I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能做。–腓立比书4章13节

So here I am today, eighty-five years old! . . . I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Joshua 14:10–11

看哪！现今我八十五岁了，……无论是争战是出入，我的力量那时如何，现在还是如何。-约书亚记14章10-11节

As I’ve grown older, I’ve noticed more joint pain, especially when cold weather hits. Some days, I feel less like a conqueror and more like someone conquered by the challenges of becoming a senior citizen.

随着年纪渐长，我的关节也越发疼痛，在寒冷天气之时，更是如此。有些时候，我甚至觉得自己就像无法战胜挑战的老年人。

That’s why my hero is an older man named Caleb—the former spy sent by Moses to scout out Canaan, the Promised Land (Num. 13–14). After the other spies gave an unfavorable report, Caleb and Joshua were the only spies out of the twelve whom God favored to enter Canaan. Now, in Joshua 14, the time for Caleb to receive his portion of land had come. But there were enemies still to drive out. Not content to retire and leave the battle to the younger generation, Caleb declared, “You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the  helping me, I will drive them out just as he said” (Josh. 14:12).

这就是为什么我心目中的英雄是一位名叫迦勒的老人，他是摩西差往窥探迦南地的其中一名探子（民数记13-14章）。在十二个探子当中，其他的探子都报告了坏消息，最后唯有迦勒和约书亚蒙上帝应允进入迦南地。在约书亚记14章，迦勒可以前往得他的产业，但那地仍有敌人还未被赶出。迦勒不甘退役，也不愿将战役留给年轻的一代，他说：“那里有亚衲族人，并宽大坚固的城，你也曾听见了。或者耶和华照祂所应许的与我同在，我就把他们赶出去。”（约书亚记14章12节）

“The  helping me.” That’s the kind of mindset that kept Caleb battle-ready. He focused on God’s power, not his own, nor on his advanced age. God would help him do whatever needed to be done.

“主必帮助我！”就是这样的心态让迦勒随时都能作战。他专注于上帝的大能，而非自己的能力，或是渐长的年岁。上帝必会帮助他完成所需要做的事。

Most of us don’t think of taking on anything monumental when we reach a certain age. But we can still do great things for God, no matter how old we are. When Caleb-sized opportunities come our way, we don’t have to shy away from them. With the Lord helping us, we can conquer!

当我们到了某个年龄阶段时，常认为自己不能承担什么重责大任。然而，无论我们年岁几何，我们依然能为上帝行大事。当有如迦勒那样的机会临到我们时，我们无须回避。藉着主的帮助，我们必能得胜有余！

Joshua 14:7-15New International Version (NIV)

7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’

10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel movedabout in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified,but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebronas his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arab after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest from war.

约书亚记 14:7-15Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

7 耶和华的仆人摩西从加低斯巴尼亚打发我窥探这地，那时我正四十岁，我按着心意回报他。 8 然而同我上去的众弟兄使百姓的心消化，但我专心跟从耶和华我的神。9 当日摩西起誓说：‘你脚所踏之地定要归你和你的子孙永远为业，因为你专心跟从耶和华我的神。’ 10 自从耶和华对摩西说这话的时候，耶和华照他所应许的，使我存活这四十五年，其间以色列人在旷野行走。看哪，现今我八十五岁了， 11 我还是强壮，像摩西打发我去的那天一样。无论是争战是出入，我的力量那时如何，现在还是如何。 12 求你将耶和华那日应许我的这山地给我。那里有亚衲族人，并宽大坚固的城，你也曾听见了。或者耶和华照他所应许的与我同在，我就把他们赶出去。”

迦勒得希伯仑为业

13 于是约书亚为耶孚尼的儿子迦勒祝福，将希伯仑给他为业。 14 所以希伯仑做了基尼洗族耶孚尼的儿子迦勒的产业，直到今日，因为他专心跟从耶和华以色列的神。15 希伯仑从前名叫基列亚巴，亚巴是亚衲族中最尊大的人。于是国中太平，没有争战了。

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the strength to get through each day. Help me to do Your will.

天父，感谢祢赐我力量度过每一天。
求祢帮助我，能遵行祢的旨意。

INSIGHT

Caleb had grown up in the slavery of Egypt. He’d seen God rescue His people from the grip of Pharaoh and provide for them forty years in a hot and barren wilderness. He’d seen giantlike people make his fellow spies feel like insects (Num. 13:33), yet even in his old age he relied on God’s help to conquer the land.

Are you faced with an impossible situation? The same God who helped Caleb can help you too.

灵粮透视

迦勒在埃及为奴之地长大，他亲眼目睹上帝拯救以色列百姓脱离法老的辖制，并在炎热、荒芜的旷野供应他们达四十年之久。迦勒也亲眼看见如巨人般高大强悍的人，这些人让其他的探子觉得自己就像蚱蜢一样（民数记13章33节），但迦勒即使在年老的时候，仍然倚靠上帝的帮助征服那地。

你是否正面对不可能胜过的境况？那位帮助迦勒的上帝，也同样会帮助你。

整理：于姊妹