GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN
MEMORIZE: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me. Isaiah 6:8
BIBLE READING JOSHUA 14:12-14
12. 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.
13. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
14. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
MESSAGE
The implication of Caleb’s request in our Bible reading today is that he was asking for a new responsibility and assignment.
It should be recalled that though the Lord had declared that the promised land belonged to the children of Israel, they still had the responsibility of acquiring it.
The original settlers would not give up the land they had occupied from time immemorial, hence the need for the Israelites to fight to take what had been divinely declared to be theirs.
One of the most difficult types of lands to acquire is a mountain, yet Caleb told Joshua, “Give me this mountain”. The Lord had assured Caleb that He would give that part of the land to him for his good report of faith.
This faith persisted even into his old age; he still believed in the faithfulness of God to give him the mountain part of the promised land.
In today’s reading, we learn that, “Lord, give me this mountain” means, “Give me this assignment and by Your grace, I shall accomplish it”. For example, when you pray that God should make you His minister, you are asking for a great task but I can assure you that His grace will be sufficient for you, according to (1 Timothy 3:1) which says, “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work”.
“Give me this mountain” could also mean, “Make me a missionary and I shall win the world for You” or “Make me Your disciple and I shall do greater works for You”.
Desiring to work for God is the best thing that can happen to a child of God. However, it is a great responsibility. For example, in (1 Timothy 3:2) the Bible says, “A bishop then must be blameless…” among other qualifications. In other words, living a sinless life is part of the price of doing God’s work.
In (2 Timothy 2:20-21) we read that only those who purge themselves of the impurities of life can carry out divine assignments successfully.
Our memory verse today reveals God’s search of vessels unto honour, for which Isaiah volunteered. This was preceded by a process of purification after admitting his unworthiness (Isaiah 6:5-7).
Beloved, for you to be used by God to successfully execute divine assignments, you must undergo spiritual purification through a new birth and sanctification by the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:8-9).
PRAYER POINT:
Lord prepare me a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I will be a living sanctuary for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: JUDGES 6-7
HYMN: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
CHORUS
O deeper yet I pray,
And higher evry day,
And wiser, blessed, Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2. Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
3. Deeper, deeper! tho it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4. Deeper, higher, evry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conquror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
