Don’t Settle For Less When More Is Available

Sermon: Don’t Settle for Less When More is Available

Scripture: Joshua 15:13-19 “ The Lord commanded Joshua to assign some of Judah’s territory to Caleb son of Jephunneh. So Caleb was given the town of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), which had been named after Anak’s ancestor. Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the sons of Anak. From there he went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher). Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher.” Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife. When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him[a] to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?” She said, “Give me another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.”

Introduction: Desire is possibly the reason behind everything we do. It is the foundation of all our achievements. Without desire few if any accomplishments will be seen in our life. It is one of those indefinable items of life that’s hard to define but easy to recognize. As the culture leans more and more to compromise and complacency, those with strong desire shine like stars in the night.

Caleb was not complacent, neither was he willing to compromise. One visit to the Promised Land changed Caleb forever. One of the most amazing character traits in Caleb’s life is that He never settled for less when more was on the table. With faith in God, faith in God’s promise and an unstoppable boldness, Caleb wanted everything God promised him and refused to settle for less. This same incident from Caleb’s life is mentioned in several Scriptures, which implies that this was an important event. Acsah the daughter of Caleb asked her father to give her some additional land with springs of water since her land grant was in a dry desert region. Let me give you a little background to this incident.

Though Caleb was born in the land of Egypt as a slave, and was brought up in slavery, he had an unshakeable faith in God. At forty years of age when Caleb was sent to spy on the land of Canaan, of the twelve who returned after spying on the land, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who were certain that the land could be conquered. The entire congregation of people rose against Caleb’s advice, but nothing deterred him. As children of God be sure that when we take a stand to speak up for the Lord, there will be a group that will rise against us. The reason is that there are those who have no faith in God and many who would rather settle where they are than fight for more.

God had said to Israel, “Be strong and be brave. Don't be afraid of those people because the LORD your God is with you. He will not fail you or leave you.” Caleb held on firmly to the promises of God, took a stand against the majority, and God was pleased with him. Anyone who is zealous for the Lord, and willing to take a stand for Him can be sure that the Lord’s protection will be their portion. For forty long years the people of Israel wandered through the wilderness. These were difficult times, where the people faced many hardships and trials, but through it all Caleb remained firm in his faith. He knew that the Lord who promised him that he would enter the Promised Land. God is faithful and would certainly fulfill His promise at the right time.

Oftentimes, we get discouraged because of the problems that surround us, but let me assure you that God is above all of our circumstances, and faithful to His word. Everyone who has waited on the Lord has certainly seen God fulfill His promise at His appointed time. Caleb entered the Promised Land just as God had promised. However, Caleb did not seek to procure the land that was easy to conquer but asked Joshua to grant him permission to possess the hill country of Hebron which was the most difficult to acquire because of the giants who inhabited them. Caleb was bold enough to believe that he had the strength to conquer the hill country though he was eighty-five years old. This was the land that Caleb had set eyes on forty-five years before. It was the unbelief of the people, and the circumstances that surrounded him that prevented him from inheriting the land, but Caleb had faith to believe that he would certainly conquer this land with God’s strength. Those who have faith will remain strong through all the tough circumstances of life will prevail. Let me remind you of the words of the Apostle Paul as we read in Philippians 4:13,“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”