Joshua 14:8-9 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land wherein thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.
Joshua and Caleb were the only two, out of twelve, spies that weren’t afraid of the giants in the land. The other ten spies brought back an evil report that made the hearts of the people melt from fear. Joshua wholly followed the Lord, which means he believed the Lord. God promised the Land and He promised to be with His people to fight for them. Joshua and Caleb trusted the Lord to do as He said.
For their unbelief that entire generation over 40 was condemned to die in the wilderness during the next 40 years. And all died except for Joshua and Caleb. Their faith was rewarded with an inheritance in the Land. (Joshua was now 85). The reason he lived to conquer and inherit the land is given: he wholly followed the Lord. He did not waver with doubt. In spite of frightening appearances to the contrary and seemingly impossible obstacles, he believed God. His faith was rewarded with Life and Inheritance.
And so with us. Our hearts melt with fear, doubt, and worry, but there is A Second Joshua who was faithful, even unto death on a cross, for us. By the power of the Gospel the Spirit creates such faith-full-ness in us and we do what we cannot do on our own: wholly follow the Lord. Thus we live and inherit.