Caleb

About Caleb

Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore Canaan and one of only two from the Exodus generation to enter the Promised Land. From the tribe of Judah, Caleb joined the reconnaissance mission to scout the land God had promised Israel. When the spies returned after 40 days, ten gave a fearful report, warning that the inhabitants were too powerful to defeat. But Caleb and Joshua urged Israel to trust God and enter the land, saying "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it" (Numbers 13:30). For his faith and courage, God promised Caleb would enter Canaan while the fearful generation would die in the wilderness during 40 years of wandering. At age 85, after the wilderness years, Caleb entered the Promised Land and requested the challenging hill country of Hebron (home of the fearsome Anakim giants) as his inheritance, saying "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out" (Joshua 14:11). He successfully conquered it. Caleb represents faithful courage, wholehearted devotion to God despite obstacles, and vigor in serving God even in old age. Venerated in some Christian traditions as a righteous Old Testament figure.