Sunday Morning Bible Study 05/09/2010

Caleb: Man of Faith or Man of Fortune?

Joshua 14
I. Observation
A. Context
1. Who are the people in this passage? What do we know about them?
a. Joshua: _________________________________________________________________
b. Caleb: __________________________________________________________________
2. When does this passage take place? Is there anything significant about when this passage occurs?
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3. Where do the events of this passage take place? What do we know about these places?
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B. Summary of Events
1. General overview of how the land was distributed. (Joshua 14:1-5)
2. Caleb petitions Joshua for his inheritance. (Joshua 14:6-15)
a. The tribe of Judah, led by Caleb, approach Joshua at Gilgal (v. 6)
b. Caleb reminds Joshua of what the Lord had told Moses about his inheritance (v. 6-9)
c. Caleb asks Joshua to honor the Lord’s promise by giving him the hill country (v. 10-12)
d. Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron as his inheritance (v. 13-15)

II. Discussion Questions

1. Did Caleb make this request alone? Who accompanied him?
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2. Why do you think Caleb didn’t make this request alone? What does this reveal about him?
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3. What was the basis of Caleb’s request? (i.e. upon what was his claim founded?)
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4. Why did God promise this land to Caleb?
(see Num 13:30, Num 14:24, Deut 1:35-36, Josh 14:8, 9, 14)
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5. Who were the Anakites (v. 12)? What do we know about them from the original report given
from the spies who investigated the land of Canaan in Numbers 13? (Num 13:22, 33)
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6. Read Numbers 13:26-14:4 and answer the following questions?
a. How did Israel respond to reports of “giants” in the land?
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b. What was Caleb’s response at that time?
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c. What is Caleb’s response to the Anakites living in Hebron now? (Joshua 14:12)
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7. Do you think it was right for Caleb to ask for this land as his possession? Why or why not?
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III. Application
1. Caleb’s request was based on the Lord’s promise to him, not on his own ambition. Do you know
what promises the Lord has made to you through his Word? List some of them here:
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Teacher: Johnny Hughes (living2serve@gmail.com) MYA 2.0 is a ministry of Metropolitan Baptist Church, OKC, OK (http://www.mbcokc.org)