One of God’s greatest blessings to me has been my family. Until recently, I was blessed to be in the middle of an unusual five-generation family. From that position, I could view both the older and younger generations. This dual perspective makes this week’s text look different to me than it did in my earlier years.
In this week’s lesson, God has named Joshua the successor of Moses. God has admonished Joshua, repeatedly, to be strong and courageous. God has promised Joshua, also repeatedly, that he will be with him wherever he goes. Can you imagine the excitement, and uncertainty, as Joshua assumes command of the nation—God’s people—immediately after the death of their beloved leader Moses? And his first act as national leader will be to enter into the promised land!
Joshua has taken one last covert look at the land the Israelites are to occupy, and is satisfied with his military preparedness. He instructs the nation to move to the edge of the Jordan River, where they will camp for three days. Again, imagine the excitement!
While Scripture does not tell us what went on during those three days, it is not hard to imagine. What do you do with your family before a big trip? And this is so much more than just a trip—it is a total relocation of a nation, to a place most of them had never seen before. Here follow some truths that apply to us even today.
Listen to and for God. During the waiting time, Joshua surely had been meeting with his fellow leaders and praying and preparing. When we are in seasons of waiting, are we in prayer and meditation? Are we actively in God’s Word? Are we listening for God as he speaks to us through other believers, and through the godly leaders in our lives?
Move, and let God lead. Joshua’s officers instructed the people to watch for the ark of the covenant and then to follow it. In this situation, as in so many of our own, obedience requires movement. Too many times we are paralyzed by fear and doubt and uncertainty, and we fail to follow. The officers specifically said, “Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before” (Joshua 3:4).
It is hard for us, in our own sense of power, to acknowledge that we don’t really know where we are going. We may think we know the route, but we don’t really know the dangers along the way and the detours that may be required. How comforting to know that our mighty Father does!
Make sure it is God we are following. Even considering the way God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, and his supernatural sustaining of the nation from there to the edge of the Jordan River, it would have been natural for the Israelites to put their trust in their leader Joshua. Joshua wanted the ark positioned in such a way that all the people could see it—those in back and those along the sides. He wanted it to be clear that the nation was following God, and not just Joshua.
It is easy for us, as well, to believe our leaders are following God, without seeing for ourselves if that is true. It is our responsibility to know God and his Word so well that we can maintain confidence in the directions of our leaders.
As pastor John Robinson said in his farewell speech to the Pilgrims upon their departure from Holland in 1620: “I charge you before God and his blessed angels that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow Christ.”
We are to be clean, and then be amazed by God. Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua: 3:5). Can you imagine what must have been in the minds of the Israelites? Consecrate? Sure, because that was an integral part of their formal relationship with God at that time. And it should be part of our lives as well, not out of duty or obligation, but love and obedience. But “amazing things”? They had already seen, or heard of, the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. What more could God have in mind?
And what about today?
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20, 21).
“Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Do you suppose Joshua imagined that God would begin to exalt him in the eyes of all Israel? Or that God would stop the Jordan River from flowing? What an amazing and exciting time in the lives of God’s people!
Now back to the beginning of our lesson. Can you imagine the sheer joy and delight God the Father has during this time? For the moment, his children are clean and obedient. They are going into the place he had promised and prepared for them.
I know how excited I am when everything and everyone is in place for a big trip or surprise. How much more our heavenly Father loves us, cares for us, and delights in us!
