Dig Deeper - Sunday 1st February
Sermon Reflection Questions - Strong and Courageous - a Journey through the book of Joshua: Remain Steadfast.
Joshua 14
Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 1st February service:
Who do you look up to?
That’s a simple question, but an important one. The people we admire quietly shape the kind of
people we become. For some, it’s public figures — sports stars, activists, or influencers. For
many of us, though, the deepest influence comes from much closer to home: a parent who kept
praying, a grandparent who trusted God through loss, or an older Christian whose steady faith
never made headlines but made a difference.
The Bible gives us role models too — not perfect people, but real ones. And in Joshua 14, we’re
invited to slow down and look closely at one man: Caleb.
By this point in the book of Joshua, most of the fighting is over. The land God promised is being
divided among the tribes. These chapters can feel dry and technical, full of names and
boundaries. But right in the middle of it all, the writer pauses and zooms in on Caleb —
deliberately holding him up as an example of faith.
Caleb’s life shows us what it looks like to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, not just for a season,
but for a lifetime.
1. A faith rooted in God’s promises
Caleb’s faith didn’t appear out of nowhere. To understand Joshua 14, we need to go back 45
years to Numbers 13–14. Twelve spies were sent to explore the land God had promised. Ten
returned, overwhelmed by fear. Yes, the land was good — but the people were strong, the cities
fortified, and the risks too great.
Caleb saw the same dangers, but he trusted God’s word. While others focused on obstacles,
Caleb held on to God’s promises. He believed that if God had spoken, God would act.
Now, at 85 years old, Caleb stands before Joshua and doesn’t boast about his strength or
achievements. He points back to what the Lord said. That’s rooted faith — faith anchored not in
circumstances, feelings, or age, but in the promises of God.
Faith like that doesn’t grow by accident. It grows when we keep returning to God’s word, letting
it shape how we think, pray, and live. When Scripture roots us, our faith can last a lifetime.
2. A courageous faith that stands firm
Caleb reminds Joshua that when fear spread through Israel, he stood by his convictions. He
followed the Lord wholeheartedly — even when it meant standing almost alone.
That kind of courage always comes at a cost. The crowd was loud. Fear was contagious. And
yet Caleb trusted God more than he feared people.
Courageous faith doesn’t mean being aggressive or argumentative. It means quietly, faithfully
standing firm when God’s word is clear — in our workplaces, families, friendships, and choices.
It asks us a searching question: whose voice carries more weight in my life — God’s, or the
crowd’s?
3. A wholehearted faith that doesn’t hold back
Three times in Joshua 14, Caleb is described as following the Lord wholeheartedly. That word
matters.
Wholehearted faith means being all in. It’s not hedging our bets or giving God what’s left over.
It’s offering Him our time, our plans, our security, and our future.
Wholehearted faith is costly because comfort is always tempting. But Caleb reminds us that
God’s inheritance is far better than the safety nets we cling to. To trust God with our whole heart
is to say, “Lord, here I am — all of me.”
4. A persevering faith that keeps going
At 85, Caleb asks for the hill country — the very place still occupied by the giants who terrified
the other spies decades earlier. He doesn’t avoid the challenge. He steps forward in trust.
That kind of perseverance isn’t built overnight. Caleb’s faith at 85 was formed by decades of
walking with God. It’s a powerful reminder that we never retire from trusting God, and we never
stop needing His strength.
Faithful older believers are a gift to the church. And younger believers are invited to build habits
now that will sustain faith for years to come.
Looking to Jesus
Ultimately, Caleb points us beyond himself. He points us to Jesus — the One who trusted the
Father perfectly, obeyed wholeheartedly, and persevered all the way to the cross for us.
Through Him, we receive forgiveness, new life, and the Spirit who enables this kind of faith.
Following the Lord wholeheartedly is not about trying harder. It’s about trusting deeper.
Questions for reflection:
1. Who has shaped your faith most over the years, and what is it about their walk with God
that has influenced you?
2. In Joshua 14:6–12, what does Caleb repeatedly point back to when he speaks to
Joshua, and what does this reveal about the foundation of his faith?
3. Caleb is described three times as following the Lord “wholeheartedly” (Joshua 14:8, 9,
14). What do you think that meant in Caleb’s life, and what might it look like in ours?
4. In verse 12, Caleb asks for the hill country still occupied by the Anakites. What does this
request tell us about his view of God, his age, and the challenges ahead?
5. Where do you sense God calling you to show courage or perseverance in this season of
life?
6. How does Caleb’s story ultimately point us to Jesus, and how does trusting in Christ
enable us to live with this kind of faith today?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the example of Caleb and for Your faithfulness across generations. We confess
that our faith is often fragile and our trust incomplete. Root us more deeply in Your word. Give
us courage to stand firm, hearts that are wholly Yours, and strength to persevere when the
journey feels long. Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus and rely not on ourselves, but on You alone.
In His name we pray. Amen.
