“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Holy Father, today we come into Your Presence full of hope and joy! May the study of Your word increase our faith in You and in the plans that you have for our lives! We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! Amen.
Today we will be speaking of Joshua, Moses’ successor. Someone who through an earlier experience in life had learned to stand for the right, even if it meant standing alone, or as a minority. (You can read the story in the Book of Numbers, chapters 13 and 14).
Here is a brief description of the experience of Joshua [Hoshea].
God had commanded Moses to pick a man from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to go before them into Canaan and spy out the land and bring back a report. In sending them off, one of the last thing Moses said to the group was, “Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land” (Numbers 13:20b). That sounds like a rather confident, optimistic, and positive, send off, doesn’t it?
Moses had received his orders from God, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel” (2a) God’s words to Moses had filled him with hope and confidence, that everything was going to be alright! And so, with enthusiasm Moses had sent the spies on their way!
“Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs” (23, emphasis supplied). So far, this sounds as if everything is going very well! One cluster of grapes carried on a pole by two men!
And yet there were problems when the report was given. “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we”. . . There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (31, 33).
They almost stoned Joshua and Caleb! But these men stood their ground! Caleb, was obviously, the spokesperson, “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (30)! The voice of faith is heard, when all around, doubt and fear seems to prevail!
If Moses and Aaron had not intervened and prayed for the rebels, God most likely would have had to destroy them right then and there, to keep them from stoning Joshua and Caleb!
But Joshua had not lived that near death experience in vain. Forty years later, when Moses was getting ready to pass on the baton, God chose Joshua to continue the journey of leading His people into the promised land. He had learned to be faithful under pressure, to be faithful in a servant’s position, now he would be the leader.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ” ‘ “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel” ‘ ” (Joshua 1:1-3).
God always counsels those who are chosen to be His witnesses to be very careful of the choices they make. Joshua was no exception,
“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may]prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (7-9).
His decision to stand for the right had come to fruition, and his experience in choosing well, had paid off. Now it was his opportunity to counsel those, whose responsibility it would be to continue leading God’s people, after his demise. He would encourage them to exercise well, their freedom to choose.
“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell [He would also share with them his final decision]. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14, 15).
He used his freedom of choice well, and left a worthy example! May God help us to do the same!
NOTE: This was the devotional for Satuday, August 21.