the hill country is worth it. The relationships you build, the spiritual ties you form…the encouragement that is shared—well worth it.

• It’s hard teaching a Bible class—kids or adult. It means reading, going over material, thinking of fresh ways to present things, anticipating questions. There is a lot of work to become an effective teacher. Too much trouble for some, they won’t do it. But the hill country is worth it—it’s a great experience sharing God’s message. The teacher always learns so much more.

• It’s hard to get a Bible study or invite someone to services. It can be scary. They may object. But the hill country is worth it—you may be the one person who starts the process. They attend. They return. Bible studies are set up. They name Christ as their Savior. It all came about because you decided to take the hill country.

  Easy is not always the best. Easy can be a polite way of saying “lazy.” Late in life Caleb took on a great challenge. It meant trusting the Lord. How about you? Any real spiritual challenges? Try learning Greek, the language of the N.T.? Are you kidding? No! How about hooking up with someone and going overseas to teach the gospel? I’d have to use a vacation to do that? So, do it. How about getting a car load and driving an hour to a gospel meeting? How about having the teenagers from church over to your house on Friday night? How about getting some folks to go to the nursing home to sing on Sunday afternoon? How about sending the Jump Starts to a family member who is not connected to Jesus? How about telling the elders that you’d like to teach? 

  Easy is not always the best. Give me the hill country. We want to be part of an awesome church, but are willing to climb the mountain to help make it awesome? We want a close and friendly church, but are we willing to go to the hill country to make it close? Often we want others to do all the work and then we sit back and enjoy it. That’s not the spirit of Caleb. It’s not the spirit of a servant, which Jesus wants all of us to have.

  I expect each of us has a hill country in our life. A spiritual challenge we can engage ourselves in. It won’t be easy. It may cost. It involves trusting the Lord…

  Some of us have been hill climbers all of our lives. It’s natural for us to go from one challenge to another. The hill before us is to not quit. We get tired, we get weary. We sometimes thing, ‘it’s time for the younger people to do this.’ Eighty five year old Caleb didn’t think so—give me the hill country!

  Think about your spiritual hill today. Give it some thought. Talk to the Lord about it. What needs to be done so you can climb that hill?

  Give me the hill country…

Roger