Call Me Caleb

I want to be Caleb. You remember him. When the children of Israel approached the promised land, Moses sent twelve spies in to check things out. All saw the same thing, a land filled with promise but with challenges. Ten counseled caution. We can’t do it. Aaron and Caleb said with God’s help, we can do it. For all, God’s redemption of them from Egypt and the destruction of Pharos army, were fresh memories. You would have thought that more than 2 of 12 would still have been pumped about the power of God.

Forty-five years later the generation of the unfaithful were all dead, except for Caleb and Aaron. Caleb was 85 years old and still ready to take on the challenge of invading the promised land. I want to be Caleb.

I haven’t posted a blog in a while. I haven’t known what to say in light of terrorists, cop killers and cop killings. I have read lots of opinions and haven’t completely agreed with any of them. I’m not a police officer nor am I black so I’m haven’t had subjective experience to challenge or confirm all that I’m hearing. I have friends on both sides of every issue. I feel the anger, fear and frustration on all sides. I don’t know the “right” answers but do know the divisions are “giants” in the land.

There are giants of racism and fear. There are giants of distrust and secularism. There are giants of untruth claiming that even if there is a God; all ways to Him are the same. There are too many guns in the hands of bad people and not enough in the hands of good and no way to fix one problem without worsening the other.  The giants are ravaging the Promised Land and scaring off the salt and light that can change things.

I want to be Caleb. I don’t want to be fearful because I’m looking at the giants and the inability of men to slay them. I don’t want to forget that God has redeemed and sustained me all these 67 years. I want to remember that God is powerful enough to destroy evil and to protect His children. Our response is to be his children and thus safe salt and a strong light in the shadow of His wings. We need to be Davids and trusting in slingshots and the Lord in the face of armor clad giants.

I want to be Caleb at 85, even if all the unfaithful are gone, even if I alone remain. I want to still believe I am as strong in the Lord as ever and just as eager to take the promised land from the illicit occupiers. Until then I want to be fearless, patient and secure in the Lord. I want to be Caleb.

Please Lord, just call me Caleb.