Good morning. Great faith brings great accomplishments. I believe that this statement is true, however that great faith is revealed in our obedience to the will of God. Today, I would like to have us consider God’s words to Joshua, who had been Moses’ assistant, and was God’s choice as Moses’ replacement to lead God’s people. Through the 40 years in the wilderness, God revealed Himself in power and in glory, and Moses was God’s chosen instrument to lead and guide the people. At the start, these were the people who lacked the faith to enter the promised land the first time. But over the course of the 40 years all of those unfaithful ones died, leaving only Joshua and Caleb. As we begin the Book of Joshua, we read that Moses, too, had died. Are the people ready to accept God’s Word as it comes to them from a person other than Moses? Is Joshua ready to hear God’s Word and to speak it as truth as he guides the Israelites? Are they ready to take on the giants, the fortified cities, the vast armies that had, 40 years earlier, seemed like an impossible task? These are the first 9 verses of the Book of Joshua:
After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
What are the commands of God as given to Joshua? 1. Be strong. 2. Be courageous. 3. Do not be afraid. 4. Do not be discouraged. 5. Be careful to obey the Word that God had given them. 6. Do not turn from the path God directed them to take. 7. Mediate on His Word, day and night.
You may have noticed that the command: be strong and courageous is repeated three times. It would seem that the Lord knew that remembering that command when the enemy became fierce against them was going to be a challenge. It still is.
What did God promise to Joshua, and therefore to all the people? He told them that he would be faithful to accomplish all that He had promised them He would do. He told them that He, the God who had revealed Himself to them in power and in glory constantly for the past 40 years, would never leave them. He told them that He, the Lord their God, would be with them wherever they would go. God promises His blessings, as long as they will walk with Him in love. It is a love that is revealed in humble obedience.
Please take another look at the commands of God and at the promises of God. Is there anything said that does not completely apply to our lives today? No, there isn’t.
What did Joshua do after hearing these words from God? He went into the camp of the people and shouted his commands, “Get up and get ready, it is time to obey!”
Great faith brings great accomplishments. When we desire the greatness of God to manifest itself in our lives, remember His commands and remember His promises. They were true when Joshua heard them, and they are true when you read them today.
Praise God for His presence, His power, and His love! Reveal your love for Him through humble obedience. And be ready, because great faith will bring about great accomplishments.
Vern