Title Don't be biased/Joshua 1:1-9
Content Don't be biased/Joshua 1:1~9 Rev. Kiho Um
When the great leader Moses died, Joshua succeeded him to lead the people of Israel. He was gloomy no matter what he thought. This is because the seven tribes of Canaan were strong and ferocious, while the 600,000 Israelite masses were chaotic. They were the ones who would often kill Moses, the unbelievers who often complained about going back to Egypt, and they were very poor, morally, ethically, and religiously. He hesitated, not knowing what to do or where to go, because it seemed impossible to cross the Jordan and enter the land of Canaan with these people. What's more, "Joshua" was a firsthand witness to the great things Moses did when he stood by and counseled the great Moses. “Can I do these wonderful things that Moses did?” He was troubled, anxious, afraid, and lonely.
However, God directly encouraged, promised, commanded, and spoke to such “Joshua”. "Be strong and courageous!", "Be strong and of great courage!", "Be strong and courageous!" (verses 6, 7, 9), and "I will not leave you nor forsake you" (verse 5). Joshua carried out God's encouragement, promise, and command. What can we learn from Joshua's faith?
move forward in faith
A person needs a certain place to live. But God says, "Wherever you go, you will prosper," and promises that "God will always be with you." As far as the Euphrates River in the east, as far as the Mediterranean Sea in the west, as far as the Sin wilderness in the south, and as far as Mount Hermon in Lebanon in the north. He is saying, "Get up and cross this Jordan," "Go to the land I am giving you," and "I will give you every place the soles of your feet tread."
Here it is said to "cross over" (1:2). In Joshua 3:15, we can see that this is the time of harvesting wheat, so the water overflowed. At the beginning of summer each year, the Jordan River overflows its banks, so crossing it bare-handed means death. In addition, the muddy mud was widespread, so if you entered it, you had no choice but to fall into the muddy mud and die. Yet God said, "You must cross this Jordan." This is the saying, "Cross the Jordan with your arms." The Jordan River is a border and a limit line. It is the spiritual boundary line of obstacles. Therefore, even if the water is deep, the waves are crashing, the wind is strong, and the distance is far, you should cross.
He said "go" again. Now, God says, “Go to the land I have indicated, and go toward that destination” and “Go to the land I have promised.” Do not lie down, sleep, doze, sit, lose your pulse, or lose courage, and go confidently. Do not stay in the wilderness, do not intend to return to Egypt, do not go to any other area other than the land of Canaan, but obey only the land that is allowed, the land of blessing, and the land to be developed.
And he said, "Be bright." “I will give you every place the sole of your foot treads,” so “Occupy” is the word. It says, “Tread the land that God gives you.” Therefore, I hope that you will be diligent in stepping on it and praying. We want you to go around the area where you live and around your house, around Seoul and Gwangju, and around Seongnam and Bundang. Let's pray as we walk around our church. I hope that you will be walking around the ground with your feet like the Israelites did around Jericho.
Don't lean left or right
"Prosper wherever you go" doesn't mean that you will prosper wherever you go. Do not lean left or right, but walk the right path. It means "go to the right way" and "go to the way of the cross". “Go to Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Therefore, I hope that you set your goal and follow Jesus, who is the main and perfecter of our faith. Let's not look at the great saint on the right side, nor the heroic hoggul on the left, but look and follow only Jesus, the Savior of life, who leads us to the way to heaven. Let's not lean left or right. Let's not lean to the left or the right in our social life. Please do not leave the book of the law. The Bible is a spiritual compass that points us in the direction we are going.
Department Store King "Winner Make" is a billionaire. Wherever he invested, business was good, business was good, and he made a lot of money. Someone asks, "What was the biggest investment you've ever made?" Said. Then he said, "The biggest investment for me was buying the Bible with an investment of $2 and 50 cents. After that, I became very rich by living according to what the Bible teaches."
Keep the Word in your mouth and be diligent in proclaiming, studying, and teaching. And obey it. I hope you will listen to the Word often, read it often, always learn and ponder, memorize and meditate on it. We must be caught up in the Word of God. We must immerse ourselves deeply in God and listen to His word. A person apart from God is worthless and has no meaning. Therefore, do not sway to the left or to the right, and do not lean over.
The blessing that comes when you are not biased
First, He makes sure that no one will be able to withstand it in their lifetime. Verse 5 says, “No one will be able to stand against you.” This word means "competent", "strong", "absolutely". No matter what you do, if God is with you, you become the number one, become an expert, become the best, and become absolute. Everything you do goes well, and the way you go is the highway of Zion, and things go smoothly just as you set your mind to, so no one can resist you. I pray that you will receive such blessings throughout your life and live a life that no one is able to endure.
Second, He gave the blessing, “I will be with you.” The God who was with Moses in Egypt, the God who was with him in the wilderness for 40 years, was with him when he conquered the land of Canaan, the God who was with him when he crossed the Red Sea, and Joshua when he crossed the Jordan River.
The God who was with us in the past is with us today, the God who was with me today will be with me in the future, and I believe that the God who was with our church in Seongnam is also with our church in the Gwangju era. Therefore, I hope that the young people who are anxious about their career path, our children who are anxious about going to school, and those who are worried about their job and who are afraid while thinking of a new business, do not worry and do not worry. God is telling you now, "I will be with you forever."
Third, it makes you prosper. Prosperity means prosperity and prosperity. I pray that you too will prosper in whatever you do and wherever you go as God is with you.
Fourth, He makes the path smooth. Flat means "the ground is flat", "heart is comfortable and quiet". It means "work is going smoothly". A very peaceful life without any twists and turns, a life where the things you want to do go smoothly, and a smooth history during your life and along the way, so there is no pain, sorrow, or difficulties, is called a smooth life. But God says that he gives us these blessings today.
Those who are swaying to and fro cannot be helped by God and cannot be used. Once we have made up our minds, let's set our hearts on God and die, but let's only look to God. When you believe only in God and rely on God and follow Him, you will receive the blessing of “I am with you” and will be filled with the amazing power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I pray that you will be faithful to God with all your heart, will, and devotion, and that you will believe in God with all your heart, strength, and life and go forward with passion and passion.