Aggressive in spiritual battles

Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.” Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. (Joshua 14:6–14)

The reason God was pleased with Caleb and rewarded his efforts seems obvious; this man did what God wanted, following Him with his whole heart. However, because the Hebrews had this thing about names and the meanings being important, I looked up the names mentioned to see if there was more to this than the obvious. 

I discovered that Caleb is from a root word meaning doing something with force. This man vigorously went after the enemies of Israel. This made me think about the prayer life of many Christians today. Our enemies are not flesh and blood, so we fight them with prayer:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:11–13)

This familiar passage is about wearing spiritual armor and defeating the forces of evil with constant and vigorous prayer, boldly and confidently winning over them in forceful determination, like Caleb.

Wondering why Caleb’s father was mentioned twice, I looked up him also. His name means to be prepared and with a change of direction. Amazing how God speaks to me through this. I’ve prayed for salvation for other for many years. Lately God is giving me direction to pray against the Liar who keeps people in darkness. This is one more reminder: change the direction of how I’m fighting the enemy and be prepared for war. Ephesians 6 gives specific attitudes and my dozens of books on prayer do the same. I need to be ready for battle and do this with forceful determination.

One thing stands out. Joshua says Caleb was given what he asked for because of his persistent determination and whole-hearted obedience. Answered prayer isn’t because I talk God into something but because He has talked greater obedience into me.

Jesus, this is really important. Some of my prayers seem totally impossible requests, yet You continue to surprise me with doing what I ask. Yet I also realize that if I am not being obedient, You work on me. Your priority is not always on those things I pray for but many times on my attitude and love toward You.