Here Are Your Marching Orders

Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses. From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:1-9

Last week, we looked at the life of Joshua when he was selected by God to take Moses' place as the leader of the Israelites. Joshua was afraid, but drew on some of the character qualities he'd learned from Moses to follow God's directives and to be strong and courageous as he went forward to meet the difficulties and challenges that lay ahead with overwhelming power and strength.

This week, we're going to look at God's directives, which are just as relevant for us, as well as the promises of God when we obey:

The marching orders:

• Arise ... God often has to get us going ... we become comfortable and don't want to move out or we're afraid and anxious and don't move forward out of paralyzing emotion.
• Go over this Jordan ... this wasn't possible without God's help ... the river was at flood stage. In our lives, God often confronts us with impossible tasks, so we find that His grace is sufficient and that there is nothing impossible for Him. We learn in those instances that it's not about us, it's about Him, and He is able.
• Be strong and of good courage ... God commands this of Joshua three times; and what He commands, He's ready and able to do in us. 
• Observe to do according to all the law; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left ... here was a key to how to be strong and courageous, how to know God like Moses did, how to have confidence that God would be with them ... obedience.
• This book of the law shall not depart from thy mouth ... memorize God's Word, live by it, teach it, share it.
• Meditate thereon day and night ... When God's Word and His character are where you put your mind, you gain rest for your soul, no matter what you go through. Your mind, heart, thoughts are set way above the swirling chaos of circumstances you can't change by yourself.
• That you may observe to do everything that is written therein ... He tells him again to be obedient ... to know the law and do it. 
• Be not affrighted
  Neither be thou dismayed

And the promises:

• Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it; there shall not any man be able to stand before thee.
  • God says He's already given victory ... it's already accomplished ... you just have to believe and walk in it ... live in the victory already won. Whether we live or die, we have the victory ... death itself can't hold us in the grave. Our lives are eternal, and there is more to come -- make sure, for you, it's with the Lord.
  • Does that mean no battles and no casualties? No. There are going to be battles; God doesn't usually deliver out of something ... He generally delivers through it. God's Word says He chooses our inheritance for us. That inheritance includes what God allows into our lives ... both good and bad, because how we allow Him to use us through both is what people see and what brings glory to His Name. Over and over, God tells us He chose Israel, the smallest and least, that other peoples and nations would observe God living in the midst of them and come to know, honor, worship Him. Israel faced numerous trials ... numerous difficulties and challenges ... God delivered them through those things ... not out of them. Looking back, there were things like Joseph in slavery and prison ... and looking forward, there would be events like Elijah facing Jezebel and prophets of Baal; three men thrown into the furnace; Daniel in the lion's den; Paul in prison, beaten, shipwrecked, thrown out of town
  • Defeating death isn't the main point of the inheritance here; it's not the ultimate victory; it's not the Promised Land ... Jesus said He came to open the Kingdom of Heaven to people ... that we may live each day by the power and life heaven can supply. Eph. 1 talks about that we've been blessed with every spiritual blessing. If cancer is part of your inheritance, as it is mine (Stage 3 breast cancer back in 1987), the ultimate victory here is what you allow God to do with it in your life ... how you make use of His blessings and riches in your battle with it ... how you honor Him through it ... living above it each day as you go through it ... grabbing hold of Him through it ... growing in strength, grace, power, knowledge of Him ... defeating the enemy, fear, anxiety, depression, etc. Paul tells us in Philippians 1 that for him, it's six of one and half dozen of the other whether he lives or dies -- to live gives him more time to teach, train up, disciple others, work for God; to die is gain because he's home with the Lord enjoying the fullness and riches God has promised. He's hard pressed to choose between the two -- he's surrendered. He knows life isn't about dying; it's about living ... living each day fully, abundantly, in the power and authority we have in Christ. Life is not about defeating death -- Christ has already done that for those who put their trust in Him ... life is about living in the Kingdom of Heaven right now, by intention, by inheritance, by promise, by being filled up with the Holy Spirit and living in Christ. New Christians in Acts ... when threatened with death by the Roman government, never prayed to avoid death ... they prayed to be bold in their witness.
• As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee -- You're not going through anything alone.
• for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land -- By your obedience, example and leadership, you lead others and cause others to inherit the land they've been given as an inheritance. Whether your children, spouse, relatives, neighbors, friends, church family, fellow patients ... 
• that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest -- Obedience, becoming Christ-like, following hard after God, brings good success
• for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
• for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

There is nothing too difficult for God, and He never abandons you to fight alone. Follow His orders and stay in His protected place, and you can walk in peace, even in the heat of the battle.

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