There is only a couple of references to a person being an “overcomer” in the Old Covenant during the time of the exodus. Caleb was that example of someone who had an overcoming attitude and stepped into what seemed to be an impossible calling of God.
Caleb believed what God had promised and took unwavering action to show it. God’s calling at that time was “I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land” (Deut. 1:8). That was not an easy thing, they were outnumbered, exposed, and unfamiliar with this new land they were to take. Worse even, there were giants in that land which were likely the remnants of the half-demon half-man monsters mentioned in Genesis. Who could beat these well established cities with thick walls guarded by giants?
Caleb ignored those facts and fears as he looked at the obstacles through a different lens: “If God is for us, then who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31) The majority of people who came out of Egypt did not have the faith of Caleb to believe God and did not overcome the giants and obstacles, “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Heb. 3:19). All 600,000 men who came out of Egypt heard the message (you could say the gospel), however they rebelled, stayed stuck in sin, clung to their fears, and failed to do what God called them to do. This unbelief kept almost all of that generation from inheriting God’s promises! (See Heb. Ch. 3-4).
In contrast to the Exodus example, we are all called to be the overcomers in this New Covenant! In contrast, there are 14 scriptures in the New Covenant which tell us that we are to overcome and will inherit amazing promises if we do. The promises are greater in number and nature and are far more precious. God in His wisdom also gave His own Son and His Holy Spirit to help us secure them! The good land of freedom from sin, peace with God, fruitfulness, and growing love and obedience is there to be taken by faith. “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it” (Rev. 3:8) The door is open, the path has been made clear, your faith in action will secure all that God has for you. There are few people who will inherit what God has made available to them as many are waiting around in unbelief wasting their lives not realizing that these promises were conditional on their faith in action to step into God’s call. Overcoming sin is the toughest giant and tallest wall in this journey, and without it you have nothing. Many people walk up to the wall of anger, lust, hatred, envy, greed, and say “it’s just too big, I can’t do it” and they settle in the infertile land of dead religion. Real religion that takes the city says, “If God is for me, then no stubborn sin can prevail against me!”. Fight with all that there is in you, with the grace and strength that God gives, and overcome those giants! (Heb. 12)
Lets look at the overcoming attitude of Caleb:
Romans 12:21 NKJV
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 John 2:13 NKJV
I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
1 John 4:4 NKJV
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 5:4 NKJV
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.
1 John 5:5 NKJV
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Revelation 2:7 NKJV
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”‘
Revelation 2:11 NKJV
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”‘
Revelation 2:17 NKJV
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”‘
Revelation 2:26 NKJV
And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-
Revelation 3:5 NKJV
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 3:12 NKJV
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Revelation 3:21 NKJV
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 12:11 NKJV
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
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