Two Old Friends
The older I get, the more I value friendships – especially the deeper ones. I am blessed with friends all over the place – including some around the world. I know that one day I will see some of them upon arrival at my heavenly home. I can only imagine what the reunion will be like. I have some dear friends from college that I met over 40 years ago. It’s crazy to think about how life has changed and how we’ve all aged. It blesses my soul to know that they know the Lord.
Caleb and Joshua were the only two men of their age bracket to see the promised land twice. They were part of the delegation of 12 spies who were sent by Moses 45 years prior to scope out the land. These two connect as it’s time for Caleb to receive his land. Check this out….
6 A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said to Joshua, “Remember what the Lord said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, 8 but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God. 9 So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’ (Joshua 14:6-9 NLT)
I love Caleb’s heart. He never forgot Moses compliment “because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God”. He is obviously still living wholeheartedly for God. I would have loved to hear more of their reminiscing as old friends. Joshua was now leader of all of Israel after serving as Moses protégé for probably 40 years or more.
I want to follow the Lord wholeheartedly for the remainder of my life. I want to connect with old friends who are doing the same. My old friends hold me accountable to how I live. My old friends remember the commitments I’ve made, because they’ve made them too. My old friends that I met while seeking the Lord wholeheartedly are still seeking Him too. Caleb wasn’t the only one who remembered the promise that Moses made to him – Joshua remembered too and he was now in position to do something about it.
When I look back over the years of faithfully seeking the Lord, I’m thankful for His patience with me and His Presence inside me. He has helped me be faithful to Himself. His Presence settles my heart and strengthens my resolve against sin. I want to be known for following the Lord wholeheartedly!
Pressing On!
Dwayne