Friday: Further Thought – ‘Giants of Faith: Joshua and Caleb’
Daily Lesson for Friday 21st of November 2025
Further Thought: “Caleb’s faith now was just what it was when his testimony had contradicted the evil report of the spies.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
He had believed God’s promise that He would put His people in possession of Canaan, and in this he had followed the Lord fully. He had endured with his people the long wandering in the wilderness, thus sharing the disappointments and burdens of the guilty; yet he made no complaint of this, but exalted the mercy of God that had preserved him in the wilderness when his brethren were cut off. Amid all the hardships, perils, and plagues of the desert wanderings, and during the years of warfare since entering Canaan, the Lord had preserved him; and now at upwards of fourscore his vigor was unabated. He did not ask for himself a land already conquered, but the place which above all others the spies had thought it impossible to subdue. By the help of God he would wrest his stronghold from the very giants whose power had staggered the faith of Israel. It was no desire for honor or aggrandizement that prompted Caleb’s request. The brave old warrior was desirous of giving to the people an example that would honor God, and encourage the tribes fully to subdue the land which their fathers had deemed unconquerable.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Pages 512, 513.
“It was Caleb’s faith in God that gave him courage, that kept him from the fear of man, and enabled him to stand boldly and unflinchingly in the defense of the right. Through reliance on the same power, the mighty General of the armies of heaven, every true soldier of the cross may receive strength and courage to overcome the obstacles that seem insurmountable.”—Ellen G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, May 30, 1912.
Discussion Questions
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We like to quote this verse when we are asked for a definition of faith. But, like most “definitions” it sounds really great until we have to put it into practice. Most of us can quote Eistein’s famous formula: E = mc^2 and you may even be able to describe it as the relationship between energy and matter. How many of us can use the formula to do something useful? Simply quoting it is just showing you know how to recite it.
The big takeaway from this week’s lesson is that faith is more than a definition, more than hope for eternal life in the furture; its about how we play out that faith in the matrix of life now. In a world that lives for the present, talk about eternity is waffle. But action based on faith is tangible and believable. I quoted from James earlier this week:
Calab and Joshua were men of faith, but we do not hear them discussing definitions. Their actions served as a megaphone for their faith.
God invites us into something far deeper.
Faith is not abstract.
It is not theory.
It is not a future wish floating somewhere far away.
It is a present-tense way of life.It changes how we act, how we speak, how we respond to fear, temptation, pressure, or uncertainty.
Today, in a world that often lives only for the present moment, people don’t care much about religious definitions or theories. But they notice integrity. They notice hope. They notice courage. They notice love lived out.
They can see faith.
Faith, hope, and love always walk together.
If one is missing, the others cannot work fully.
Faith without hope becomes weak, because hope is the confident trust that God’s promises are sure and “Amen.”
Hope without faith has no foundation, because faith is what convinces us that God will fulfill what He has spoken.
And above all, love is the foundation.
God’s love is pure, faithful, and unchanging. True love does no harm, does not lie, and never abandons us. It is His love that teaches us how to believe, how to hope, and how to live.
In the end, faith believes, hope expects, and love sustains all anchored in the God who never fails.
As I look at the second question at the end of today's lesson, I ask myself the question, why don't we see miracles today, even at church services. Is it because we don't truly believe it. All these spiritual gifts that are promised, gifts of miracles, healing, tongues, etc., but!!! If I go to school and learn to be an excellent physician, or I learn Spanish, French, Hindi, Portuguese, etc., are these spiritual gifts, and faith in action. Faith is trusting God to do things for his glory when it seems humanly impossible. This is what Caleb demonstrated, even when his distractors and critics threatened to stone him for his courage.
Very confusing (to me). Ive never understood this debate between faith & good works. Always seems to be that both are saying the same thing.
- no faith without good works/no good works without faith. They've always looked the same to me.
Its never Faith + works as what the common person of faith knows.
None of us can produce good works without Gods Governance Mind Body and Soul.
Yes we know WHAT IS Right and what is Wrong, but knowing whats right from wrong doesnt give us the power to completely comprehend their natures alone by our limited knowledge and perspective.
Only when we experience Gods Goodness can we produce good works.
Politicians give their constituents good things and show them goodness not because they WANT to do good (not all) but most of the time because its their Job, or worst because for them to maintain a positive influence to the poeple for personal agenda that malicious in nature.
So yeah , Genuine good works only produce when a person knows Gods goodness to them and because of that they reflect Gods Character even without knowing in details how,when and to whom it they done it.
(James 2:14-17, 26)
Watching Ragy, our Belgian Malinois, walk with my daughter to the shop or on longer walks, the sight of obedience, loyalty, and companionship is evident. Any perceived threat to my daughter, and Ragy would immediately growl as a warning, changing position to face the possible threat. Within that loyalty, there is a bond and love that cannot be explained. If Ragy did this for me, I would assume it's more out of fear or a desire to gain something from me, but with my young daughter, there's a clear relationship beyond mere apprenticeship.
The most important aspect is culturing. During training, we culture our dogs to believe in themselves, to control their instincts, and to reward good behavior. The faith we see in Caleb and Joshua is evidently purposed - it is cultured, understood, and rooted in a relationship with God. There's a passion driven not by fear, apprenticeship, or gain, but by a clear sense of purpose, adoration, and comprehensive love for God (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). The faith of Caleb and Joshua is cultured into habit, as we see in Daniel, Ezra, Abraham, and others.
I agree with Maurice that we often struggle to define faith. The verse above shows that this debate is not new.
By coming to know the wonderfulness of the Lord, a desire to worship Him and His character becomes a flame inside. That’s what I am focusing on.
Do we ask God for repentance, or to know Him as the true God? The truth is, both are needed and they work together. When we seek to know who God really is, His character of love, mercy, and faithfulness, our hope becomes secure and our faith becomes steady. A heart that knows God is in the best position to trust Him fully. That’s why the three Hebrew boys stood unshaken in the fire. Their faith was firm because they knew the God they served.
I have been blessed by this week's lesson . God bless you all amd have a blessed sabbath . Always do good and make someone smile in Jesus Name.
I am reluctant, actually adverse to saying ”our” faith when the Holy Spirit engages on our behalf to do that which our renewed heart and mind desires. Because 'faith' is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is not ‘our’ faith that engenders unwavering confidence in God’s Power and Promises; it is God's supernatural Faith at work in us – 1Cor.12:9; Matt.12:20.
I consider that, when the believer reaches out to God’s 'Power of Faith', we call upon His 'Spirit of Faithfulness' to engage on our behalf. I see 'Faith' as one of the aspects of God's nature which perceived and worked out all things before they were created, and our eyes able to 'see' - Heb.11:3; Rom.1:20.
Caleb and Joshuah were among the blessed ones who could see and hear the Holy Spirit inspire them to believe and trust God. We are offered to experience this same ‘Faith in God’ when inviting His Holy Spirit to be our guide and councilor to take residence in our hearts and minds to renew them – 1Cor.12:9; Gal.5:22-23.
Having 'faith in God' manifests in big and small things experienced by/through the Holy Spirits work within us. If not present, we remain tethered to our own strength, strategies and efforts - because every good and perfect GIFT is from above – James 1:17; Psalm 16:2; Rom. 8:28; Matt.7:11; Phil.4:19.
Brigitte--your commentary reminded me of Habakkuk 2:4b: "The righteous will live by His faithfulness!"
Caleb’s choice of Hebron says a lot about the kind of man he was—and about the deep love he had for God. At 85, he deliberately claimed the very territory that had once caused Israel to fear. The giants were still there, yet his confidence in God was undiminished.
Caleb wasn’t looking for the easy inheritance. His heart was so fully devoted to God that he wanted to stand where others had fallen and honor God in the very place where Israel had doubted Him. In doing so, he sent a clear message: God’s promises can be trusted, no matter how intimidating the circumstances.
His life reminds us that when love for God runs deep, faith doesn’t retire. Challenges become opportunities to show what God can do through a heart that is wholly His.
Reflecting on the memory verse. Hebrews 3:7. Now I believe that God wants us to imitate or follow a leader if you prefer, that He has ordained, as long as He is not leading you off a cliff. Your leaders also deserve your respect, including our pasters. And why would God want us to imitate a earthling, rather than God?(because following righteous leaders is following righteousness, if they speak according to the testimony of the Word of God.)(It behooves us to know the testimony of God correctly.) Yes, you can have a earthly guru, spiritual leader, or model after righteousness. Yes, do let God be the ultimate leader in your spiritual walk from here to eternity.
John the memory verse is:
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7, ESV).