When we take a look at the life of Joshua, we see someone who was second in command behind Moses, then became the leader of the Israelites and led them into the promised land.
We also see a great military leader, and we can lose focus of why he was great if we focus on his skills and not what God did through Him.
Joshua was who he was because he let God work through him. This fact is evident in his life.
One of the qualities we see in Joshua that we need to exhibit in our own lives, to get off the sidelines, is his Rock Solid Faith in God...
We first see that in one of the earliest Joshua episodes in Numbers 13 and 14.
The Israelites are on the edge of the promised land and sent 12 spies in to investigate the land. 10 of the 12 come back with negative reports, but Joshua and his friend Caleb have a different perspective in Numbers 14:6-9
“And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them."”
The people thought Joshua and Caleb had lost it! They talked about stoning them.
There may be something for you today, maybe you're sitting back and thinking, "oh man, this is going to be difficult, I don't know if I can make it." That's where the nation of Israel was in Numbers 13 and 14. They were lacking faith, luckily Joshua and his boy Caleb reminded them of the promises God had made.
So fast forward with me, Moses dies...Joshua leads the people into the Promised Land...for 7 years, Joshua led the people in conquest of their new promised home...when God was over the battle, the nation saw victory...At the Battle of Ai, God had turned away because of the disobedience of a man named Achan, causing defeat, but the Lord continued to prevail...Joshua leaned on the Lord...he faltered in his faith at Jericho because he sent in spies even after God had assured victory...but Joshua didn't allow that one hiccup to define his whole life...
Joshua had gone from back up QB to starter...its rare, in sports, that a second stringer come in and make waves...this year, until last night, Dak Prescott did that for the Cowboys...the Ohio State Buckeyes won a national championship with a 3rd string QB...so it's not impossible, but it's rare
My point is, Joshua leaned on the Lord. We see it from the earliest portion of his life to the end...
“"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."”
Joshua 24:14-15 ESV
So, Joshua puts it out there, point blank. No matter what you guys, Israel, decide to do, me and my house, we are going to serve God.
If we could go back and look, that's how he was his entire life.
So what can we pull from Joshua's life that can be meaningful to us?
No matter who we become, or what we accomplish. We don't get there apart from God. God can give you victory after victory, but when He knows you need to learn, He'll hand you defeat. Do you wishy washy yourself like the nation of Israel, or do you choose to be solid like Joshua?
Commit today that you're going to follow God, no matter how unpopular or ridiculed that makes you. Don't just give lip-service to it either, but your faith in God and see where He takes you!
You may have to do it from the bench for a while, but sooner or later, God's going to call you in, will you be ready?!?
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