Strive constantly to receive reward
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In the book of Numbers, the story of the Israelites' 40-year wanderings in the wilderness is explained. In an October 1979 general conference address, President Spencer W. Kimball relates the incident and makes a modern-day application.
After escaping from Egypt, Moses sent out 12 men, including Caleb and Joshua, to search the promised land and bring back word about the living conditions there."Although they found a land that was beautiful and desirable and flowing with milk and honey, they also found that the cities were walled and formidable and that the people, the `sons of Anak,' looked like giants. . . ," said President Kimball.
"Caleb, however, saw things a little differently, . . . with what the Lord called `another spirit,' " President Kimball continued. "He said, `Let us go up at once, and possess the landT; for we are well able to overcome it' (Num. 13:30). . . .
"But the faint-hearted Israelites . . . , remembering the security of their Egyptian slavery and lacking faith in God, rejected Caleb and Joshua and sought even to stone them to death.
"Because of their lack of faith, the children of Israel were required to spend the next 40 years wandering about and eating the dust of the desert, when they might have feasted on milk and honey. . . . "
However, to reward Caleb and Joshua's faith, the Lord promised that they and their children would live to inhabit the promised land.
"From Caleb's example we learn a very important lesson. Just as Caleb had to struggle and remain true and faithful to gain his inheritance, so we must remember that, while the Lord has promised us a place in His kingdom, we must ever strive constantly and faithfully so as to be worthy to receive the reward."
Some 40 years later, when the children of Israel entered the promised land, Caleb spoke to Joshua. "The Anakims, the giants, were still inhabiting the land," President Kimball noted, "and they had to be overcome. Said Caleb, now at 85 years, `Give me this mountain' (Joshua 14:12).
"This is my feeling for the work at this moment," President Kimball concluded. "There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, `Give me this mountain,' give me these challenges."
