Retirement is an unknown term and concept in the Bible and Caleb is one of our best proofs. Caleb came to his fellow comrade-in-arms, Joshua, and insisted on a tough assignment for his old age. “You know what the LORD promised Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me. I was 40 years old when Moses…sent me…to scout the land…. On that day Moses promised me, ‘The land where you have set foot will be an inheritance for you and your descendants forever…. Here I am today, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out…. Now give me this hill country the LORD promised me…. Perhaps the LORD will be with me and I will drive them [the Anakim] out as the LORD promised” (14: 6 – 12). Younger men were languishing in wretched defeat across the nation but Caleb wanted a big challenge and he got one.
Caleb is described as the man who followed God completely (Num. 14: 24) and he did not want a new legacy written in his advancing years. Caleb did not want to rust out while others were burning out. He did not want to coast while others were in conflict.
Caleb wanted to go up and conquer. Others declined the hill country due to the difficulty of traversing its terrain while assaulting the enemy. Even the newest recruit understands that if your enemy occupies the high ground overpowering him will be a considerable challenge. Some may have contented themselves with the lowlands but Caleb wanted higher ground. He was “pressing on the upward way, new heights [he was] gaining everyday.” His prayer was, “God plant my feet on higher ground.”
Caleb wanted to go out and conquer. Some choose the weakest foes. Caleb chose the mightiest. He went to war against the Anakim the descendants of the giants (Num. 13: 32 – 33). At a younger age he assured all Israel that God would give them victory over these foes (Num. 13: 30). That wasn’t just big talk for Caleb. He had big faith in a big God and believed he could bring down a big enemy. Caleb was not content to cower in a corner before monster enemies. Instead he went out and brought them down (14: 15; 15: 14).
Caleb wanted to go in and conquer. He was determined to claim his inheritance which meant entering into fortified cities like Hebron. Caleb was converting promise into practice. One of the big lessons of the book of Joshua is that God expects us to work and war to make real in our lives what He has already given us in His promises. Caleb did that.
The ministry God has for you in aging years may not be the same as what you have done in earlier years but it may be even more important. The Bible tells us to value the gray head of the senior saint (Prv. 16: 31). The life experience of the veteran servant of God can be an invaluable resource for God’s family. We need modern day Calebs who go up, go out and go in and conquer all God has for them and for us.