Caleb was one of the two faithful spies who returned from a 40-day reconnaissance mission into the promised land. After the miserable and faithless report of the ten spies, the Lord condemned them and would not permit them to enter the promised land. However, God was going to bring Caleb into the land, “because he has a different spirit in him” (Num. 14:24). How did Caleb have “a different spirit”?
It may help to first rehearse what kind of spirit the majority of the spies had, from which Caleb had “a different spirit.” The ten faithless spies “gave…a bad report” about “a land that devours its inhabitants,” in which were “men of great stature” and “giants” (13:32-33). Their evaluation was, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we” (13:31). They “complained against Moses” and the Lord (14:2-3) and made the hearts of the people “melt” (Deut. 1:28). But, Caleb had a different spirit!
Caleb had a different spirit, because he focused on the blessings rather than the obstacles. When Caleb spied out the promised land, he saw the exact same thing that the other ten spies saw—fortified cities and giants (13:28, 32-33). BUT, he also saw its fruit and a land flowing with milk and honey (13:27). Rather than focusing on the troubles, he focused on the joys. Do you have a different spirit, like Caleb?
Caleb had a different spirit, because he saw difficulties as something for God to handle. When Caleb saw the obstacles in the land, he did not see them as a problem for him but a problem for God. He was ready to cast all the cares on God and let God take care of them (cf. 1 Pet. 5:7). Do you have a different spirit, like Caleb?
Caleb had a different spirit, because he trusted in the power and promises of God. When the ten said, “We are not able,” Caleb insisted, “We are well able to overcome it” (13:30-31). God said He was giving them the land, so Caleb trusted God to deliver. Do you have a different spirit, like Caleb?
Caleb had a different spirit, because he knew the Lord was with him. Caleb knew their was no reason to fear, for “the Lord is with us” (14:9). A confident heart can say, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Do you have a different spirit, like Caleb?
Caleb had a different spirit, because he heeded the voice of the Lord. The faithless and fearful did not heed the voice of the Lord (14:22), but Caleb had a heart like Paul—“I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 17:25).
Caleb had a different spirit in him and followed the Lord fully. What kind of spirit do you have toward the Lord?