Taking the Mountain

"Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said." (Josh 14:12-KJV)

The above verse takes place during the time period that Joshua was leading the Israelites into the possession of their Promised Land. Caleb at this time was an old man, but knew what God had told him.

I would like to break this verse down some and look at some important elements found within it. The first thing that Caleb states is "...give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day." I would like for you to consider the term "that day." When was "that day?" The answer to that question would be back at least 40 years earlier when God was telling them of their promised land.

When I read this I find an interesting truth contained within the Bible. That truth is, God's Word never expires! Even though it had been at least 40 years since God said this Caleb knew that this Word was just as true today as it was when God said. Therefore, he put a demand on that Word.

This is great for you and me because we can do the same thing. When we put a demand on the Word of God we should have the same confidence of Caleb that God's Word has not changed.

It is interesting to think about Caleb during this time because Jesus had not come, had not died on the cross, and had not raised from the dead. Yet Caleb was able to take God at His Word and be willing to go into battle based solely on this Word that was 40 years old. I wonder why it is so difficult for the modern Christian to trust the Lord so completely? I know that there have been times that I have not demonstrated this much faith in the Word of God.

The next thing that I would like to look at is Caleb's words, "...the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out." What I would like to point out in this statement is the dual statement contained within it. Caleb said that "he" would be able to drive out the enemy because the Lord would be with him.

This is where many people error when they are purposing to live by faith. "We" gain victory (or drive out our enemy) based on God's Word. What many do is pray and expect God to do everything. I wonder what would have happened if Caleb just sat at the foot of the hill and prayed, fasted, and thanked God for the mountain? At some point a person has to go to battle.

The reality is that Caleb could have never taken that mountain without God. But at the same time God would have never taken the mountain without Caleb. It took Caleb and God cooperating together in order to gain victory. God stood ready to bring the deliverance, but Caleb had to put that Word into operation.

Caleb had to believe that what he was doing (acting on the Word of God) would release God's power to work on his behalf. The same thing is true for us today.

God has given us promises and those promises have not expired. However, it takes a person who will trust in that Word, act on that Word, and not take their eyes off of that Word. When we do the same thing that Caleb did we can experience the same results as Caleb experienced. We can drive out the enemy that is keeping us from experiencing the blessing of our mountain.

Your mountain is waiting your you to come and possess it. Make this the year that you receive what has been promised to you. God wants you to act on His Word.