Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
People of God - Body of Jesus Christ
Portion: Joshua 1:1-9Verse: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Life is full of changes. History is full of changes. God keeps doing new things.
We see it in biblical history, as God moves his people through various stages towards maturity, from the time of Abraham to the period of the Judges to the monarchy, finally to the gospel. We see it in world history, as empires and cultures come and go from the global stage. And we see it in the short history of our own lives. Whenever there is a change in leadership this causes a certain amount of instability, of wondering “What will happen now?” But change for the right reasons is good. Sometimes we must change in order to accomplish God’s will.
The book of Joshua is about change. It marks the end of one period of Israel's history and the beginning of a new period. The book begins with the death of Moses. Moses had led the people out of slavery in Egypt. He led them into the wilderness. But now Moses is gone. When Joshua took over for Moses, he was a bit afraid of what was ahead. The task was daunting, filled with unknown challenges.
There are two important things to notice about the figure of Joshua. Firstly, Joshua points back to Moses. He does all these Moses-like things, like leading Israelites across the Jordan River on dry ground. Moses is called the “servant of the Lord.” Joshua is as well.
So, Joshua is a new Moses. But that's not all. Joshua not only points back to Moses-he also points forward to Jesus Christ, the Greater Joshua. The story of Joshua paves the way for the gospel. In fact, the name “Jesus” is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua. Jesus does what the first Joshua did but in a greater, transformed way.
In the midst of this time of transition, God comes and tells Joshua, as the leader and representative of the people, “Be strong and courageous.” That was God’s word to Joshua and to Israel - and through them, it’s God's word to us. Three reasons emerge from this passage why Joshua and the people should be strong and courageous as they move into this new phase in history. They’re 3 reasons we should be strong and courageous as well:
We have God's promise (Josh 1:3-4) - We have powerful enemies that stand in our way - the world, the flesh, and the devil. We can fight to win, we can fight with confidence, because we know that Christ, our greater Joshua, has already won the definitive battle for us. He defeated the world; he defeated the flesh; he defeated Satan, through his cross and resurrection.
We have God's pattern (Josh 1:7-8) - For Joshua, the pattern was Moses’ law. That was his book. If Joshua walked that path, he was sure to find victory. We have something even better. A bigger book - a completed book. It's the law of the Greater Joshua and the Greater Moses. It’s the law of Christ, as Paul called it. It’s the pattern of his self-sacrificial love. The greater Joshua did not annul or abolish the law of Moses; he fulfilled it. That pattern was shadowed in the law of Moses, but it was embodied and came to full realization in Christ himself. He is our model. That's the mold you're to pour your life into so that your life becomes Christ-shaped.
We have God's presence (Josh 1:5,9) - God's presence gives us strength to fight, even when we face giants and walled cities. God is present with us in his means of grace. The presence of God with us is the key. This is the central promise of Scripture – God is with us; he dwells with us and within us.
As we move into new phases of life, we must not forget what got us here. Whatever we accomplish, whatever growth and maturity we attain together, whatever success we have, whatever battles we win – it’s all due to God's promise, God's grace, and God’s power. We can't do anything in our own strength. Our life is about change and these changes are tests from God. Every change is a mini-crisis, and God wants to see how we'll react. We’re going to be in the middle of fearful situations and situations that are very challenging, and hard, and bring up fears but God’s presence banishes that fear. We need to remember that God is with us. The situation might not change but it’s the realization that God is there with us that gives us comfort and strength. Joshua’s strength and courage was not his own but the Lord’s. He got it from the Lord who was with him every step of the way. Joshua’s life was pointing to Jesus and Jesus is the only One who can save us and He has saved us. Because of that, we can walk through anything with strength and courage and we have nothing to fear.
Father God, thank You that I can trust all your promises. We thank You for Your Word for we can open Your Word in the moments we need wisdom, insight, truth, and guidance. We pray that we would be able to face whatever You have called us to, God, without fear and distress and that we would be courageous and strong. We pray, like Joshua, that we would not turn from Your Word but we would obey it completely and fully. In Jesus' name, Amen.
"God doesn't call people who are qualified. He calls people who are willing, and then He qualifies them." - Richard Parker
Eapen Ninan
South Florida