Learn lessons from stories of Caleb and Jonathan, who are great heroes of faith for us to emulate.

1. Heroes of Faith

2. Do We Need Faith?
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and
assurance about what we do not see. This is what
the ancients were commended for. … And without faith
it is impossible to please God, because anyone who
comes to him must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews
11:1, 6 NIV)
 Without faith, we have no hope or assurance.
 Without faith, we cannot be commended.
 Without faith, we cannot please God!
 We must have faith:
– God exists.
– God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

3. Caleb’s Mountain
Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal.
And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to
him: “You know the word which the LORD said to
Moses the man of God concerning you and me in
Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the
servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to
spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it
was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who
went up with me made the heart of the people
melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. So
Moses swore on that day, saying, „Surely the land
where your foot has trodden shall be your
inheritance and your children’s forever, because
you have wholly followed the LORD my God.‟
(Joshua 14:6-9 NKJ)

4. Caleb’s Mountain
“And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as
He said, these forty-five years, ever since the
LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel
wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this
day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong
this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as
my strength was then, so now is my strength for war,
both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore,
give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in
that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim
were there, and that the cities were great and fortified.
It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I
shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.”
(Joshua 14:10-12 NKJ)

5. Caleb’s Mountain
And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to
Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.
Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the
son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because
he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. And
the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba
(Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim).
Then the land had rest from war. (Joshua 14:13-15)
… Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share
among the children of Judah, according to the
commandment of the LORD to Joshua, namely, Kirjath
Arba, which is Hebron (Arba was the father of
Anak). Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak
from there: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the
children of Anak. (Joshua 15:13-14)

6. Lessons from Caleb
 Contrasted Kinds of Heart & Influence.
 Rewarded because “wholly followed”.
 Did not seek excuse because of age.
 Did not know if God would give him the
mountain.
 Desired God‟s promised reward.
 Trusted in God‟s protection and
promises – not crazy or blind ambition.
 Defeated 3 giants in fortified cities in
mountainous hill country.

7. Jonathan’s Charge
Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his
armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these
uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work
for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from
saving by many or by few.” So his armorbearer said
to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I
am with you, according to your heart.” Then
Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these
men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say
thus to us, „Wait until we come to you,‟ then we will
stand still in our place and not go up to them. “But if
they say thus, „Come up to us,‟ then we will go up. For
the LORD has delivered them into our hand, and this
will be a sign to us.” (I Samuel 14:6-10 NKJ)

8. Jonathan’s Charge
So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of
the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the
Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they
have hidden.” Then the men of the garrison called to
Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to
us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to
his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD
has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” And
Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his
armorbearer after him; and they fell before
Jonathan. And as he came after him, his
armorbearer killed them. That first slaughter which
Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty
men within about half an acre of land. (I Samuel
14:14-23 NKJ)

9. Jonathan’s Charge
And there was trembling in the camp, in the
field, and among all the people. The garrison and
the raiders also trembled; and the earth
quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.
Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin
looked, and there was the multitude, melting away;
and they went here and there. … Now it
happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the
noise which was in the camp of the Philistines
continued to increase; so Saul said to the
priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all the
people who were with him assembled, and they
went to the battle; and indeed every man's sword
was against his neighbor, and there was very great
confusion. (I Samuel 14:15-20 NKJ)

10. Jonathan’s Charge
Moreover the Hebrews who were with the
Philistines before that time, who went up with them
into the camp from the surrounding country, they also
joined the Israelites who were with Saul and
Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel who had
hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they
heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed
hard after them in the battle. So the LORD saved
Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth
Aven. (I Samuel 14:21-23 NKJ)

11. Lessons from Jonathan
 Recognize the enemy, “uncircumcised”?
 Never outnumbered, if on God‟s side!
 Do we need a sign from God today to
know His will?
 Arrogance blinds people to their doom.
 Great victories may start with 1, but
they never end with just 1.
 Ultimate victory does not depend on us.
 Tremendous power of influence.
 War is not won with 1 victory.

12. Conclusion
 Faith is critical to please God.
 Faith follows God.
 Faith keeps on following God!
 Align with God, and you will* succeed.
 You must not be frightened by:
– Your age or strength
– Their size or numbers
– Uncertainty of Immediate Outcome
– Current momentum.
 Trust God. “Fight the good fight!” And, shift
the momentum.