“Give Me This Mountain ”
Steve W. Reeves
stevereevesoutlines.blogspot.com
A. In previous years the youth from West Side have gone on a wilderness experience in
Colorado. Their task during the week is to climb a mountain like Mount Elbert with an
elevation of 14,439 feet.
1. How many of you have ever climbed a mountain?
2. The reality is that all of us face mountains in life that must be climbed.
a. A mountain of debt. A mountain of difficulty. A mountain of discouragement. A
mountain of frustration, futility, fear or failure?
b. Your mountain may come in the form of a physical illness or disability. It may be
an emotional difficulty or a spiritual dilemma. Whatever it is, the trek can be
daunting, discouraging and dangerous.
B. In Romans 15:4 the Bible says, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written
for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the
Scriptures we might have hope.”
1. Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 10:6 Paul made a reference to the ancient Israelites and
said, “These things were written as an example for us.”
2. There is value for us in studying Old Testament history.
C. In Joshua 13-14 there are two men who faced daunting challenges in their lives.
Their names are familiar. They were men of great faith, great accomplishment and
great fame. Their names were Joshua and Caleb.
1. The book of Joshua is can be divided into three sections. Chapters 1-12 deal
with the conquest of Canaan.
2. Chapters 13-19 are concerned with the distribution of the land among the tribes
of Israel.
3. Chapters 20-24 are concerned with Joshua’s final challenge to the people.
D. The lives of two men (Joshua and Caleb) described in chapters 13 and 14 contain
words of encouragement for anyone who is facing a mountain in life.
I JOSHUA (13:1)
A. In Joshua 12 there is a list of Israel’s victories. Verse 24 says that a total of 31
kings were defeated.
1. God had blessed Israel as He had promised. He had given them great victories
over large cities and small towns. He had led them through mountains and
valleys. He had demonstrated His faithfulness and power.
2. As Joshua reflected on his life there was a great sense of accomplishment at all
that God had done. Do not make the mistake, however, of thinking that God was
finished with Joshua. Joshua 13:11 states, “Now Joshua was old and advanced
in years when the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and
very much of the land remains to be possessed.’”
3. God was telling Joshua, “I’m not finished with you.”
4. We need to be careful that we do not insert periods where God has put
commas. We may think God is finished with us because of our age. We may
think He is finished with us because a chapter in life has concluded. We may
even think that God is finished with us when we have failed or fallen short of a
goal. God was not finished with Joshua and He is not finished with you.
B. As we examine this text God had a two-fold strategy in mind for Joshua.
1. Review
a. The list of conquered kings in chapter 12 was a reminder of all that God had
done for Israel. He had been true to His promise.
b. In the song, “All The Way My Savior Leads Me,” there is the phrase, “This my
song through endless ages, Jesus led me all the way.” All of us can look back
on victories and blessings God has given us in life.
2. Renew
a. Perhaps Joshua was thinking, “I have done my part. I’ve had great victories. I
have seen remarkable things. I am old and tired. I think I will step aside.”
b. It was not time for Joshua to resign. Instead, God said, “I want you to ‘re-
sign.’”
c. Don’t rest on past accomplishments. Do you realize that the outcome of
World War II was largely determined by a man in his late sixties who many
people considered to be too old, too senile, to stubborn and well past his
prime. His name was Winston Churchill. As a lone voice he refused to
capitulate to Nazi Germany.
d. You may be thinking “I am too old.” “I have done my part.” “I am too tired.” “I
and too busy.” You do not need to resign. You need to “re-sign” and renew
your commitment to the Lord.
A. What about Caleb? Look at Joshua 14:6-12, “Then the sons of Judah drew near to
Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You
know the word which the Lord spoke to Moses the man of God concerning you and
me in Kadesh-Barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of
the Lord sent me from Kadesh-Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back
to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me
made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the Lord my God
fully. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has
trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you
have followed the Lord my God fully.’ 10 Now behold, the Lord has let me live, just
as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to
Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five
years old today. 11 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. 12 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.”
B. There are three characteristics of Caleb that we should possess.
1. Commitment.
a. Forty-five years earlier Caleb and Joshua had been among the twelve spies
Moses had sent into the land of Canaan from Kadesh-Barnea. Whereas ten of
the spies brought back a negative report notice Caleb’s response in Numbers
13:30, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will
surely overcome it.”
b. You might call this man “Can-do-Caleb!” When ten of the spies could only
see difficulty, he could see opportunity. In Numbers14:7-8 Joshua and Caleb
told the people, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an
exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us
into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey.”
c. Where did such an attitude come from? In verses 8 and 9 the statement is
made that Caleb “followed the Lord fully.” He was totally committed, totally
dedicated, totally consumed in doing God’s will.
d. I am heartbroken and ashamed when I see the flimsy faith of so many people
in our world who profess to be disciples of Christ. We have developed a
religion of personal conscience, personal taste. If there is something else
we’d rather do than serve Christ we put Him on the “back burner” and do what
we want to do. If the preacher or teacher says something that makes us
uncomfortable we pack our bags and go to the church down the street or
across town. We wonder why we are now living in a post-Christian era. It’s
because the church has compromised faith and conviction for personal
preferences and pleasure.
2. Courage
a. Eighty-five-year-old Caleb asked Joshua to give him the portion of land that
had been promised by Moses. This wasn’t any land. It was the hill country in
which the sons of Anak dwelt. These were the giants (known as longneckers).
They were individuals of large stature.
b. Caleb said, “Let me at em’…” His courage came from his faith. With God the
power behind you is always greater than the challenge in front of you.
3. Conquest
a. This wasn’t just any land. This was Hebron. It was among the most fruitful
and productive land in Canaan. It was where Abraham and Sarah had been
buried. Caleb was not content to accept leftovers.
b. A man wanted to take a cruise. He scrimped and saved until he had the
money for the ticket. To cut expenses he decided to take peanut butter and
crackers to eat in his cabin. While other guests were dining on steak and
lobster he was in his room with peanut butter and crackers. When one of the
crew asked him why he wasn’t coming to the meals, the man explained his
strategy. The crew member quickly informed him, “Sir, the meals are included
in your fare.”
c. God’s people do not have to settle for mediocrity. Paul said, “But in all these
things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am
convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any
other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-38).
A. As I spoke to John White about the Trek experiences, he told me how each team
member helps the others. When someone falls behind, the others hold up and wait.
When someone is tired, the others carry their pack.
B. Although I do not know the mountain looming ahead of you I do know that you do not
have to climb it alone. With the faith of Joshua and Caleb and the help of others, you
can reach the peak. God longs to help you and will do so if you will come to Him in
faith and obedience.
