The ministry of Moses was centered around the departure of the people from Egypt. He was called to bring the Israelites out of bondage. He succeeded on the physical plain but did not on the spiritual level. Fear, uncertainty, and doubt prevailed among the soldiers who were to overcome those in the Promised Land. The two exceptions were Joshua and Caleb.
Not much is written about Caleb. He was of the tribe of Judah and would not be denied the inheritance promised him after spending forty years in the wilderness. However, Caleb provides us with a perspective of his tenacity at the time of demanding his inheritance:
Joshua 14:7 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.8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 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.’ 10 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.
11 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. 12 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.”
Forty is the number of trials and testing, forty-five is the number of inheritance. Caleb displayed great faith in the Words Our Heavenly Father spoke and he “wholly followed the LORD my God” all the days of his life.
We find a very subtle verse about Joshua that has been overlooked by most:
Exodus 33:11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. NKJV
Joshua spent all of his time in the wilderness in the tabernacle in preparation for entering into the Promised Land. His calling was not to depart from the “world” but to enter into the “fullness”. Yes, he did experience Passover and Pentecost. He was there when the Law was given and heard the Word from THE LORD concerning the Promised Land and even had a temporary encounter in the Promised Land as one of the twelve spies. But for 38 1/2 years, he spent the entire time in the Tabernacle in preparation for his calling of “entering in”. His calling focused on inheritance, not departure from the “world”(Egypt). Joshua was to dwell in the Presence of FATHER while he was being instructed in how to properly enter into the Promised Land representing the Age of Tabernacles. He was trained in the Age of Pentecost to “crossover” into Tabernacles.
Moses dealt with man’s carnal state coming out of Egypt. Joshua focused on the Spiritual state required to enter into the Promised Land. Neither ministry was in opposition to the other. Each path or calling overlapped for a time. Joshua was young when he began preparation. Moses was already full matured when he entered the wilderness. Both callings were needed in order to come in to the fullness of times.
Those who are of the “called out” ones will continue in patience, dwelling with the MOST HIGH until the time of entering in. Do not by dismayed by the apparent extended time of preparation. Joshua wasn’t and his first encounter upon entry was seeing in the Spiritual realm, an encounter with the Angel of THE LORD.