Joshua 14:6–15 – Caleb’s Bold Faith at 85
“So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”
— Joshua 14:12 ESV
🧓 Still Strong After All These Years
Forty-five years had passed since Caleb and Joshua returned from spying out the land of Canaan. Of the twelve spies, only these two believed God’s promise and urged the people to go forward. The rest sowed fear—and it cost Israel forty years of wilderness wandering. Yet here, in Joshua 14, we find Caleb still strong, still faithful, and still ready to fight.
At 85 years old, Caleb doesn’t ask for ease, retirement, or rest. He asks for a mountain filled with giants. Why? Because that’s what God promised him. And Caleb was still claiming promises others had long forgotten.
“Give me this mountain,” is more than a request—it’s a cry of faith. It is the bold declaration of a heart that never let go of God’s Word, no matter how long it took.
📖 Caleb’s Legacy of Faith
1. He Was Fully Committed from the Beginning (vv.6–8)
Caleb reminds Joshua of their shared history. When Moses sent out the spies (see Numbers 13), Caleb brought back a faithful report, “as it was in my heart” (v.7). He spoke not what was popular, but what was true.
“But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God.”
— Joshua 14:8
Six times in the Old Testament, Caleb is described as one who “wholly followed the Lord.” In Hebrew, the word implies wholehearted loyalty. Not half-hearted obedience. Not convenient faith. Caleb gave God everything—and he never stopped.
2. He Held On to the Promise (v.9)
Caleb didn’t forget what Moses said. He had carried that promise in his heart for 45 years.
Faith is not just believing for the moment—it’s holding on until the fulfillment. Most of Israel let go. They wandered. They doubted. They died. But Caleb endured, and his memory of God’s promise never faded.
Too many believers abandon the promise when it takes longer than expected. But as Paul wrote:
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9
Caleb didn’t give up—and neither should you.
3. He Aged Without Weakening (v.10–11)
“I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me,” Caleb says. What a remarkable statement! Physically, mentally, and spiritually, Caleb kept himself ready for battle.
He was old—but not done. Strong—but not boastful. Mature—but not passive.
There is a quiet courage in Caleb’s words. He didn’t just survive the wilderness—he thrived in it.
Why? Because he kept walking with God. Strength is not maintained through rest but through reliance. Caleb had walked with God for decades, and that walk had preserved him. Like Moses, whose strength was “undimmed” at 120 (see Deuteronomy 34:7), Caleb is a model of spiritual endurance.
4. He Desired a Challenge (v.12)
Caleb doesn’t ask for an easy inheritance. He wants the hardest hill—the fortified cities filled with Anakim (giants). These are the very enemies who once terrified Israel (see Numbers 13:33).
But Caleb was never afraid of giants. Because his eyes were on God, not man.
“It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.”
— Joshua 14:12
Faith doesn’t mean arrogance—it means confidence in God’s Word. Caleb wasn’t presuming. He was trusting. Even at 85, he believed God could still use him to bring victory.
5. He Received and Conquered Hebron (vv.13–15)
Joshua blesses him and gives him Hebron. And verse 14 tells us why: “Because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Hebron had once been the dwelling place of giants—it now became the inheritance of the faithful. The mountain Caleb requested became the mountain Caleb possessed.
He didn’t just ask. He acted. And he conquered the stronghold others feared.
The Christian life is not about coasting to the finish line. It’s about climbing the mountain and claiming the promise—even in old age.
🧠 Word Study – “Give Me” (Hebrew: nātān-lî)
This phrase, “Give me this mountain,” uses the Hebrew nātān-lî, meaning “appoint it to me,” “place it in my care.” Caleb is not demanding; he is claiming what God already said was his.
There is a holy boldness in prayer that says, “Lord, You promised this—I am ready for it.”
Faith doesn’t shrink back. It moves forward with humility and conviction.
💡 Life Application – Mountain-Climbing Faith
1. Hold On to What God Has Promised
Even when others forget—even when it takes decades—don’t let go. If God said it, He will do it.
2. Age Is Not an Obstacle to Faith
Whether you’re 25 or 85, God can still use you. If you’re breathing, you’re still in the battle. Don’t let age define your usefulness—let faith do that.
3. Don’t Settle for Less Than God’s Best
Caleb didn’t ask for a valley. He wanted the high ground. Ask boldly. Pray boldly. Live boldly. There are still mountains to take.
4. Face Your Giants with God’s Strength
Whether it’s fear, addiction, doubt, or grief—God is bigger. The giants may be strong, but your God is stronger.
5. Be a Caleb to the Next Generation
Let your kids and grandkids see what faith looks like. Not just in church, but in life—in prayer, in patience, in perseverance.
💬 Questions for Reflection
- What promises of God have you let fade over time?
- What “mountain” is God asking you to claim by faith?
- Are you avoiding challenges God has called you to face?
- How can you finish strong in your current season of life?
🕊️ Final Word
Caleb’s story isn’t just about aging well. It’s about believing well. It’s about faith that finishes strong.
He was given the mountain because he asked—and because he believed. And you can be too. Don’t quit. Don’t settle. Keep trusting. Keep climbing. The promise is still yours. Ask boldly: “Give me this mountain.”
Next: The land is being divided, but boundaries mean more than borders. Post 16: “Cities, Borders, and the Boundary of Blessing” (Joshua 15)
