LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Equal, But Different
In the Bible we find two men of the same lineage, but of very different condition. They are Caleb and Nabal. In 1 Samuel 25:3 we are told that Nabal "was a hard man of wicked works, and of the seed of Caleb". Nabal means "foolish", and his wife, on one occasion, said of him: "He is called Nabal , and foolishness is with him". Such foolishness he used against David, so that "ten days later the Lord struck Nabal and he died" (25:38). But, curiously, the Bible declares that "he was of the seed of Caleb".
Who was Caleb? Caleb was one of the most prominent men of Israel. His name is associated with faith, courage and longevity. He was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to the Promised Land, but he was one of the two (the other was Joshua), who gave a positive report. It was he who said of God's enemies "for we shall be able to do more than they", and "we shall eat them as bread". It was he who received God's promise to bring him into the Promised Land, and that his descendants would have it for a possession.
It was Caleb, who, once in Canaan, being eighty-five years of age, presented himself before Joshua to claim God's promise. Then, having been authorized by Joshua, he went up to Hebron and "drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the sons of Anak". And it should be noted that these men were not just any Canaanites. They were giants. But Caleb had said to Joshua. "Perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out, as the LORD has said". And he did so, because the LORD had said so.
Was this man a descendant of Nabal? Why, he was. They were both of one character, of one line. They were fierce men, ready for anything. Caleb, in his fight against the Anakim, and Nabal, in his opposition to David. One was a man of faith, an example for today's believers, a conqueror and victor. The other, a foolish man, of bad conduct, whose way was death.
Humanly, both had the same origin, similar characters, but one was touched by grace and the other was not. What a great mystery the human soul, and the choice of God!