Manufacturing Monuments
Read Joshua 4:1-9
We all face obstacles to overcome, battles to win and enemies to
defeat. Like he Israel, victory comes to those who trust and obey. When
God prevails, we should give Him glory by remembering His work in our
midst and erecting a monument to His holy name. Whether it be an actual
"monument" or whether it be through our telling and retelling the story
of our victory through Him to anyone who will listen or even through our
lives being changed because of the victory through His name. However we
choose to remember, it is of utmost importance that we DO remember. Not
only for ourselves and to remind us of what He has done, but also to
reveal to others what God and His power can do. Remember Rahab, she
learned through hearing and seeing what He did for others and that was
her saving grace!!
In Chapter 4, we pick up just as all of the tribes of Israel have
crossed over the dry bed of the river Jordan. The Lord gives Joshua
specific instructions to build a memorial of what He has done for them
so that they can remember it forever, as well as tell their children and
their children's children about what He did for them. We often fail
in our trust of God because we forget the great things He has done, and
often the faith of our children is weak because they have never been
told how great God is and how real His working is in our lives.
If we really think about it, these stones will not just be a visual
reminder, but also a tangible reminder of their victory through God, for
years and years to come. Getting the stones wasn't hard for the 12 men,
I'm sure, but that was because the river bed was dried up! In the years
to come when their children and grandchildren are asking about the
memorial there will be a raging river in front of them. The task of
retrieving 12 stones from the river bed looks like an almost
unconquerable task to them! But there they are, standing right in front
of them as tangible proof....God's power, in their minds, is radically
enlarged!
The next verse is probably my favorite part of this reading;
9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of
the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the
covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
Now, if we aren't careful, we will read this and understand that
Joshua was setting up the stones that the 12 men collected....that's
what I had read and understood it to say in the past. I didn't realize
the truth until I studied it out tonight! Joshua collected 12 stones of
his own. We know this because the verse before says this;
8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took
twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of
the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they
carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down.
So they had already put their stones down by the camp. Verse 9 tells
us that before the river went back to flowing as normal, Joshua took 12
stones and erected a memorial in the middle where the priest had stood.
When the river started flowing again normally, the stones would probably
not be visible. However, Do you know when they would be visible??
During a time of drought!! I don't know about you, but that speaks to
me! Joshua set up a memorial in the very bed of the river Jordan, so
that when it was lowered in a season of drought, those stones could be
seen and would testify of the time that God had completely dried up the
Jordan! During our "seasons of drought" are the most important times
that we need to remember all of the wonderful things that God has done
for us. When the enemy is whispering in our ear that we aren't good
enough...we need to be able to look back at those memorials and call him
a liar. When life is weighing us down until we feel like there's no use
trying....we need to be able to look at those memorials and see that
there is. When we are convinced that God does not have a purpose or a
GOOD plan for our lives....we need to be able to see those memorials and
remember that He does and He has been working in us all along. Ladies,
Let's build memorials. If you need to write it down, write it down. If
you need to take a picture, do it. If you need to tell someone so that
they can remind you when you forget, tell someone..or tell 10 someones!
It doesn't matter how we do it, just that we do.
How do you plan to build memorials of God's goodness in your life?
Showing posts with label courage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label courage. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Going without Knowing (Joshua Study Post 10)
Going without Knowing!
Read Joshua 3:9-17
We read in these verses that the Lord gives specific instructions for the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to lead the way as the Israelites enter into the Jordan river. He tells them further that as soon as the priests carrying the Ark step foot in the river, "its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."..... He doesn't tell them HOW the water will be stopped. He doesn't tell them HOW their miracle is going to happen. Just that it is going to happen. That so relates to our lives, doesn't it? How often does God ask us to trust Him, even when we don't know where our miracle is going to come from? I was discussing last week with a few young ladies that I had breakfast with about how we try SO hard to figure out WHAT the plan is that God has for our lives. We pray to know what it is. We pray for it to happen...it's a big deal (as it should be!). But I told them that I was starting to consider that maybe God doesn't want us to try so hard to figure out WHAT the plan is...maybe He is waiting for us to just trust that there IS a plan. So it was with the Israelites. They knew God had a plan. Joshua told them what God planned to do. Just not how He planned to do it! Once again, the priests and the Israelites remained faithful! Not knowing, they still did as they were instructed and stepped into the raging river that looked like it wasn't going anywhere, and once again, God proved His faithfulness and power. He was calling the Israelites to step out in faith while the water was still raging. So many times we want the ground to be dry before we even step out.
Parting the waters and causing them to "cut off and stand up in a heap" wasn't the only miracle that happened when they crossed the Jordan. The Word also says that God allowed the Israelites to cross over on dry ground. The ground that had just, moments before, been a riverbed was now completely dry! When the Israelites stepped out in faith God made it so that they didn't even have to cross over through all the mud and muck of a wet, soggy riverbed. How great is He??
Now, just a bit about the Ark of the Covenant and the symbolism I see here in these verses...We already know that the Ark of the Covenant represented the very presence of God. In this instance we see that the priests stand holding the Ark allowing all of the people to pass over....in essence, saving their lives. I think that we can liken this to what God gave us through Jesus' life on the cross. Jesus (the ark) held back death (the Jordan) so that we could be saved. The Israelites had to trust Joshua and keep their focus on and follow behind the Ark that was holding back that river so that they could cross over into the Promised Land. Just like them, we have to keep our eyes on and follow our victorious Jesus and OUR river of impossibility will dry up so that we can cross over into our Promised Land! I know i've said this before, buuuutttt..... I love that! I love finding stuff that is "hidden" in the Word!! :)
So, as we think about the trials and "mud and muck" we are facing in our lives, maybe we should pray and ask God to help us have the faith and focus of the Israelites. Courage to step out, in faith with the river still raging, and trust Him to dry it all up and lead us into the plan He has for us.....even when we have no idea what it is!
Read Joshua 3:9-17
We read in these verses that the Lord gives specific instructions for the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to lead the way as the Israelites enter into the Jordan river. He tells them further that as soon as the priests carrying the Ark step foot in the river, "its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."..... He doesn't tell them HOW the water will be stopped. He doesn't tell them HOW their miracle is going to happen. Just that it is going to happen. That so relates to our lives, doesn't it? How often does God ask us to trust Him, even when we don't know where our miracle is going to come from? I was discussing last week with a few young ladies that I had breakfast with about how we try SO hard to figure out WHAT the plan is that God has for our lives. We pray to know what it is. We pray for it to happen...it's a big deal (as it should be!). But I told them that I was starting to consider that maybe God doesn't want us to try so hard to figure out WHAT the plan is...maybe He is waiting for us to just trust that there IS a plan. So it was with the Israelites. They knew God had a plan. Joshua told them what God planned to do. Just not how He planned to do it! Once again, the priests and the Israelites remained faithful! Not knowing, they still did as they were instructed and stepped into the raging river that looked like it wasn't going anywhere, and once again, God proved His faithfulness and power. He was calling the Israelites to step out in faith while the water was still raging. So many times we want the ground to be dry before we even step out.
Parting the waters and causing them to "cut off and stand up in a heap" wasn't the only miracle that happened when they crossed the Jordan. The Word also says that God allowed the Israelites to cross over on dry ground. The ground that had just, moments before, been a riverbed was now completely dry! When the Israelites stepped out in faith God made it so that they didn't even have to cross over through all the mud and muck of a wet, soggy riverbed. How great is He??
Now, just a bit about the Ark of the Covenant and the symbolism I see here in these verses...We already know that the Ark of the Covenant represented the very presence of God. In this instance we see that the priests stand holding the Ark allowing all of the people to pass over....in essence, saving their lives. I think that we can liken this to what God gave us through Jesus' life on the cross. Jesus (the ark) held back death (the Jordan) so that we could be saved. The Israelites had to trust Joshua and keep their focus on and follow behind the Ark that was holding back that river so that they could cross over into the Promised Land. Just like them, we have to keep our eyes on and follow our victorious Jesus and OUR river of impossibility will dry up so that we can cross over into our Promised Land! I know i've said this before, buuuutttt..... I love that! I love finding stuff that is "hidden" in the Word!! :)
So, as we think about the trials and "mud and muck" we are facing in our lives, maybe we should pray and ask God to help us have the faith and focus of the Israelites. Courage to step out, in faith with the river still raging, and trust Him to dry it all up and lead us into the plan He has for us.....even when we have no idea what it is!
Following Instructions (Joshua Study Post 9)
Following Instructions
Read Joshua 3:1-6
I am filled with anticipation as we begin chapter 3!! The Israelites are so close to finally going into the Promised Land....I can only imagine the excitement they felt as they camped on the very banks of the River Jordan for 3 days. The very river that stood between them and their PROMISE...
What I want to talk about tonight is the instructions that Joshua gives to the Israelites as to how they are to cross into their land. We can probably safely say that by this point they were sitting on ready...they more than likely didn't sleep the night before b/c they were SO excited because they knew that this promise that they had been waiting soooo long for was about to be fulfilled. They would probably have just took off running towards their promise just because they were so ready to receive it after all this time!! Or, they could have let a little fear creep back in. They knew they were supposed to be crossing this river, but for the last 3 days they have looked at the waters as they flowed. they have noticed, over and over, the size of the river. I can't say for sure how they were feeling...But once again, there is a seemingly impossible task blocking their way. However; Joshua asks them to be patient...be obedient....be faithful....once again. He asks them to follow a specific set of instructions. Instructions that initially sound insignificant. But we know better than that by now! ;)
Let's take a look at the instructions he gave them;
First, Joshua tells them
3“When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them.
Joshua didn't send his strongest warriors first. He didn't tell all of the strongest warriors to take the front line...Joshua realized that this battle was a spiritual one and not a physical one. He realized that the priests that carried the Ark of the Covenant, which was the visible representation of God's presence among the Israelites, had to be their fist line of defense.
So many times we want to attempt to fight our battles ourselves. We think "we got it". We think we know what is best. Only to find out that we are completely wrong. Then, when all else fails, we decide to give God a go at it. All the while we are fighting with our own strength, God is just waiting for us to let Him go before us and fight our battle for us! (and we're only on the 1st instruction!! :) )
Second, Joshua instructs them to
4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”
Joshua instructs them of this for 2 reasons. In order to respect the holy nature of the Ark. And also so that everyone had a clear view of the Ark...So they could keep their eyes on the presence of God. They presence of God was leading them. How much more victorious could our lives be if we let the presence of God lead our every decision?
And Lastly,Joshua tell them,
And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."
"Sanctify....... (Consecrate, Purify, Cleanse, make yourselves holy) for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."....The Israelites were a l m o s t ready to enter into the promise God had for them...but there was just one more thing to do. God needed to get them prepared spiritually. He needed them to purify their minds and hearts completely so that they were ready to receive ALL He had for them!
Couldn't it be that God is saying the same thing to his us today?
Sanctify yourselves.
Purify yourselves.
Consecrate yourselves
for tomorrow I will do wonders among you!!
I believe that God has got a new level for our lives to go to.
He’s got bigger authority for us to realize.
He's got more work for us to do!
He's got more friends for us to share our story with!
He’s wants to enlarge our vision, enlarge our purpose.....
But first, before these wonders will come, he says “Sanctify yourself.”
The word, Sanctify means the process of becoming pure and holy, just as God is pure and Holy.
Cindy Jacobs says that “Sanctification is a process in which you become more Christ like."
In a nutshell, It means you make clear decisions in your life.
It's all about making a decision to not let sin have a say in your life any longer.
You make a choice that you will not sin.
You make a choice that if you are addicted that you will get help.
You make a choice to not entertain temptation.
I believe that God uses this story to make it clear that; a) we all need instruction. Just as the Israelites needed instruction before crossing the Jordan. b) that sometimes all that's left to do is surrender our life completely to Him in order to walk into our promise. All that may be left to do if you are still waiting on your promise, is for you to surrender to God's instruction for your to sanctify yourself!
Read Joshua 3:1-6
I am filled with anticipation as we begin chapter 3!! The Israelites are so close to finally going into the Promised Land....I can only imagine the excitement they felt as they camped on the very banks of the River Jordan for 3 days. The very river that stood between them and their PROMISE...
What I want to talk about tonight is the instructions that Joshua gives to the Israelites as to how they are to cross into their land. We can probably safely say that by this point they were sitting on ready...they more than likely didn't sleep the night before b/c they were SO excited because they knew that this promise that they had been waiting soooo long for was about to be fulfilled. They would probably have just took off running towards their promise just because they were so ready to receive it after all this time!! Or, they could have let a little fear creep back in. They knew they were supposed to be crossing this river, but for the last 3 days they have looked at the waters as they flowed. they have noticed, over and over, the size of the river. I can't say for sure how they were feeling...But once again, there is a seemingly impossible task blocking their way. However; Joshua asks them to be patient...be obedient....be faithful....once again. He asks them to follow a specific set of instructions. Instructions that initially sound insignificant. But we know better than that by now! ;)
Let's take a look at the instructions he gave them;
First, Joshua tells them
3“When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them.
Joshua didn't send his strongest warriors first. He didn't tell all of the strongest warriors to take the front line...Joshua realized that this battle was a spiritual one and not a physical one. He realized that the priests that carried the Ark of the Covenant, which was the visible representation of God's presence among the Israelites, had to be their fist line of defense.
So many times we want to attempt to fight our battles ourselves. We think "we got it". We think we know what is best. Only to find out that we are completely wrong. Then, when all else fails, we decide to give God a go at it. All the while we are fighting with our own strength, God is just waiting for us to let Him go before us and fight our battle for us! (and we're only on the 1st instruction!! :) )
Second, Joshua instructs them to
4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”
Joshua instructs them of this for 2 reasons. In order to respect the holy nature of the Ark. And also so that everyone had a clear view of the Ark...So they could keep their eyes on the presence of God. They presence of God was leading them. How much more victorious could our lives be if we let the presence of God lead our every decision?
And Lastly,Joshua tell them,
And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."
"Sanctify....... (Consecrate, Purify, Cleanse, make yourselves holy) for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."....The Israelites were a l m o s t ready to enter into the promise God had for them...but there was just one more thing to do. God needed to get them prepared spiritually. He needed them to purify their minds and hearts completely so that they were ready to receive ALL He had for them!
Couldn't it be that God is saying the same thing to his us today?
Sanctify yourselves.
Purify yourselves.
Consecrate yourselves
for tomorrow I will do wonders among you!!
I believe that God has got a new level for our lives to go to.
He’s got bigger authority for us to realize.
He's got more work for us to do!
He's got more friends for us to share our story with!
He’s wants to enlarge our vision, enlarge our purpose.....
But first, before these wonders will come, he says “Sanctify yourself.”
The word, Sanctify means the process of becoming pure and holy, just as God is pure and Holy.
Cindy Jacobs says that “Sanctification is a process in which you become more Christ like."
In a nutshell, It means you make clear decisions in your life.
It's all about making a decision to not let sin have a say in your life any longer.
You make a choice that you will not sin.
You make a choice that if you are addicted that you will get help.
You make a choice to not entertain temptation.
I believe that God uses this story to make it clear that; a) we all need instruction. Just as the Israelites needed instruction before crossing the Jordan. b) that sometimes all that's left to do is surrender our life completely to Him in order to walk into our promise. All that may be left to do if you are still waiting on your promise, is for you to surrender to God's instruction for your to sanctify yourself!
The Courageous Prostitute (Joshua Study Post 6)
The Courageous Prostitute.
Read Joshua 2:1-13
Just to quickly recap where we are; Joshua has mourned the death of his mentor, Moses. He has been called, by God, to fill the shoes of leader to the Israelite people. He has summoned the people to begin to prepare to go into the land that God has promised them. He has told them they had 3 days to prepare. Joshua decides to send 2 spies into the city to scope out the area....
Now, that brings us to today's text. Today we meet a woman by the name of Rahab. I'm so encouraged by the things that we can learn from this woman that comes from the lineage of Christ! However, my heart is also convicted...Let's learn a little about this woman, Rahab.
In just the first verse of chapter 2 we learn 3 things about Rahab. 1) She is a prostitute 2) She lives in Jericho 3) The spies come to her house while on the job.
We have to picture the scene as these spies came upon the home of Rahab. From what we know about the life of prostitution, then and now, we can draw the conclusion that Rahab wasn't living in a little house with a white picket fence standing on the porch in her dress and an apron offering coffee and a smile....no, Rahab probably didn't have the cleanest living conditions. She was more likely dressed for a Saturday evening rendezvous. She was a prostitute. This was her way of life. She would have been rejected by her community. Used by men who sought her out for only one thing. I believe that we must truly understand her life, where she comes from, in order to learn the most from her.
Here is a woman who is obviously not living the life that God has set out for her. A woman that any of us would probably reject as a "servant of the Lord". A woman who most would probably say the Lord could not use. So, why do the spies choose to stop at her door? What makes her home more appealing than the one with the moral family living in it next door? What convinces Rahab to lie to her own people in order to protect these men who she does not know? The answer....Faith & Courage. Rahab had faith and acted on it with courage. She had heard what the Lord had done for the Israelites and believed. The she was given the opportunity and acted on that belief. Her actions could very well cost her her life. But she acted anyway. How many times do we hear of things that the Lord has done yet refuse to believe...OR worse, we believe, but we refuse act on that belief.
Rahab goes on in verses 12 & 13 to make a deal with the spies. If she protects them, they must protect her and her family... and as a side note, these verses also present another piece of Rahab's life. She speaks of her "Father" and "Brothers". In those days if a woman was unwed she would continue to be provided for by her Father and if he was deceased her brothers would care for her. So why was Rahab a prostitute if her Father and Brothers were still living? The Word doesn't tell us, but we could draw the conclusion that she was not only rejected by society, but also abandoned by her family to a life of prostitution. To me, this makes her faith & Courage shine even brighter. Not only had she heard what the Lord had done, believed it & acted on it but she had trust in Him to do even more! She trusted in Him to protect her and her family.
Although Ms. Rahab had a lot of things going wrong in her life, we can see that she had a lot to teach us about faith & courage. Does this also teach us not to judge people so quickly by their outward appearance and actions or past actions? Maybe there is something we can learn from everyone that we come in contact with....After all, God made them too, right?
Thoughts?
Read Joshua 2:1-13
Just to quickly recap where we are; Joshua has mourned the death of his mentor, Moses. He has been called, by God, to fill the shoes of leader to the Israelite people. He has summoned the people to begin to prepare to go into the land that God has promised them. He has told them they had 3 days to prepare. Joshua decides to send 2 spies into the city to scope out the area....
Now, that brings us to today's text. Today we meet a woman by the name of Rahab. I'm so encouraged by the things that we can learn from this woman that comes from the lineage of Christ! However, my heart is also convicted...Let's learn a little about this woman, Rahab.
In just the first verse of chapter 2 we learn 3 things about Rahab. 1) She is a prostitute 2) She lives in Jericho 3) The spies come to her house while on the job.
We have to picture the scene as these spies came upon the home of Rahab. From what we know about the life of prostitution, then and now, we can draw the conclusion that Rahab wasn't living in a little house with a white picket fence standing on the porch in her dress and an apron offering coffee and a smile....no, Rahab probably didn't have the cleanest living conditions. She was more likely dressed for a Saturday evening rendezvous. She was a prostitute. This was her way of life. She would have been rejected by her community. Used by men who sought her out for only one thing. I believe that we must truly understand her life, where she comes from, in order to learn the most from her.
Here is a woman who is obviously not living the life that God has set out for her. A woman that any of us would probably reject as a "servant of the Lord". A woman who most would probably say the Lord could not use. So, why do the spies choose to stop at her door? What makes her home more appealing than the one with the moral family living in it next door? What convinces Rahab to lie to her own people in order to protect these men who she does not know? The answer....Faith & Courage. Rahab had faith and acted on it with courage. She had heard what the Lord had done for the Israelites and believed. The she was given the opportunity and acted on that belief. Her actions could very well cost her her life. But she acted anyway. How many times do we hear of things that the Lord has done yet refuse to believe...OR worse, we believe, but we refuse act on that belief.
Rahab goes on in verses 12 & 13 to make a deal with the spies. If she protects them, they must protect her and her family... and as a side note, these verses also present another piece of Rahab's life. She speaks of her "Father" and "Brothers". In those days if a woman was unwed she would continue to be provided for by her Father and if he was deceased her brothers would care for her. So why was Rahab a prostitute if her Father and Brothers were still living? The Word doesn't tell us, but we could draw the conclusion that she was not only rejected by society, but also abandoned by her family to a life of prostitution. To me, this makes her faith & Courage shine even brighter. Not only had she heard what the Lord had done, believed it & acted on it but she had trust in Him to do even more! She trusted in Him to protect her and her family.
Although Ms. Rahab had a lot of things going wrong in her life, we can see that she had a lot to teach us about faith & courage. Does this also teach us not to judge people so quickly by their outward appearance and actions or past actions? Maybe there is something we can learn from everyone that we come in contact with....After all, God made them too, right?
Thoughts?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Joshua Study Post 4
Called to Courage
"Courage is knowing the worst -- and discovering that, in God's world, the very worst can't really hurt you."
Read Joshua 1:6-9
The above quote is from the caregiver of, George Smith, a courageous test pilot who became the first person to survive a supersonic ejection. He survived, with grave injuries, and feared flying again...He believed, in his caregiver's words, he found the anecdote to fear.
(If you'd like to read the entire story of Mr. Smith, you can find it here:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,866662,00.html)
Now, on to Joshua....He knew what it was to be a "survivor" too. He had seen the worst. He was a former Egyptian Slave, former wilderness wanderer & he had seen many of his people die in the desert. He had plenty of reason to be afraid! However, Joshua portrayed strong courage early on. When the majority of spies sent in to inspect the Promised Land came back shaking in their sandals, Joshua boldly said,
"Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Num 14:9)
He was a BRAVE soldier! Joshua had a lot to be intimidated by when he was being called to fill Moses shoes. However, God made certain that Joshua had the true anecdote to fear!
In our text today 3 times God says "be strong" to a man probably feeling weak. 3 times He instructed "have courage" to a timid leader. God told Joshua 2 times to not be afraid. Then and now, God faithfully gives and speaks strength to the faint. However, I believe that our admittance to weakness is what opens the door to receive God's strength. We have to readily admit our weaknesses to God so that we can accept His strength in those places. That is true courage...trading my weaknesses and anxieties for His strength. I read this quote today,
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of faith despite fear." -Unknown
God calls us to be courageous and strong, just as He did Joshua. Even when we ARE afraid, even when we are intimidated or discouraged. We are called to have faith even in those times. That is when we are truly courageous. Courage is the strength that enables us to withstand those times. God is calling us (me & you!) to courage. He isn't calling us to be always fearless or never feel weak...because, rest assured, those days will come... but instead He is calling us to have faith in Him DESPITE those times! Trusting in Him when the storms of life are raging. That's COURAGEOUS!
I am going to write down these verses (Joshua 1:6-9) and put them where I can see them in the mornings. I want to pray these verses when I wake up in the mornings...pray them over my family...How great if all of our children and husbands heard us pray over them everyday to "Be Strong and for the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go"??
Be of Good Courage today!! =)
"Courage is knowing the worst -- and discovering that, in God's world, the very worst can't really hurt you."
Read Joshua 1:6-9
The above quote is from the caregiver of, George Smith, a courageous test pilot who became the first person to survive a supersonic ejection. He survived, with grave injuries, and feared flying again...He believed, in his caregiver's words, he found the anecdote to fear.
(If you'd like to read the entire story of Mr. Smith, you can find it here:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,866662,00.html)
Now, on to Joshua....He knew what it was to be a "survivor" too. He had seen the worst. He was a former Egyptian Slave, former wilderness wanderer & he had seen many of his people die in the desert. He had plenty of reason to be afraid! However, Joshua portrayed strong courage early on. When the majority of spies sent in to inspect the Promised Land came back shaking in their sandals, Joshua boldly said,
"Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Num 14:9)
He was a BRAVE soldier! Joshua had a lot to be intimidated by when he was being called to fill Moses shoes. However, God made certain that Joshua had the true anecdote to fear!
In our text today 3 times God says "be strong" to a man probably feeling weak. 3 times He instructed "have courage" to a timid leader. God told Joshua 2 times to not be afraid. Then and now, God faithfully gives and speaks strength to the faint. However, I believe that our admittance to weakness is what opens the door to receive God's strength. We have to readily admit our weaknesses to God so that we can accept His strength in those places. That is true courage...trading my weaknesses and anxieties for His strength. I read this quote today,
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of faith despite fear." -Unknown
God calls us to be courageous and strong, just as He did Joshua. Even when we ARE afraid, even when we are intimidated or discouraged. We are called to have faith even in those times. That is when we are truly courageous. Courage is the strength that enables us to withstand those times. God is calling us (me & you!) to courage. He isn't calling us to be always fearless or never feel weak...because, rest assured, those days will come... but instead He is calling us to have faith in Him DESPITE those times! Trusting in Him when the storms of life are raging. That's COURAGEOUS!
I am going to write down these verses (Joshua 1:6-9) and put them where I can see them in the mornings. I want to pray these verses when I wake up in the mornings...pray them over my family...How great if all of our children and husbands heard us pray over them everyday to "Be Strong and for the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go"??
Be of Good Courage today!! =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)