eyes flashed. “You are not our leader, Caleb. We will each do what is best in our own eyes.”
Igal of Issachar, Gaddi of Manasseh, and Asher’s Sethur agreed.
“You don’t have to say much to plant fear in the minds of men, do you?” Caleb looked around the gathering, jaw clenched.
“We were not sent to be foolhardy. You’re going to get yourself and anyone who travels with you killed!”
Caleb glared at Joshua. He looked up to the heavens. “These are the leaders of Israel?” He rose abruptly, unable to stomach any more, and went out into the night. He wanted to shout out his frustration at their timidity, but instead sat alone, thinking about God. He missed the swirling cloud of protection, the Word of God given through Moses. Even now that he had been chosen by God to stand among these men, Caleb felt like an outsider. Had he nothing in common with them? God’s chosen! Cowards, every one.
He didn’t understand Joshua’s reticence. The young man had fought valiantly against the Amalekites. He was no coward. So why did he sit in silence, watching and listening, not an idea in his head?
Am I wrong, Lord? Should we creep along, peering over rocks and from behind trees? Should we tiptoe through the land? Should I go back to the fire and give in to their plans? I can’t do that. I can’t!
If I sit with them and take their counsel, I will give in to fear. I will cower before the Canaanites as I did the Egyptians. Who then will be master of my life but fear itself? Lord, You alone are to be feared. You are the One who holds our lives in Your hands.
Joshua joined him. “We leave at first light.” He looked up, scanning the night sky. “They will go in three groups.”
“Three groups and one alone.”
“You and I will travel together.”
“Did you decide that all by yourself, Joshua?” Caleb gave a cold laugh as he stood and faced him. “Or did the others decide for you? Did you all cast lots around the fire?”
“I needed to hear everyone’s plan and then lay them out before the Lord to seek His guidance.”
Temper snuffed by Joshua’s words, Caleb rubbed the back of his neck. “Forgive me, brother.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “No wonder God chose you to stand at Moses’ side.”
“I have much to learn, Caleb, but the Lord has said, ‘Do not be afraid.’”
Caleb turned the younger man back toward the light. “Then we will not be afraid! We will cast out our fear of men, and fear only the Lord who holds our lives in His mighty hand.”
The rugged mountains and wadis of the Negev made travel difficult. Two of the groups decided they would head for the foothills to the west, traveling in the forests below the ridge country. Caleb was relieved they were finally willing to venture out.
Caleb and Joshua moved farther north until they encountered towns of stone built on hilltops. They spent the night outside the walls of Kiriathsepher, paid tariffs so they could trade, and set out wares at the marketplace the next day.
Caleb fought his fears as he watched the Hittite men. They stood a head taller than he and were heavier muscled. Armed and richly dressed from the cone helmets and thick braided hair and trimmed beards to their finely woven, colorfully patterned garments and leather-covered feet, they walked with an air of power and confidence. The women, too, were comely and bold.
“You do not speak as we do.” A woman looked him over. “Where are you from?”
He noticed her interest in a gold and lapis bracelet, and picked it up. “Egypt. A ruined country.” He held the bracelet out and named his price—grain, olive oil.
Others milled around the jewelry, bargaining. “Will apricots do? Or almonds?” Caleb agreed to a measure of both.
The first woman returned quickly with the necessary staples. Her eyes glowed as she slipped the bracelet on. “I got the better bargain.” She laughed. “Grain we have in plenty, and olive oil, but nothing so grand as this.” She
Igal of Issachar, Gaddi of Manasseh, and Asher’s Sethur agreed.
“You don’t have to say much to plant fear in the minds of men, do you?” Caleb looked around the gathering, jaw clenched.
“We were not sent to be foolhardy. You’re going to get yourself and anyone who travels with you killed!”
Caleb glared at Joshua. He looked up to the heavens. “These are the leaders of Israel?” He rose abruptly, unable to stomach any more, and went out into the night. He wanted to shout out his frustration at their timidity, but instead sat alone, thinking about God. He missed the swirling cloud of protection, the Word of God given through Moses. Even now that he had been chosen by God to stand among these men, Caleb felt like an outsider. Had he nothing in common with them? God’s chosen! Cowards, every one.
He didn’t understand Joshua’s reticence. The young man had fought valiantly against the Amalekites. He was no coward. So why did he sit in silence, watching and listening, not an idea in his head?
Am I wrong, Lord? Should we creep along, peering over rocks and from behind trees? Should we tiptoe through the land? Should I go back to the fire and give in to their plans? I can’t do that. I can’t!
If I sit with them and take their counsel, I will give in to fear. I will cower before the Canaanites as I did the Egyptians. Who then will be master of my life but fear itself? Lord, You alone are to be feared. You are the One who holds our lives in Your hands.
Joshua joined him. “We leave at first light.” He looked up, scanning the night sky. “They will go in three groups.”
“Three groups and one alone.”
“You and I will travel together.”
“Did you decide that all by yourself, Joshua?” Caleb gave a cold laugh as he stood and faced him. “Or did the others decide for you? Did you all cast lots around the fire?”
“I needed to hear everyone’s plan and then lay them out before the Lord to seek His guidance.”
Temper snuffed by Joshua’s words, Caleb rubbed the back of his neck. “Forgive me, brother.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “No wonder God chose you to stand at Moses’ side.”
“I have much to learn, Caleb, but the Lord has said, ‘Do not be afraid.’”
Caleb turned the younger man back toward the light. “Then we will not be afraid! We will cast out our fear of men, and fear only the Lord who holds our lives in His mighty hand.”
The rugged mountains and wadis of the Negev made travel difficult. Two of the groups decided they would head for the foothills to the west, traveling in the forests below the ridge country. Caleb was relieved they were finally willing to venture out.
Caleb and Joshua moved farther north until they encountered towns of stone built on hilltops. They spent the night outside the walls of Kiriathsepher, paid tariffs so they could trade, and set out wares at the marketplace the next day.
Caleb fought his fears as he watched the Hittite men. They stood a head taller than he and were heavier muscled. Armed and richly dressed from the cone helmets and thick braided hair and trimmed beards to their finely woven, colorfully patterned garments and leather-covered feet, they walked with an air of power and confidence. The women, too, were comely and bold.
“You do not speak as we do.” A woman looked him over. “Where are you from?”
He noticed her interest in a gold and lapis bracelet, and picked it up. “Egypt. A ruined country.” He held the bracelet out and named his price—grain, olive oil.
Others milled around the jewelry, bargaining. “Will apricots do? Or almonds?” Caleb agreed to a measure of both.
The first woman returned quickly with the necessary staples. Her eyes glowed as she slipped the bracelet on. “I got the better bargain.” She laughed. “Grain we have in plenty, and olive oil, but nothing so grand as this.” She
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