Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with Caleb from the Bible
Have you ever played the game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"? The idea is that any Hollywood actor can be connected to Kevin Bacon through their film roles, with no more than six steps in between. But can we make a similar connection with a character from the Bible? Let’s try it with Caleb, a prominent figure in the Old Testament.
Step 1: Caleb to Joshua
Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan. Along with Joshua, he was among the only two who had faith that Israel could conquer the territory, despite the presence of powerful enemies. Joshua, who later became Moses’ successor, was a close friend and ally of Caleb.
Step 2: Joshua to Moses
As mentioned, Joshua was the right-hand man of Moses, who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and towards the Promised Land. Moses was also a prophet and lawgiver, who received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai.
Step 3: Moses to Aaron
Moses had a brother named Aaron, who played a key role in the Israelite’s journey. Aaron served as the first high priest of Israel, and assisted Moses in leading the people and performing miracles. He was also the father of two notable priests, Eleazar and Ithamar.
Step 4: Aaron to David
David, the greatest king of Israel, was a descendant of Aaron. As a young boy, David was anointed by the prophet Samuel to become king, and he eventually defeated the Philistines and established Jerusalem as his capital city.
Step 5: David to Jesus
David’s lineage continued through the generations until it reached Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet Micah had foretold, and he fulfilled many prophecies and teachings from the Old Testament. Jesus performed miracles, taught about God’s love and forgiveness, and ultimately died on the cross for our sins.
Step 6: Jesus to Kevin Bacon
Okay, this one might be a stretch, but bear with me. Kevin Bacon once starred in a movie called "Stir of Echoes," which was based on a novel by Richard Matheson. Matheson also wrote a book called "What Dreams May Come," which was adapted into a film starring Robin Williams. Williams played a character named Chris Nielsen, who dies and goes to heaven, where he meets his wife, played by Annabella Sciorra. Sciorra was in a movie called "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," with none other than… Kevin Bacon!
Wrap-up with Bible verse:
Caleb was a man of great faith and courage, who clung to God’s promises and conquered his enemies. Numbers 14:24 says, "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." May we also be like Caleb, trusting in God’s faithfulness and stepping out in obedience.