Caleb was born a Hebrew slave in ancient Egypt. Pharaoh's taskmasters humiliated him with hard labor in an attempt to suppress his spirit so he would never rebel. God sent Moses to lead the Hebrews to freedom. They followed Moses to freedom but lacked the spiritual strength to advance into and conquer the beautiful land of Canaan that God had promised to them. Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan. These spies reported that the land was as good as God had said it would be. But, 10 of the spies discouraged the people. They claimed that the people living in Canaan were too powerful to conquer. Only Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people, saying that God would give them victory. Therefore, God declared that only Joshua and Caleb would be allowed to enter the land.

Forty years passed. The discouraged Hebrews died, leaving only their children and Joshua and Caleb. This more optimistic band of Hebrews entered and conquered the land. Because he had a spirit of courage, Joshua rewarded Caleb with the keys to Hebron, the Canaanite city that eventually became the capital of the Israelite kingdom. Caleb's story is one of having a spirit that is different, one that trusts God and advances as God leads. Caleb challenges us to follow Jesus Christ and enter a new spiritual way of living and breathing, one that is free of guilt, anger, discouragement, and anxiety.