“The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had chariots fitted with iron. As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak. The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.(Judg. 1:19-20)”
The author of Judges intentionally inserts the story of Caleb’s victory amidst the accounts of Israel’s failures. Caleb’s conquest over the mighty giants of Hebron—the three sons of Anak—delivers a clear message: victory does not depend on military might or favorable conditions, but solely on trust in God. What Caleb claimed was not just land, but the promise of God.
As Christians, we are people of faith who live by God’s promises. However, when faced with the “iron chariots” of a seemingly insurmountable reality, we easily perceive our environment as larger than our God. Instead of choosing the challenge of faith, we often opt for a cowardly peace called “compromise.” Israel’s decision to dwell among the Canaanites rather than driving them out mirrors our own tendencies to settle for a comfortable coexistence with the world.
The mist of reality remains thick, and the obstacles before me often loom like giants. Yet, Caleb did not focus on the size of the giants; he focused on the greatness of the God behind them. Obedience is not something we do when circumstances are perfect; it is the first step taken based on God’s promise precisely when things are uncertain.
Today, I feel the temptation to compromise in the face of giant-like realities. But I steady my heart once more. What I need is not a clear situation, but the faith to obey until the end. I choose the holy discomfort of fulfilling God’s command over the ease of coexisting with the world. Like Caleb, I desire to take hold of the realm of promise through faith, living out today by trusting in the God who helps me.