I was reading the first few chapters in the book of Joshua this morning and the importance of faith and obedience struck me. The temptation is to live a basically good life, loosely based on the Bible and to trust that God will put up with us because we are somewhat better than those who have no faith. If we idle along with this assumption we are on very dangerous ground. Joshua had witnessed God’s response to the Israelites’ half hearted faith: God had forced them to wander in the desert for 40 years because they had not believed that God could conquer Canaan: the land that He had promised would be theirs.

Faith triumphed over fear and unbelief

Joshua and Caleb were the only ones whose faith triumphed over fear and unbelief. Do we believe that God must be trusted and obeyed or do we feel that obedience is an outdated word? Are we tempted to avoid moving forward in faith because we are overcome by fear? Does it feel that God’s expectations are so unrealistic that we could not possibly change our lives to fulfill them?

The Israelites had been trained to follow God obediently

At the beginning of the book of Joshua, Moses has just died and God has appointed Joshua to succeed him and to lead God’s people into the land that God had promised them. Moses had been an incredible leader and following such a man as the leader of the Israelite people must have been daunting. The years wandering in the desert must have taught the people that really the bottom line was to have faith and to follow God. For 40 years He showed them when to stop and when to move. God sent fire at night that either stayed still or moved. Clouds by day also directed them. Rebellion against God resulted in punishment, and they knew God’s law because God had presented it to them. Like us they were slow learners but they had been trained to follow God obediently.

Joshua must have been frightened

God knew that Joshua was somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of leading the Israelites into Canaan. God’s first instruction to him as the new leader was to lead them across the great, deep Jordan River. We are all intimidated by different things. I try to avoid driving on busy freeways but I enjoy public speaking. Other people are the opposite, but my guess is that we would all be rather concerned about leading thousands of people across a very substantial river. With God he had no reason to fear. Similarly as we follow God obediently and faithfully we should not be fearful as He will lead us.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you”

God reassures Joshua encouraging him that he would be given “every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” God also reminds Joshua of His constant presence: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” It is thanks to God’s constant presence and help that Joshua can obey the next exhortation: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers 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 the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 5-7)

A successful godly leader must be submitted to God and to His word

Joshua was instructed to obey the law and not to depart from it. He could not expect God’s presence if he was not prepared to abide by His rules and to expect the Israelites to be obedient to God’s law too. God expected Joshua to be His servant. The law gave specific direction and Joshua had to follow this. A successful, godly leader must be submitted to God and to His word: to obey it rather than merely knowing it.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened

God’s final words to Joshua, before he gave the order to the officers, was a third instruction to be strong and courageous: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” The main threat to Joshua’s success as a leader was to pull back in fear. God’s words instilled in Joshua the faith and the courage that were essential. Crossing the river before defeating the people living in Canaan would have been impossible without God’s direction and help.

The miracle in Joshua chapter 3 proves that God was in control. The great river was parted by the one who created rivers: God, and Joshua led all the people into the promised land.

The Bible gives us hope

Today some might claim that this powerful example of God leading Joshua and his people was merely an ancient story. The same people are unlikely to have faith that God is their Savior and that He still leads His people. Romans 15:4 explains that “everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

I do hope that you have genuine hope in Jesus. As a child I had ill informed hope, assuming that I could waltz into heaven, because I assumed that that was where everyone deserved to go. God’s relationship with the people of Israel illustrates that their lack of faith restricted them from entering the promised land. God made them wander in the wilderness until the first generation of unbelieving moaners died. Only their children could enter, along with faithful Joshua and Caleb. Similarly, we have no right to hope unless we submit to Jesus in faith, but if our faith is genuine we have much to look forward to.

Walk as Jesus did

Faith must lead to obedience. Yesterday, I taught the kids in my Sunday school class from 1 John 2 verses 4-5. We were discussing receiving God’s love: “The man who says “I know Him” (Jesus) but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”

Joshua, was commanded by God to obey God’s law, to be encouraged by His presence, and to be strong and courageous as He followed God’s instructions. The same is true for us today. If we are prepared to faithfully read the Bible and follow Jesus, He will give us courage, and the Holy Spirit will empower us to do incredible acts as servants of Jesus. We can and must walk as Jesus did. If we avoid God’s truth in the Bible and have a half hearted faith and no action, we cannot claim to be God’s children.

Women of faith and courage

Let’s learn from Joshua and be women of faith and courage. God is always ready to forgive us and change us. We can be turned around if we are ready to move forward in faith, obeying the word of God and seeking His presence. Jesus wants to encourage us to be strong and courageous for when we move forward with Jesus He will be with us and He will never leave us.

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