Joshua 12-15 – March 26

I noticed two stories of Caleb in today’s reading.

First, Caleb seems to be a real man’s man - tough and strong – great warrior - never giving up!

14:11 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.

And he still had to drive out the enemy of the territory that he was given (15:14). Sometimes when the promised land is right there – you can see it - you have the deed in hand – but you still have to fight the enemy and clean it out. Don’t abandon the battle until you have homesteaded the place!

 But then later we see Caleb’s weakness – one he probably doesn’t mind having – his daughter. I am reminded of a very familiar encounter between a teenage daughter and her dad. 15:18 So she alighted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

This strong warrior and man of God seemed softened by the love of a daughter. Or at least that is how I like to see it. But here is the interesting thing (perhaps the most interesting thing in several chapters): the recording of the mapping and allotment of the new promised land to the Israelite tribes are interrupted but for a small glimpse of a very personal and humanistic story of a mighty warrior and his daughter. In the middle of legal descriptions, Township, and Range, we find a very normal and familiar family scene. This just reminds me that God is personal and intimate.

 (side note)

She married her cousin by the way, her father’s nephew. Obviously, this custom was far more acceptable of cousins than it is today. And just so you know, I will not tolerate any jokes about any particular state in the US in the comments. :)