“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
I’ve been reading the book of Joshua. I love the first chapter, where God prompts and pushes Joshua to go out there and take the promised land, lead the people, be strong and courageous. God turns into Joshua’s own personal pep squad, cheerleading him into leadership. Game on, go out there and win the land for the people.
My daughter was a cheerleader. A flyer, in fact, causing this woman to be much less than strong and courageous, as I watched other girls fling her into the air, promising to catch her. The promises and pleas of cheerleaders provide pep and passion to the crowd, but actually carry no power. Those loud voices on the sidelines are begging the team to do what they know to do well so they can win, they are not giving commands with knowledge of the plays or authority to empower a victory.
God, on the other hand, is cheerleader, coach, and referee all rolled into one. He has ultimate knowledge and power and authority to lead the team, teach the team, help the team and even call the technicalities of the game as judge. He could dictate the outcome of the game, manipulating the players like chess pieces, ensuring each move and victory.
We see in Joshua that far from being an iron-fisted dictator or powerless cheerleader, God is a loving father. He raises Joshua up, teaching and helping him. In the previous book Joshua is seen at the side of Moses, often found in the tabernacle enjoying the presence of the Lord. Joshua knows God, has experienced his glory, has found peace and awe in the glory of the Lord. At the opening of the book of Joshua we are told Joshua’s mentor, Moses, is dead. It is time for Joshua to stand up and lead.
God gives Joshua very clear instructions on how to lead, where to go, what to do. He promises to be with Joshua all the days of Joshua’s life. I often wish God would give me such clear instructions and promises, but maybe he already has. Just as God promises to be with Joshua, he promises to be with me, and you. God tells Joshua to meditate on the law of the Lord, He tells us to do the same. God tells Joshua to be obedient to his commands, we are told the same thing. He tells him to be strong and courageous, trusting in God, our instructions are eerily similar.
When I read the Old Testament, the exploits of God’s chosen servants, I assume that somehow they differ from anything I experience today. In my mind Moses and Joshua and David were super heroes with powers unavailable to mortals like myself, but in reality they were just men operating under the power of God. The same power available to us today.
I know this is true because by Joshua 13, God is prodding Joshua again. The chapter begins, “Now Joshua was old and well up in years; and Jehovah said to him, You are old and there remains much of the land to be possessed.” Even with God’s clear promises and instructions and constant presence Joshua did not finish the job. By the end of chapter 14 we are told the land had rest from war, but the truth is the Israelites never actually conquered the whole thing. They stopped short of taking hold of all God had for them.
This causes me to need my own personal pep squad! If Joshua couldn’t finish the job, how can I? What prevented Joshua and the Israelites from finishing the task God had for them? Fear, fatigue, selfishness, divided loyalties, laziness, grief, lack of faith? The list of reasons why could be very long and very similar to reasons why I fall short of accomplishing God’s best in my life. Old Testament superheroes and modern moms all have a tendency to forget the power and glory of God and instead set our eyes and hopes on earthly things, allowing fear and disbelief to turn the tide of battle from God’s promised victory to defeat. Remember even second place is a loss.
So how do we live in victory? How do we strive for and attain God’s best? I think the answer lies in the Psalms. Psalm 46 : 10 gives us instruction: “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” We don’t strive at all, we let God be who he is. The great I am will be exalted among the nations as we take the back seat and remember who is driving.
This doesn’t mean we do nothing, it means we do nothing except what he tells us to do. We must be still everyday and remember who God is. We must ponder his word and live by his word. When we see need, we should respond. When God prompts us to take action, we take action. Joshua was told to go to battle and take the land. He started, but did not finish. Maybe he opted for early retirement, but that does not appear to have been God’s best plan for him.
I don’t know what stage of life you are in, but I know that God will equip you for the task at hand. He promises to be with you, to lead you, to give you instructions and to provide all that you need. Be strong and courageous. You will need to be. He does not promise easy, but he does offer victory and great love and satisfaction at the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Finishing well, finishing at all, is something I struggle with. Except for dessert. One of the simplest desserts we serve around here is a hot fudge sundae. Ice cream is always available, sometimes home made, but even store bought can be spruced up to create a fine finale for any day. According to my husband no sundae is complete without whipped cream, nuts and a cherry, but the rest of us merely insist on homemade hot fudge sauce. The warm, gooey, fudge topping is the perfect finish to any meal.
Hot Fudge Sauce
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup baking cocoa
- 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp evaporated milk (5 oz can)
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
In saucepan combine sugar and cocoa; blend in evaporated milk and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil one minute, stirring. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla until smooth. Serve warm.
