TODAY IN THE WORD
Are you familiar with the word anomie? The dictionary lists one of its meanings as “the personal rootlessness that comes from a lack of purpose.” The term can also suggest boredom, lethargy, or disorder due to a moral failure or a loss of standards or values. It's linked to the Greek word, anomia, meaning “lawlessness.”

The antonym or opposite for “anomie” is “Caleb”! His faithful devotion to God was seen in a life full of energy and purpose. He's an outstanding example of simplicity in that he followed the Lord wholeheartedly throughout his life. He could have said what the other spies said, but instead he spoke up boldly and urged Israel to move forward into the Promised Land. He could have lost heart or gotten tired of waiting during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, but instead he continued to live by faith in God's promises. He could have left the fighting to younger men, but instead he was eager to take on the challenge of the fearsome Anakites and their fortified cities. Simplicity sees with eyes of faith. From a human perspective, the Israelites couldn't conquer the land, but Caleb interpreted the “facts” in light of faith and brought Moses back “a report according to [his] convictions” (v. 7). Furthermore, he praised God for keeping His promises to him— keeping him alive, strong, and healthy while his peers died off in the desert (v. 11). He was a living witness to a generation that hadn't experienced the original Exodus.

How “simple” and pure was Caleb's faith? His eagerness to claim God's promise had nothing to do with claiming the spoils of war. After he and his clan drove out the Anakites and conquered Hebron, they turned right around and gave the city to the Levites (21:11-13).

Imagine all the temptations there must have been through the years to lose faith, yet a simple and undivided heart kept his spiritual compass set to “true north.”

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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In our youth-oriented culture, an 85-year-old man like Caleb would tend to get relegated to the sidelines as a “has-been.” Hopefully this is not the case in your church! Make a specific effort to learn from an older believer by arranging to interview someone you don't know well. As you listen to them share the faith of their spiritual journey and the wisdom of experience, your own faith and wisdom will be developed and strengthened. Come to the interview with a heart to listen and learn!

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