[Caleb said,] “Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out just as the LORD has spoken.” (Joshua 14:12)
To fully understand this request by Caleb we need to look at Numbers 13-14. Here we see the people of Israel arriving at the Promised Land after God redeemed them from their slavery in Egypt. The people refuse to enter the Promised Land, stating: “The people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And indeed, we saw the descendants of Anak there!”
After wandering the wilderness for forty years, the people begin their conquest of the Promised Land. For his inheritance Caleb, who is now 85 years old, asks for the hill country where the Anakim live in their fortified cities, the very territory that caused his fellow Israelites to melt in fear. Forty years of wandering have not dimmed Caleb’s fervor to enter the land promised by God. His trust in God is so strong that he asks for the privilege of conquering the most challenging part of the land God promised.
Hebrews 11:10 tells us that Abraham “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” The same could be said for Caleb: his inheritance was not a piece of land–his inheritance was God. When we view God as our “exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1, KJV) we find strength to take on challenges relying on God’s provision. How different our lives would be if we would daily pray to God, “Give me the hill country.”