Joshua 14:8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
How Long and How Far
In Joshua 14 we read of Caleb who was well up in years, but was wholly following the Lord his God. He speaks to Joshua of his own life and says, “Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.”
Caleb followed God when it was not popular and when it was not clear to others that God would provide as God said that He would. As a young man, he went “all out.” He trusted God, and was rewarded with the promise of an inheritance in Canaan.
What is even more compelling is the end of his life. Caleb was still pressing ahead to the future even as a man well up into his eighties. The Bible concludes this story in verse 14 which says, “Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb… because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.”
Fully following God is just as much a matter of how long as it is how far. So many times we are impressed by people who follow God to the furthest extent, but they only do it for maybe a couple of years, then burn out for some reason. Caleb wholly followed the Lord not just in the extent of his passion, but in the extent of his life.
Wholly following God means we follow Him regardless of enemies. When Caleb was a young man there were many enemies, but Caleb believed that God would be true to His Word. He responded in obedience.
Wholly following God means following regardless of allies. Caleb had essentially none. When the twelve spies were sent into the land of Canaan to spy out the land, Caleb and Joshua were the only ones whose report reflected the promise of God.
Following God fully also means following God regardless of years. Caleb followed God when he was young and old, to the end of his years.
Are you following God today? I hope so. Remember that following God is a matter of faith, and it is just as much a matter of how long as it is how far.