GET UP AND GO. Joshua 1:2. “Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them….”
Sometimes, the best thing we can do in a situation is sit and quietly wait for directions from God. However, there is no reason to wait longer when those directions arrive. There is a time for waiting, and a time for walking. There is a time for introspection, and a time for action. There is a time for reading, and a time for working. There is a time for planning, and a time for executing the plans. There is a time for thinking, and a time for speaking. There is a time for discovering what is wrong, and a time for fixing it. There is a time for defining the problem, and a time for addressing it. There is a time for preparing, and a time for carrying out the work. In the time I have left to live, let me not just sit and watch, but rise and overcome obstacles to achieve full blessing and joy. If this can be done, others will see the impact, and they, too, may take positive action.
The Bible is a book of divine revelation through which God shares His plan to save mankind. It shows God's love, our sin, God's justice, and mercy, helping us understand His plan for salvation. God interacted with Israel before Christ came in ways similar to how He interacts with us today through the Lord Jesus Christ. Although the Old Testament is ancient, it isn't just a dry list of facts and dates; it reveals how God deals with people.
We are created in His image to know, love, and enjoy Him forever. Through these historical accounts of His dealings with Israel, we learn how He expects us to respond to Him and His word. When we read the scriptures, we are challenged to live them out each day through holy living and ethical conduct. The book of Joshua teaches us about God's faithfulness to His people.
Seven nations occupied the land of Canaan, which had to be conquered and destroyed. God, in mercy, had revealed himself through the witness of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to their ancestors. However, these nations had not acknowledged the Lord God. Because of their sins—such as worshiping snakes, engaging in religious prostitution, and sacrificing children to their gods—they were to be destroyed. Mercy preceded the impending judgment, as reports of God's mighty acts toward Israel in the wilderness for forty years had reached their ears, reminding them once again of the One True God.
Rahab knew that God had miraculously delivered their ancestors through the Red Sea, and the people of those nations likely knew about other miracles God had performed for Israel. The defeat of Sihon and Og was widely recognized. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers." True believers today often do not fit in well with the events happening in the world. Our convictions differ, our conduct differs, and our religious activities differ. The book of Joshua shows what believers can become and do when we are surrendered to the Lord and guided by the Holy Spirit.
The power of the Holy Spirit does not eliminate the need for discipline in our lives nor excuse us from pushing forward despite challenges and opposition. His power prevents us from defeat and enables us to overcome those who seek to conquer us. The Bible is truthful in its historical accounts and trustworthy in describing how God guides and uses His people to navigate the pitfalls and traps set by Satan, the world, and the flesh. It shows how living a holy life and maintaining ethical conduct in our experiences lead us to effective living that glorifies God and brings us fulfillment.
We face choices in our Christian life. We can live in the defeat of the wilderness or in victory in the promised land. It depends on us whether we claim our possessions in Christ and enjoy these spiritual blessings or live without experiencing the blessings of God's promises, which He gave us when He saved us. The blessings are provided and already given, but they must be claimed and used to fulfill the purpose for which they are given. We have been brought out of the world and the wilderness of purposeless living to experience a victorious Christian life.
Defeat in the wilderness or victory in Jesus depends on us. Victory in Christ does not come from making resolutions. Consecration sets us apart, but it doesn’t automatically allow us to experience what God has already provided and made ours. Even prayer and fasting don’t make these blessings a reality. We have "all things" in Christ; we must reach out and take hold of them ourselves.
God's people must move forward in faith and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, using what we have received in Christ for full and victorious living. Most believers struggle because we often settle into premature rest before fulfilling God's will for us. This leads to indifference and worldly ways. The call to move forward in this effort to claim what God has for us is based on God's grace toward us. The things He gives us to do, He also provides the power to accomplish. We learn these things by reading what He desires from us and by observing how He has achieved His purpose through others.
These will become ours personally through experience, making the "land of Beulah" such a joy and blessing to us. The book of Joshua teaches us to enter the promised land, conquer the enemies within it, and divide the land so we can partake in God's plans as He intended. This teaching is reflected in the New Testament in Hebrews 3 and 4 and Ephesians, where the scriptures speak of the "heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
A brief summary of the book of Joshua is given in verse 2. The cross and empty tomb remind us of victory already achieved, so we should not dwell gloomily in the wilderness of worldly living and unclaimed promises. Three times, Joshua was told to "be strong and of good courage." The first time was because of God's grace in giving them the land already. The second time was because God said so, and He has that right. The third time was when God authorized Joshua to carry out this mission. When God gives directions to His people, they should be acted upon. The leadership of God's people may change, but the objectives remain the same.
God recognized and approved the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua. Moses had changed his name from Oshea, which means "deliverance," to Joshua, which means "the Lord's salvation." He serves as an Old Testament type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the "Captain of our salvation." Joshua proved himself through years of experience from Egypt to the promised land. He was one of two, the other being Caleb, who also came from Egypt to Canaan.
Leaders must be faithful, experienced, and ethical before they can be effective. We will need to stand firm against pressures to compromise, even at times from our fellow believers, but every leader must remember the One who has called us to lead His people. A leader must understand the goal we have as the people of God. They should know their own people well enough to earn the saints' confidence. They also need to be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. Faith and courage are essential for effective leadership, not an inflated ego. An intelligent, spiritual man who is submissive to God will be listened to and obeyed because he has listened to and obeyed God Himself.
Spiritual maturity requires time and experience. Rapid growth that happens suddenly often leads to difficulties in maintaining that growth and truly embodying what has been learned through practice, not just words. Someone who leads God's people must first receive guidance from God. It takes time to occupy what has been given, and God's boundaries of purpose have been revealed by Him, not based on our own perspectives. Consistent, unwavering leaders should never be selfish or stubborn; instead, they should be sensible, diligent, and committed to following the course God has shown. God appoints the leaders of His people because He knows such individuals can be trusted, have been trusted before, and place their confidence in Him. God can trust them to succeed in conflict and service. He will be with them in both, and He promises He will not abandon them.