Heeding the call …without excuse.
This morning, as I went through my exercise routine not feeling my best, I caught myself grumbling and thinking ‘I’m too old for this’. At that thought, I realized how often that excuse is used. I’m too old to go back to school. I’m too old to understand all this technology. I’m too old to start a new career. I’m too old to conquer this fear. I’m too old to climb this mountain or face this giant that is suddenly standing in my way.
Yet, in reading God’s Word, it seems clear that there is no age limit to God’s calling. If anything, it is quite the opposite. Moses was eighty when God had him lead the Israelites out of Egypt. (See Exodus 7). Noah was over 500 years old when God told him to build the ark (See Genesis 5). But for this particular study, I want to take a look at a man named Caleb. He was one of the twelve spies that Moses sent into the land of Canaan. As we know, only two of the spies came back with optimism and faith that God would be with them in taking the land. Those two men were Joshua and Caleb. In Exodus 13:21, Caleb exclaims his faith as he declares, “… Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (KJV). But the other ten doubted and were certain that the Israelites stood no chance against those giants they had seen in the land. So, because of their lack of faith, the Israelites got to wander in the wilderness for forty years. However, God did not forget the faith of Joshua and Caleb. After all those years, Joshua and Caleb entered into the promised land. And as the land is being divided amongst the tribes, Caleb makes a request. In Joshua 14:12, Caleb says, “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said” (KJV). One important thing to note here is that a few verses earlier, in Joshua 14:10, we are informed by Caleb’s words, “…and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old” (KJV). So, instead of asking for a chair beside the water where he can sit and sip on a glass of milk and honey, we have an 85-year-old man who is not only still ready and willing to go and face the giants God has called him to go up against, he is asking to do it.
May we remember that each day we wake up, God has a purpose for us to fulfill. May we pray for His all-knowing guidance and wisdom that we may discern His will from our will. And whatever path in which God is leading us, may we follow in faithful steps without excuse.
