« Back to Article Archives

Inheritance

By Bobbie Jean Merck

               One of the most outstanding examples of receiving your inheritance as promised by God to you is recorded in Joshua 14:6-15.  Its lessons and strategies are rich and full with purpose for us.

            The children of Judah came to Joshua (their leader) in Gilgal.  Principal #1 for us in receiving our inheritance is to come to God with gratitude, thanksgiving and praise.  Judah means praise in the Hebrew.  This heart and attitude of praise is not conditional.  Whatever the conditions, circumstances and situations we must live a consistent lifestyle of praise.  After all, we enter the gate with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.  Entrance is granted not by the magic word “sesame,” but by thanksgiving and praise.  Did you note they came to Joshua in Gilgal?  Gilgal means circle.  A full circle (a cycle) was being completed and a new season was beginning in Caleb’s life.  The time had arrived for God’s promise to become manifested.  Has your time now come?

            Not only was Caleb receiving an inheritance for himself, but he was also receiving for his children for generations to come.  “And Hebron still belongs to the family of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite.  It still belongs to his people because he had faith.  He obeyed the Lord, the God of Israel” (Joshua 14:14 TEB).  Notice Caleb’s faith and obedience affected not only himself but also others.

            It is of utmost importance that we know God has spoken the promise to us.  It cannot be mental assent.  It must be a certainty of revelation from God to you.  That certainty eliminates fear and produces faith.

            By the way, God has spoken 365 times in His Word “do not fear.”  One for everyday of the year!  Fear must go and faith must come!

            It is commonly stated that “life begins at forty.”  But Caleb is eighty-five when he boldly requests fulfillment of God’s promise to him after he had waited 45 years.  Could we say now that “life begins at 80?”  You and I know that life (zoe) truly begins the moment we are born again.

            Does it really matter what we have in our hearts and in the thoughts of our mind?  Jesus said these were of great importance.  Caleb had the right things in his heart.  Therefore, he could bring Moses a victory report.  “…I brought him word again as it was in my heart.”

            Ten spies had the wrong thoughts and wrong heart.  Therefore their report made the hearts of the people melt.  Discouragement prevailed!  What was their heart?  A heart full of fear, doubt, unbelief, and rebellion.  No inheritance could be given to them.  But Caleb could inherit his promised inheritance.

            How?  Because Caleb was a man of character.  His character had become godly as he wholly followed the Lord His God.  That’s how a strong, godly, trustworthy character becomes our life and lifestyle – by wholly following or obeying the Lord our God.  He was ready and prepared to receive his inheritance.  Selah (pause and think of this).

            We are told a person might “win the lottery” or other such quick inheritances, but they are poor within a few years.  Their character and judgement are not developed to receive and wisely control such instant wealth.

            Could our “delay” in receiving our God-promised inheritance be because we are not ready and prepared in our character for such an outpouring of blessings?  It is always profitable to examine ourselves and change and prepare, if need be.

            In the early eighties I would drive by a beautiful piece of property.  I started putting my hand toward it and “calling it into the ministry of A Great Love.”  The owners had deceased and the property was for sale. My son, Dan went to their son and told him we wanted to purchase it.  Two hours before Dan’s arrival the son had promised the current renters an offer of two years with the option to buy.

            What were we to do?  I was so certain that it was “ours.”  The staff had gone on the property and prayed.  I had taken soil in my hand decreeing, “Hear ye, hear ye, O earth, the word of the Lord.  Come into the ministry of A Great Love.”  What now?  A peace and rest took over.  I continued to obey God and remain quiet and steady.  I “stayed the course for the cause.”

            One day two years later Dan came to me.  He said, “Do you still want that property?”  I knew what property he meant.  But now that I knew deep inside that I could have it, I looked intently into my heart.  I must determine if I could continue to wholly follow the Lord in His intended future for it.  Had I been in a comfort zone right where I was?  Getting this property would be a step into what was presently unknown.

            I truly examined myself.  Then, I said, “yes.”  We paid cash for it and it became ours.  Today we have a beautiful office on those 32.7 acres, and assemblies are held there “for the cause.”

            Character produces confidence.  So much is said and written about self-confidence.  Truly confidence is a fruit of character.  When our hearts condemn us not, we are confident we can possess and control our inheritance.  Character results in our being confident in every situation God has planned and purposed for us.

            Caleb’s strong character issuing forth in confidence could give him boldness to demand this inheritance.  Notice, Caleb spent 45 years in the wilderness alongside the other people’s fear, doubt, unbelief, rebellion, and discouragement.  What was in them had not gotten into Caleb. But character and confidence had become his strength and readiness.

            Confidence produced courage.  The first giant Caleb had to overcome and defeat was the grasshopper complex.  He could not think of or see himself as a small grasshopper if he purposed to defeat the other giants, win the battles, and possess his inheritance.  Caleb overcame the grasshopper complex before he overcame the giants.  We must do likewise.  And we must not see the giants as bigger than ourselves.  But instead, we must see the giants as smaller than God!

            Our mindset must be (1) difficulties are opportunities disguised; and (2) doors of opportunity swing on the doors of opposition.  Let us search out the opportunities in every difficulty and opposition.  We serve a great God!

            Character! Confidence!  Courage!  Conquest!

Joshua 14:11, 12, 13 reads, “ As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.  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.   And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.”

            Now!  Hebron belonged to Caleb 45 years after God promised it to him.  How long have you waited, all the while wholly obeying the Lord?

            Hebron is very significant.  The name means alliance.  Caleb had always been aligned with God!  Hebron also means fellowship with God.  It is imperative that we remain in close fellowship with God before and after the blessings come.  Fellowship with God produces the fullness of God in our lives.  The fullness of God in our lives produces the fruit of the Spirit and God’s ability within us.

            Hebron – your Hebron, will result in rest within from the wars of life.  After Hebron became Caleb’s inherited possession, “…the land had rest from war.”  Selah.  Amen!