Title: The Faith of Joshua!
Contents
Text: Joshua 1:1-9
Title: Joshua's Faith
Joshua was a follower of Moses alone for 40 years.
Then one day, he receives a call from God and is commanded to cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan on behalf of the Israelites. Joshua was afraid. This is because he has never taken the initiative to lead or become a leader.
God had entrusted Joshua with such a great task. We may think that it is possible that God made a mistake, but God never makes mistakes or judges people wrongly and sets them as leaders.
God appointed Joshua as the leader of the people of Israel because he saw Joshua's unchanging faith. Joshua kept his seat even when Moses went up Mount Sinai and did not come down without contact for 40 days to receive the ark from Jehovah God. At that time, many people said that Moses had died when he saw the day of the Lord, and when everyone asked to return to Egypt, Joshua was as impatient as he was.
God saw Joshua as such a wonderful thing. Even though Joshua had never led people before, God could give him power and use it as he pleases. That's why God doesn't use people in the world who say they're good. And people with hardened wicks like reeds don't use it either.
As it is said, “He who is faithful in the least of things is also faithful in much”, those who are loyal to the master they serve can be used as faithful servants before the Lord. According to the same principle, a wife who has received the grace of Christ in the same family should respect and follow her husband who is the head. And the husband should treat such a wife as an alter ego and love him.
However, a woman who says she is living by the grace of Christ when she opens her mouth and ignores her husband, who is the head, is ultimately ignoring the Lord. is. Life is this way, only the mouth gives! Those who cry out for the Lord are ignorant of God.
And how do you think children who grew up in such a family will grow up in the future? In all cases, they tend to derail, and above all else, because they grow up without the love of their parents, they become dry emotionally and selfish, turning into a self-centered person. Even when such a child becomes an adult, like their parents' generation, the wife ignores her husband, and the husband keeps away from such a wife and has an affair.
Just like our proverb says that one can know ten by looking at it, if you look at Joshua's unchanging loyalty to Moses for 40 years, you can see at a glance how loyal he is when he meets God. When God appoints people to entrust with great things, he does not judge people by their outward appearance. They also don't look at the person's talents or abilities. It's just looking at that person's heart. Joshua received a passing grade from God in that respect.
In fact, Joshua must have been inexorably afraid when he received God's command. It must have been that Joshua could not sleep all night as Joshua, who was experiencing this for the first time in his life, as he led all the Israelites across the place where the river overflows with no fuss. But God said to Joshua, who was worried all night, “I will be with you! I will help you!” You can see Joshua holding onto Joshua's heart.
Since God raised Joshua as the leader of the people of Israel, of course, God will take responsibility for Joshua. Nevertheless, human beings can only help but be puzzled and surprised by the reality in front of them. But we must believe in God. And I have to learn to give up on myself. If you do not move forward because you are afraid to the end, the Jordan River will never part.
As we go through life, obstacles like the Jordan River appear countless times before our eyes. However, most people turn sideways or avoid them if they think it will harm them rather than stepping on them and going through them. Such a person will not be able to pass even the next obstacle. However, the person who crosses the first obstacle will easily pass the next obstacle. The way to get through obstacles is to rely on the Lord.
Who wouldn't be afraid of a flowing river?
I am afraid and trembling, but like Joshua, if the word of God has been given to me, I must give up my thoughts and move forward. Only then will the Jordan River be divided. Those who cross the Jordan River will also destroy the next obstacle, the city of Jericho. Such a person will enter the land of Canaan and defeat the Seven Amorites who are famous for their fierceness.
However, even when the Word is given, those who only tremble with fear will not be able to achieve anything. God is good and good. Therefore, if we believe and depend on it, He will surely guide us on a smooth path. Therefore, God wants all people in the world to attain eternal life through His Son.
Today, if we want to live like Joshua, we must now have the Son (the Spirit of Christ) sent by God in our hearts. Otherwise, no one can have full faith. Perfect faith is like Joshua, and it must not change under any circumstances. However, Christians who have received the Holy Spirit today have a different beginning and end. This is by no means complete belief.
Joshua is also a type of Jesus. Just as the Israelites were able to follow Joshua into the land of Canaan, even today, only if we believe in and follow the Son God sends us can we achieve eternal life. The Lord will come again before the Gentiles to save us from our sins.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” But, “If we say that we have not sinned, we are lying to God. The truth is not in that person.” Those who belong to lies cannot attain eternal life. Moreover, such a person will not be able to escape God's stern judgment in the end.
-He who has ears, let him hear and understand-