Caleb Vigilant Quotes

“But love without holiness creates lawlessness and chaos. God has made us to obey him, and when we do not, we sow the seeds of our own destruction.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“UGARITIC TEXTS ‘Dry him up. O Valiant Baal! Dry him up, O Charioteer [Rider] of the Clouds! For our captive is Prince Yam [Sea], for our captive is Ruler Nahar [River]!’ (KTU 1.2:4.8-9)       What manner of enemy has arisen against Baal, of foe against the Charioteer of the Clouds? [then, he judges other deities] Surely I smote…Yam [Sea]? Surely I exterminated Nahar [River], the mighty god? Surely I lifted up the dragon, I overpowered him? I smote the writhing serpent, Encircler-with-seven-heads! (KTU 1.3:3.38-41) OLD TESTAMENT “[Yahweh] bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet. And He rode on a cherub and flew; And He appeared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness canopies around Him, A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky. (2 Sam. 22:7-12)   [Yahweh] makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind; (Ps. 104:3-4)   Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, (Isa. 19:1)”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“The Anakim received no mercy as the Seed of the Serpent. The bodies of the brothers Arba—Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai—were impaled upon poles on the city walls. Their rotting carcasses were testimony to their infernal destiny. Joshua stood proudly with Caleb as he offered him the ownership of the city and its area for his inheritance. Caleb renamed the city Hebron for future generations. Of course, he would not be able to settle in until they had completed their conquest of the land. But Rahab, Achsah, and Rahab’s family were more proud of him than anyone could be of a man who obeyed Yahweh and followed him faithfully. Joshua proclaimed, “Warriors of Yahweh, you have been strong and courageous! We have achieved mighty feats of faith in overthrowing the Transjordan! King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan!” The men cheered. “By faith, Yahweh toppled the walls of Jericho! And by faith, we defeated the Anakim of Kiriath-arba, our most difficult enemy in the land of our forefather, Abraham. And we have captured the hill country!” The men cheered again. “But our conquest is not yet complete! I am old and very advanced in years. But there is still much land to possess. Before we can apportion out the territories to the tribes of Israel, we must strike down the Anakim city of Kiriath-sepher just south of here! I need a leader to take a force and capture the city!”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“settlement in Gerar to control a pentapolis of five coastal cities: Gaza, Ashdod, Gath, Ekron, and Ashkelon. The principal god of the Philistines was Dagon. He was half-fish, half-humanoid, and was a god of storm. His cult center was near the shoreline of Ashkelon where the boats were docked for their journeys of trade, diplomacy, and battle. The four archangels, Mikael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel had disguised themselves as monk priests on a pilgrimage to Mount Sapan. They had boarded a ship to follow the coast up north. They wore long billowy cloaks that hid their armament and weapons beneath.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“then the Israelite’s secret weapon was brought to the fore of the lines: The Ark of the Covenant. The gold plated box glittered in the sun. It was carried on its poles by priests and accompanied by the high priest Eleazer. Caleb rose and Eleazer pronounced a benediction on him. “Caleb ben Jephunneh, Yahweh is with you! Yahweh is with Israel! Trust in him with all your heart and lean not on your own strength, but upon the Spirit of Yahweh Elohim! He will fight for you! Be strong and courageous! Do not fear this Seed of the Serpent!” Caleb turned to address the soldiers with Othniel proudly by his side. “Let all of Israel stand in awe and wonder, for our god will deliver us!” The men cheered. They believed him for the moment, as all good soldiers do. “Shout to the Lord and praise his name before the shadow of thine enemies!” The army of Yahweh responded with a shout that rang throughout the valley in such thunderous unison that it was now the Anakim’s turn to have their confidence shaken. It was a predetermined praise of Yahweh that they had been taught. And it almost sounded like the indomitable voices of the Seraphim before the throne of Yahweh, the sound of many voices as one.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Many generations ago, your ancestor Abraham and his family infested this land like a plague. He invaded this very city of King Arba, and butchered every one of our ancestors with impunity—save one. Abraham did not know that our queen Naqiya would give birth in her death to the child within her womb. That child was Anak, the father of my people. For over four hundred years we have waited for the opportunity to exact revenge upon our enemies, the Seed of Abraham.” Joshua responded with equal confidence, “The War of the Seed goes back farther in time. In the Garden of Eden Yahweh pronounced a curse upon the Seed of the Serpent at war with the Seed of Eve. He prophesied that Eve would crush the head of the Serpent. King Ahiman, the creator Yahweh has claimed your land and he will possess it for his people.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Joshua said, “She is not a harlot.” Though they were facing certain death in the hands of the enemy, Rahab’s soul rose with hope at the words of Joshua. To hear that pronouncement from the very leader of Israel’s lips made her believe her identity had been transformed. She was a daughter of Israel, an adopted child of Yahweh, the living god. Her past was dead and gone.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“I am as much deserving of judgment as any other alien to the covenant.” She said, “Do we not all labor under the conflict of flesh and spirit? Is this not what makes us human?” Was she offering him an excuse? Was she trying to tell him something? “It is what makes us human,” he said. “But what makes us holy and separated unto Yahweh, when we have such blackened hearts?” “Faith,” she said. “It is all I have.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“as he read through the Levitical laws, he received a vision of Yahweh’s holiness so pure and intense, it was like a blinding light that pierced his soul. Israel was a royal priesthood of Yahweh’s perfection. And he understood again that Yahweh’s laws were not restrictive, but freeing. They were the boundaries for experiencing the best that the creator offered to humanity.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“They kept the prophecy hidden. They emphasized the levirate nature of the marriage in order to stress its legal side. It would be hard for the scribes to argue with the Torah, the revealed law of Yahweh. The first order of business was business. Caleb signed a contract, called a ketubbah, with Rahab’s father. This was the transfer of authority from father to husband and was the legal foundation of the marriage. Caleb then paid a dowry to her father of fifty shekels, according to their law. This was the customary money held in faith by the father should a wife’s husband forsake her through divorce or death. The next order of business was for the wife to give an inventory accounting of her assets that would be transferred to her husband’s estate. Since Rahab had left everything behind but her family when Jericho was destroyed, she had nothing. To Caleb that sacrifice was more than he could ever offer her. The next stage in a normal wedding with a virgin was not the celebration, but consummation. The husband and wife would go to the father’s home and consummate their union in the marriage bed. A white cloth would be placed beneath the virgin so that there would be a discharge of blood with her first carnal knowledge of a man. The cloth would then be taken to the celebration feast to prove her virginity and a priest would pronounce a benediction over them. But this was not a normal wedding with a virgin. Because of the shame of this lack of virginity, Rahab requested that they perform the ceremony and celebration before they would leave to consummate. This way, attention would not be drawn to her shame. Caleb graciously agreed.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Caleb and Joshua stopped and watched the prophets. The three of them were staring at Rahab as if they saw something in her that they did not quite understand. Then a shudder and a gasp of breath seemed to flow from one to the other. Everyone in the room saw it. It was like a rushing wind that penetrated their bodies, but only their bodies, no one else’s. It was the Spirit of the living God. One of the prophets spoke up, “Thus saith Yahweh, behold this woman before you will bear a child in the line of Judah.” The second spoke as if continuing the sentence like they were all three connected in spirit. “It will be a royal bloodline from which a king of Israel shall arise. A gibborim warrior.” And the last one finished, “The Seed of Promise shall issue forth who will crush the Seed of the Serpent.” A strange peace came over Rahab. It was as if Yahweh’s spirit rested upon her as well. It was as if he were comforting her, clearing away all her doubt, and all her years of pain and anguish in search of one true love. And now she had found it. She kept clinging to Caleb. The prophets then lost their breath and looked at one another. The Spirit that had come over them was now gone.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Yahweh is a god who atones,” he replied. “Whatever was done to you is not your sin. And whatever you have done can be removed from you as far as the east is from the west. If righteousness were based on our own goodness, none of us would stand. None of us are worthy of his presence. We are all stained by evil. We are made clean by blood atonement.” She protested, “But I am not of Abraham’s seed. I was born under the cursed flesh of Edom.” “So am I. I was born a Kenizzite, a descendant of Edom as well. But Yahweh accepts those of any nation who turn from their idols to the living God of all flesh. It is faith that Yahweh wants, Rahab, not flesh.” A sudden silence penetrated their conversation. Rahab felt as if a great weight had lifted from her soul. The dark cloud that had followed her ever since she became a follower of Yahweh was dissolved in the cleansing of a spring rain. She smiled and said softly, tenderly, “Yes, I will marry you,”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Caleb was captivated by its beauty. He had never seen anything so colorful and artistic since he left Egypt so many years ago. Desert living was not conducive to the fragility of beauty. And yet, in this somber justice before him, that beauty became hideously ugly. It was like a smooth and graceful serpent that reared its head to bare its fangs and bite. A flood of terror came over him and he understood, like he had never before, the true nature of beauty without holiness. It was the seduction of the gods. It was the lie of the Garden. And it was evil. Monstrous evil. The meaning of the tragedy before him became clear. The judgment Achan received was not an extreme punishment for a minor misdemeanor. It was not the significance of the criminal act that warranted the consequences. It was the significance of the one against whom the act was committed that made it so serious. This puny created man defied the everlasting Creator of the heavens and earth, and threatened the lives of thousands of his countrymen, and the existence of his nation. The final thought that struck Caleb was that humanity does not consist of isolated autonomous individuals unconnected to others. We are all connected to our communities in inextricable consequences. Our choices and actions affect not only ourselves but also all those around us. It was time to get back to camp. Joshua had planned an immediate second attack on Ai.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“When he had come to Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites, the lot fell to Achan, son of Zabdi. Joshua said, “My son, give glory to Yahweh Elohim and tell me what you have done.” Achan was a simple man, stout with full beard, and mostly kept to himself. His wife, three sons and two daughters stood behind him trembling with fear. Achan fell to his knees and spoke with a shaking voice, “I have sinned against Yahweh, Elohim of Israel. I saw some spoils that I coveted, and I took them and hid them in the earth in my tent.” “What did you take, Achan?” “A cloak. A beautiful cloak of Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold. But that is all. I have nothing else. I will return them.” “There is no need for that,” said Joshua. A group of men were sent to his tent to dig them up. Joshua turned to Caleb and said, “Take them to the Valley of Achor, stone the entire family and burn them with all his possessions and animals.” “But my Commander,” said Achan. “Please have mercy.” “We are to have no mercy on the herem. By disobeying Yahweh’s holy commands, you have made all of Israel herem. You have endangered all of Israel by your selfish action. You are herem. Yahweh has spoken.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Suddenly, the voice of Yahweh broke Joshua out of his weeping. “Get up, Joshua. You sound more like the pathetic Israelites wishing they could go back to Egypt than their leader Moses in pleading for them.” Joshua was terrified. He did not get up. “Joshua, get up, will you.” Joshua got up. “Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant and taken some of the devoted things of herem from Jericho. They have lied and taken them for their own possession. Therefore the people of Israel have become herem, and devoted to destruction. I will be with you no more unless you destroy the devoted things in your midst.” “Who, my lord and god?” said Joshua. “Who is it who has taken these devoted items?”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Was it a prophecy?” She stood up and pulled Salmon out of her earshot. “Salmon, think about it. I am a common prostitute. I am a vile and corrupted vessel. Do you really think Yahweh would choose my womb to birth anything noble? I do not want to speak any more of this nonsense.” Salmon stared into her eyes. He was heartbroken. She really did feel that she was worthless. “Rahab,” he said, “marry me.” She kept staring into his bold courageous eyes. Her own filled with tears. She felt weak. Salmon held her. Rahab whispered to him, “I am unclean. You do not want me.” “I will be the judge of what I want, woman. And you can be made clean.” She could not speak. He added, “You carry my child, and according to Yahweh’s law, I am required to marry you, so try to get out of that one.” He gave her a big loving smile. She finally smiled back. They kissed deeply. Donatiya scrunched her face, closed tight her eyes, and muttered, “Ewwwwww.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“The Israelites were as shocked as the inhabitants of the city. They did not anticipate such a spectacular act of their god. Their faith was amazingly weak. But the commanders sallied forth with charges and the forces stormed the fort. They climbed over the rocky rubble and broke into the city fighting the stunned soldiers that had not been crushed in the earthquake. It would be over quickly.   Caleb and Salmon swiftly made their way to the north of the city where Rahab’s house was. They had prayed that hers was not a part of the wall that had collapsed.   Othniel, who had distinguished himself at the battle of Jahaz by killing King Sihon, had a penchant for taking out leaders, so he led a platoon of men toward the crumbled palace walls to seek out the commander of the fort.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“then a rumble in the earth stopped him. It stopped all of them. It started low at first, as if only a sound. But it increased to the point of causing wooden structures all around the city to shake. Then it became an enduring quake of large magnitude. The very walls they were standing on began to shake back and forth with such force that the soldiers could barely steady themselves. And then the ground in the center of the city split in half and a massive wave of energy swept over the city. Large portions of the outer walls of Jericho just crumbled to the ground like sandcastles in a desert wind. The inner wall was the second to fall under the wave. A large part of it tumbled over and crushed houses and inhabitants. Alyun, Jebir, and their guards were on part of that tumbling wall. They fell to the ground thirty feet below in a pile of dust and rubble.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“The seventh time around, the Israelites stopped in their procession near the south walls of the city. The priests stopped blowing their horns. The priests toted the Ark away back to camp, followed by the prophets. The soldiers closed in the gap. Joshua then rode out on his horse and yelled at the top of his lungs, “SHOUT, FOR THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU THE CITY!” With that, the sound of several thousand Israelites yelling a war cry reverberated all the way up to the Commander’s post. It was also accompanied by the ram’s horns again. But this time it was a long blow that lasted the length of the battle cry. And then all was silent. Alyun waited for something to happen. But nothing did.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Tomorrow will be our victory.” He gave an angry look at Caleb and added, “But it will be a holy victory. For Yahweh has declared that the city and all that is within is herem, devoted to Yahweh for destruction.” The men gave each other somber looks. Joshua continued, “Only Rahab the harlot and all her family with her in her house shall be spared because she has helped Israel. All items of silver and gold, bronze, and iron are to be brought to the tabernacle. They shall be cleansed and placed in the treasury of Yahweh. But every living thing, men and women, young and old, as well as the oxen, sheep, and donkeys shall be put to the sword. There can be no compromise in this herem.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“The Israelites marched quietly in line about five soldiers wide. They circled the city in some kind of ritual procession to the sound of constant ram’s horns creating a kind of marching order. Then she saw in the middle of the train a group of seven priestly looking men dressed in white garments. They blew the ram’s horns whose sound seemed to penetrate the city walls and into her very bones. Behind those seven were another four priests carrying a strange looking gold box on poles like a kingly carriage. Behind those were three monkish men who looked like they may be prophets. She could see the box’s golden surface glinting in the sun, and could only surmise that it was some kind of graven image of Yahweh, their deity—now, her deity. A shiver went down her spine. She had become so absorbed in the sight before her that she had forgotten her sister was still with her. When Yasha spoke, Rahab jumped with fright. “Who do you think they are? Are they bad men come to hurt us?” “No,” said Rahab. “They are not bad men, Yasha. Go get mother and father and your siblings. I am calling a family meeting in the tavern.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“We what? Walk around the city seven times in seven days and blow our trumpets? Forgive me, my Commander, but what is that going to do, kill them with laughter?” The other commanders snickered. Joshua chose not to be angry. He thought it was rather silly himself. “Our god has quite a sense of humor, does he not? But nevertheless, he did tell me that is what we should do. So, unless you have a better idea than Yahweh, Salmon, I suggest we obey him and see his salvation.” Salmon was duly chastised. “Forgive my offense, commander.” Joshua said with a smile, “You are forgiven, Salmon. You are too good of a spy.” Caleb was impressed with Joshua’s temperament. His sense of holiness would normally be offended at remarks like that. Perhaps he was beginning to appreciate Yahweh’s sense of humor after all. Joshua ended his remarks, “And remember, Commanders, avoid the home with the scarlet rope. Caleb and Salmon, you will be responsible for Rahab’s deliverance.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Are you for us or for our adversaries?” he asked. “No,” said the figure. Caleb said, “No, you are not for us, or no, you are not for our adversaries?” The figure said, “Neither. I am the commander of the army of Yahweh.” Joshua whispered under his breath, “The Angel of Yahweh.” He was the Son of Man in an earthly presence. Joshua and Caleb dropped to their knees and worshipped the Angel, who said, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are is holy.” Joshua and Caleb obeyed. Caleb knew in his heart this was another connection to Moses who had removed his sandals before the burning bush of Yahweh’s presence. The Angel spoke with a calm assurance, “I would wager you are wondering how in the world you are going to assault the mighty walls of Jericho.” Joshua said, “The thought had crossed our minds, my Lord. You would not happen to have any secrets about its weaknesses that might help us?” “No,” said the Angel. “But be strong and courageous this day, for I will tell you how you will conquer the city by the power of Yahweh.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“Joshua finished his charge to the people, “We are about to face a land of people more numerous than us, a land of giants, of cities with walls that reach up to heaven! But again, I say, be strong and courageous and fear not! For we battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in high places! But we are surrounded by an army of Yahweh’s heavenly host, ten thousand times ten thousand strong! We will triumph! Our god will triumph!” The congregation burst out in applause again. This time, it must have been heard across the plains in the very first city targeted for destruction: Jericho.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“His voice bellowed with strength and courage, “People of Israel, Yahweh has spoken to me and has told me to be strong and courageous, for we will inherit this land that Yahweh had sworn to our forefathers! But we must be careful to do according to all the law that Moses commanded us! We must not turn from it to the right or to the left, and only then will we have success wherever we go! The book of the Law shall not depart from our mouths, but we shall meditate on it day and night, for Yahweh our Elohim is with us wherever we go!” The people applauded. Caleb beamed with honor. They had been through so much. They had survived thirst and starvation in a desert land, the death of loved ones, rebellion, plagues, famines, and wars. And now, finally, finally they were about to gain their inheritance. Their eternal wandering would be over.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“their entrance into the Promised Land of Yahweh be accompanied by the first of their Feasts that marked their exodus, an event that would forever be etched into their souls like the permanent markings on the monuments of Egypt. From Gilgal they would launch their campaign of military conquest of the land. On that day, they ate of the produce of the land of Canaan, their unleavened cakes and their parched grain. And on that very day, the manna ceased from heaven. They were now in the land of milk and honey.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“One last element remained for the consecration of the Children of Israel. On the fourteenth day of the first month of Nisan the people all kept the Passover meal in their new base of operations at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho. The Passover was a feast that commemorated God’s tenth and final plague on Egypt, the death of the first-born. Before their exodus from Egyptian slavery the Israelites were commanded by Yahweh to slaughter a lamb and brush its blood over the doorposts of their homes. The Destroyer then came to kill the first-born of every family in Egypt, but passed over those with the blood on their lintels. It was the last plague that Yahweh sent on Pharaoh to bend his will. When Pharaoh’s own son succumbed to the Angel of Death, it did not merely bend Pharaoh, it broke him, and he let Moses and his people leave the land of the Nile.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“But the ceremonial preparations were not yet finished. Ever since the exodus, the Israelites had failed to perform the sign of the Abrahamic covenant on their sons: circumcision. Circumcision was the act of cutting off the foreskin of the male genital organ of Israelite boys at the eighth day after birth. It was the badge of covenant that marked the Israelite commitment to Yahweh. Some believed it was a physical picture of spiritual cleansing from a sheath of corruption. Others believed it was a symbol of Yahweh’s blessing upon Abraham’s fathering of a multitude of nations. Yahweh never explained. But explanation was not required for obedience. And obedience was not a badge of the grumbling and complaining exodus generation. By the time that generation had died out, no one was circumcised in the entire nation of Israel. Joshua had the priests make flint knives and they circumcised every male in Israel. There was much pain and crying by men throughout the camp, but they had healed within a week and were ready for battle.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“After the people had hastily crossed over, the priests took up the Ark and left the pile of stones in the riverbed. As soon as they had made their way onto the dry land, the waters of the Jordan began to flow again and the river renewed its course to the Dead Sea. The people made camp at a location they called Gilgal. They set up metal forges to immediately begin manufacturing more weapons for the Yahweh Wars before them. Forty troop units came over for battle with the people. But not all of Israel came over with them that day. The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh had begged Moses before he died to give them the land east of the Jordan as their inheritance. It was where they had conquered Sihon and Og, and it was a rich fertile area that the tribes desired. He had granted it to them on the condition that they would send their warriors across the Jordan to fight with the rest of the tribes in Canaan. Only after they had secured their victories would they be allowed to go back and build their lives with their tribes in the Transjordan.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant

“The people buzzed with excitement and were amazed. Caleb watched it all with his poetic eye. He had seen how Yahweh was establishing Joshua as a new Moses to lead the people. This water crossing was reminiscent of the crossing of the Red Sea during the exodus under Moses. Joshua’s coronation occurred after coming down from the mountain much like Moses came down Sinai with the tablets of the Law. And now Yahweh talked to Joshua almost as he had talked to Moses. The priests carrying the Ark now walked out onto the dried up riverbed and stood with it in the middle as the people crossed over in procession. According to Yahweh’s own commands, twelve chosen men, one from each of the twelve tribes, pulled twelve large stones out of the riverbed from around the priests. They carried them to where they would be camping that night and placed them in a pile as a memorial of this day. At the same time, twelve others gathered a stone each and placed a pile of those stones in the center of the riverbed where the priests were standing.”
― Brian Godawa, Caleb Vigilant