“Give Me This Mountain”

Before the distribution of the land had been entered upon, Caleb, accompanied by the heads of his tribe, came forward with a special claim. Except Joshua, Caleb was now the oldest man in Israel. Caleb and Joshua were the only ones among the spies who had brought a good report of the Land of Promise, encouraging the people to go up and possess it in the name of the Lord. Caleb now reminded Joshua of the promise then made, as the reward of his faithfulness: “The land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s forever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord.” He therefore presented a request that Hebron be given him for a possession…. His claim was immediately granted. To none could the conquest of this giant stronghold be more safely entrusted….

Caleb’s faith now was just what it was when his testimony had contradicted the evil report of the spies. He had believed God’s promise that He would put His people in possession of Canaan, and in this he had followed the Lord fully. He had endured with his people the long wandering in the wilderness, thus sharing the disappointments and burdens of the guilty; yet he made no complaint of this, but exalted the mercy of God that had preserved him in the wilderness when his brethren were cut off…. The brave old warrior was desirous of giving to the people an example that would honor God, and encourage the tribes fully to subdue the land which their fathers had deemed unconquerable. Caleb obtained the inheritance upon which his heart had been set for forty years, and, trusting in God to be with him, he “drove thence the three sons of Anak.” …

The cowards and rebels had perished in the wilderness, but the righteous spies ate of the grapes of Eshcol. To each was given according to his faith. The unbelieving had seen their fears fulfilled. Notwithstanding God’s promise, they had declared that it was impossible to inherit Canaan, and they did not possess it. But those who trusted in God, looking not so much to the difficulties to be encountered as to the strength of their Almighty Helper, entered the goodly land.41Ibid., 513-514.
Conflict and Courage p. 123
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—- I need prayer for a hedge of protection to be put around me and my whole family. I have an ex daughter in law who has serious mental problems and or demon possession and she has put a hit out on my family and I where we live. . Her uncle is high up in the Hells Angels group in Arizona. I have the Hells Angels group checking out my Facebook page now and also on my son’s. Connie
—-Please continue to pray for Hannah and her family during their time of loss. Rose
—-E and family need special prayer. R
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

When my grandmother, Ida, was in her twenties, she worked as a secretary for Dr. Upjohn. She looked forward to working each day. Indeed, her work did not seem like work, but it was a pleasure, because he was such a kind man. Dr. Upjohn treated his workers with respect and was always concerned for their welfare. Those who worked for him, felt that he was their friend, their benefactor. And he was. Their wages were higher, their benefits better, their future brighter than any other employees of any other company throughout the nation. Other companies were having labor problems, but the workers at the his company, were happy and content. Dr. Upjohn put into practice our Dear Saviour’s admonition: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matt 7:12

The disciples had to learn this principle. They were always fighting for first place. “Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mat 20:20-28

A life of service should be our focus as well. Selfishness and self-seeking have no part in God’s Great Kingdom of Love. Yet, how often we gossip and criticize and wound the very ones we should be helping and loving. Paul wrote, “be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Phil 2:2-4; Gal 2:2 Indeed, our Loving Creator’s plan was for His creatures to find their greatest happiness in serving others. He said, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Mark 9:35; Matt 23:11, 12

May we put self aside and truly be “the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, loving Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and following in the footsteps of the One Who “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Eph 6:6; Phil 2:8

Rose