Joshua – I

I began this morning with Psalm One; a good way to begin a year with its emphasis on the Law of Yahweh, the two ways, the two congregations. Psalm One got me thinking about Joshua Chapter One with its corresponding emphasis on the Law of Yahweh. My intention was to reflect on Psalm One, Joshua One, and related passages in one series but as I sit here walking across Joshua 1:1 – 9 I see that the quarterback needs call an “audible”; it will be Joshua Chapter One for Mind on Fire and Psalm One for Kaleidoscope.

Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.

Joshua was on the threshold of a new season of life; it was an unknown season; a season of mystery. He stood on the east bank of the Jordan River. On the west bank of the Jordan lay the heart of the land that Yahweh had promised to Israel. Embedded in that land, known as Canaan, were people not disposed to be dispossessed. Between the east bank of the Jordan and the west bank of the Jordan was the river with water overflowing its banks; there was no bridge, there was no man-made way to get from the east bank to the west bank.

Joshua had seen this land before, though not from this direction. Some forty years prior to standing on the East Bank Joshua had been one of twelve scouts sent into Canaan from the south to reconnoiter prior to Israel taking its inheritance. On that occasion ten of the twelve scouts convinced Israel that Canaan’s inhabitants were too dangerous to contend with. The people of Israel took counsel of their fears,disobeyed God and refused to enter the land. Yahweh’s response was to consign Israel to forty years of wandering in the Wilderness.

Now, on the East Bank, two men live who saw the land of Canaan from the south forty years ago; just two men, two of the twelve scouts; Joshua of the clan of Ephraim, Caleb of the clan of Judah. They knew the south entrance to Canaan by land, they didn’t know the east entrance to Canaan across water. Forty years earlier the people did not enter Canaan because of fear; what would happen this time?

What about you? As you look back over your life, whether you look back forty years, forty weeks, or forty days; have you seen the Land of Promise only to turn away from it due to fear, doubt, or other enemy? Have you seen or touched or tasted that which makes your heart beat faster, that which brings joy to your soul, that which speaks to you of destiny; only to turn from it thinking to never visit the South Entrance again?

It may be true that you’ll never again seen the South Entrance, but it could very well be true that you’ll see the East Entrance – and what then? The East Entrance is more formidable than the South Entrance; for while both entrances have adversaries, the South Entrance is by land and the East Entrance has the river barrier. What will you do? Will you turn away once again; or will you turn to the True and Living God and live, not as an accident looking for a place to happen, but as a son or daughter of the Living God with a destiny in Jesus Christ?

to be continued…