Have you ever met someone that was just a little bit different? Some have accused me of that (they’re not wrong), but most of the time, it’s to call attention to certain personality traits that are just a tad off from other people’s.
Caleb was that type. In a group of twelve spies—esteemed men that the group chose to be their leaders—Caleb and Joshua were the only two people that expressed faith in God’s ability to deliver Canaan to the Israelites.
But God never says that Joshua had a “different spirit,” only Caleb. Why?
(To be fair, Joshua is given other compliments. In Numbers 27:18, for instance, God says that in him is a “spirit of leadership.” That’s great, but it’s not the semi-vague “different spirit” that is said of Caleb.)
To mark this out, we have to figure out who exactly Caleb is different from. In the context, it’s the other ten spies. Those ten men have exactly the same spirit, as far as we can tell—one of disbelief and distrust in God.
Caleb is one of two who speaks the opposite, and, most notably, he speaks first (Numbers 13:30). It’s his voice that people hear in contrast to the others, and then Joshua joins him in Numbers 14.
You could argue that Caleb’s spirit is one of boldness, courage, but most importantly, unusual faith (2 Timothy 1:7). He saw past the immediate danger to the memories of God’s prior deliverance, then used that to buttress his faith. He looked beyond the facts in front of him, and remembered ALL the facts about God.
This isn’t the only time Caleb has this go-big-or-go-home mentality. In Joshua 14, he all but demands a certain portion of his tribal inheritance for himself. And, even at 85 years young, argues that he is just as fit and able to take the job as he was in Numbers 14.
Even if he isn’t, he knows God will help him regardless.
I would argue this type of faith is unusual even in our time. To be so certain of an outcome before it even happens is usually seen as arrogance—which it would be, if Caleb were relying on himself.
Instead, his trust is in the Rock. He fully relies on God. He’s so confident that God will come through, that if he doesn’t, it would destroy his entire worldview.
Is that same type of spirit in me?
