The other day I read a passage in Joshua 14 that sparked a couple thoughts. The passage is about Caleb’s request for a specific inheritance in the land of Canaan.
Joshua 14:6-9 — “Then the sons of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the word which YHWH spoke to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh-barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of YHWH sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed YHWH my Elohim fully. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed YHWH my Elohim fully.’”
Firstly, this passage is to me a reminder of the power of influence. Notice verse 8 says “my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt.” Deuteronomy 20:8 says, “Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’” Granted, we all have free choice, and we can choose to do what’s right regardless of what others are doing, but these verses are a reminder to me that our actions have an impact on others, especially on those that look up to us — younger siblings, younger children, etc. We don’t live in a “vacuum” — our actions have a degree of influence whether we realize it or not.
Another thing that stands out to me about Joshua 14:8 is Caleb’s having been “the last one standing” because he followed YHWH fully. It amazes me to this day that out of all the thousands who initially went up to enter the Promised Land, only two men — Joshua and Caleb — trusted in YHWH to bring them into the land. Listen to Joshua and Caleb’s words to Israel when the other spies brought a discouraging report: Numbers 14:6-8 — “Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, ‘The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If YHWH is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey.'”
These two thoughts (about influence and being the last one standing) tie together in that when we choose to be the last one standing for truth, Yahweh can use us to powerfully influence others for truth. Joshua went on to be a mighty leader of Israel; what if Joshua had not been willing to be the last one standing when all others were disobedient? Joshua 24:31 says, “Israel served YHWH all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of YHWH which He had done for Israel.” Joshua, imperfect though he was, had a powerful positive influence on Israel.
I recently read an article about a Christian girl in Nigeria named Leah Sharibu who was kidnapped by an Islamic extremist group along with over 100 others. After a month, Leah Sharibu was the only one still in captivity because she did not convert to Islam. She chose to be the last one standing. (See link at bottom of page. Good person to pray for, by the way, as she’s still in captivity.)
To conclude, let us remember our influence on others, especially on those who look up to us. Let us be the ones who stand for truth, even if it means we’re the last ones standing. Let us be like Caleb and walk in such a way that, when we look back on our lives, we can say, “I followed YHWH my Elohim fully!”
(All Bible passages NASB; Hebrew transl. added)
(Disclaimer: I don’t claim to agree with everything on the above website, but they have some very inspiring information.)
Exhortation Station 
Good stuff, Buddy!
For some reason, this reminded me of something I was pondering the other day about Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt. I got curios and read a little blurb about that story that I thought was interesting. It pointed out the fact that she was the mother of a family and some of her own children were probably in that burning city. So isn’t it understandable that she would glance back? I think the consequence that Yah gave is a good reflection of the way he sees people who won’t quite turn their back all the way from sin in order to follow Him FULLY. She turned away from Yah for just a second, and Yah says (thinks) “If you can’t follow me completely, than I don’t want you to follow me at all” and he made her face the rubble of Sodom FOR GOOD.
Don’t look back!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s cool, Chris. I’d never really thought of that before. Good reminder to “keep your hand to the plow” and not look back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good thoughts, Jonathan and Chris! Chris, the illustration of Lot’s wife is sobering, and it reminds me, too, of Yah’s severe discipline of Moses, His beloved servant, when he hit the rock instead of speaking to it like YHWH had told him to. I’m glad He’s an Elohim of compassion as well as of discipline — the epitome of a perfect Father — who knows when we need swift discipline and also knows how to apply the balm of grace to woo us back to His perfect will (see Isaiah 55: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return to YHWH and He will have compassion on Him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.) I believe it’s a combination of the Father’s loving discipline and His compassionate love that will grow us into people who can have the grit to be among the last ones standing. May it be so!
LikeLiked by 1 person