Caleb vs. Hezekiah?
By Bob Simpson, Associate Executive Director and Executive Editor of BaptistLIFE
I was in a meeting recently out of state where an interesting idea surfaced. It had to do with the way we embrace the future as leaders. For some it is the Hezekiah prescription for dealing with the future defined as “the future is bleak but at least I am not going to be around when it happens.”
This is in direct contrast to the Caleb prescription defined as “I want that mountain…the mountain that the Lord has given me.”
Which prescription are you using to influence and encourage those who are coming after you? Who are you mentoring and what does that look like?
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcumus and, in his old age, a friend of Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War he placed Mentor in charge of his son, Telemachus, and of his palace.
The modern use of the word “mentor” is as a trusted friend, counselor or teacher, usually a more experienced person. Some professions have "mentoring programs" in which newcomers are paired with more experienced people. Schools sometimes have mentoring programs for new students or students who are having difficulties.
The student of a mentor is called a protégé or mentoree. In II Timothy, Paul challenges his protégé to “fan the flame” and "rekindle the passion." He tells the young Timothy not to be timid, but bold and loving and sensible. This is what we need to be modeling for those who are coming behind us (whatever our age may be).
The problem with the Hezekiah approach is that it assumes that we’re not put here to influence the future. Hezekiah had received bad news from the prophet Isaiah. The prophet was laying out the big picture, warts and all. The prophet’s ominous news was that, after Hezekiah’s death, Babylon was going to carry off Judah into captivity, not Assyria. Hezekiah’s response was to tell the prophet that everything was good. Hezekiah reverted to selfish thinking. All he was concerned about was his lifetime. How selfish can you be?
Caleb’s approach was refreshingly different. Even after 85 difficult years of life (including wandering in the wilderness for 40 years with the children of Israel), Caleb maintained a great attitude about serving God. He wasn’t exhausted. He was energized by it. He didn’t ask his friend, Joshua, for a maintenance-free, energy-saving home surrounded by a large porch of rocking chairs. No, he volunteered for the hill country that was still inhabited by giants. Wow! Good for him!
So…how are you doing with this thing of serving the Lord in your stage of life?
We have a tendency to go after prosperity and stress free lives. We often try to get at life with the least amount of discomfort and inconvenience. When it does not happen, we grumble and complain instead of seeing the benefit that new challenges bring to our lives.
Caleb didn’t just accept the challenge in his life…he asked for it! He knew from experience that all the challenges in the wilderness had prepared him for anything that could come his way. He was confident that God would not let him down!
That’s the message we need to teach all those who come behind us! We need to lift up two principles: (1) We are not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good, and (2) Caleb’s crowd only possessed as much land as they occupied. As they obeyed, God gave them more.
How about you? Are you “wanting that mountain” or are you reaching for the nearest rocking chair?
