What It Means to Wholly Follow God

There are many who are truly Jesus’, but not wholly His. Jesus is truly their Savior, but not indisputably their Sovereign. He is present in their lives, but not president of their lives.

An example of a person wholly committed to the Lord is the Old Testament character Caleb. The thing best known about him is he was one of the two members of the group of twelve sent to spy out the Land of Promise who came back and gave a good report. He was an unlikely member of this cast of characters.

Consider his background. He was not even a Jew, yet entrusted with such a responsibility. He is described as being the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Kennizzites in general were not part of the Hebrew nation. They evidently were not the loving parents in that they named the son Caleb meaning “dog.” What loving parent would do that? He likely became a slave, sold by his parents, and was cast with the Jews in Egyptian slavery.

He was folded into the family of God as a member of the tribe of Judah. This made him a member of the Jewish aristocracy because from the tribe of Judah came the kings, the great spiritual, political, and military leaders.

Ten members of the reconnaissance party sent to spy out the land gave a discouraging negative report. As a result of Caleb joining Joshua with their positive report, the people wanted to “stone them with stones.” (Numbers 14:10a)

Another thing that seniors today should find encouraging was he was 85 when he undertook his task.

When offered a section of the Promised Land, he had done a little mountain shopping on his spying mission. He asked for a mountain with fortified cities, principally Hebron, occupied by what were considered giants saying, “…the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” As a result, Joshua gave Hebron to Caleb and he drove out the giants.

How is it known he was whole heartily committed to the Lord? The traits are admirable characteristics each of us would be wise to aspire to as our traits.

He confidently said and showed what he professed. “I wholly followed the Lord my God.” (Joshua 14:8)

Moses said of him, “… you have wholly followed the Lord.” (14:9)

God said of him, “…he has a different spirit in him and has followed me fully…” (Numbers 14:24)

He earned these accolades as a result of having a constant sense of God’s presence.

He had discernment that came from having a controlled spirit.

He aspired to a place of difficulty as a place of honor.

Can such be said of you? If not resolve that from this time on it can be said.