Life-Lesson: God leads His people to situations that are way over our heads and way beyond our means in order to teach us faith and obedience.
Hebrews
11:6 teaches us that the only way to please God is to exercise faith.
1
Cor. 16:13 In order for this generation
to move forward with God, they would need to be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong.
7
Observations of Faith and Obedience (Joshua
3-5)
1. God commanded them to cross – at the
worst possible time (3:1-17).
· The
normally narrow river flooded its banks so that it filled the depression valley
that was 150 feet deep and as much as a mile wide.
· Did it make sense to them? Probably not – God’s ways are mysterious. But He knows what He’s doing, and He knows
what is best. That’s why God often asks
us to obey at the worst possible times.
When
we cannot trace God’s hand we can trust God’s heart. – Charles Spurgeon
God marked out the path
ahead of them – right through an impossibility.
You do not test the
resources of God till you try the impossible.
– F. B. Meyer
2. God commanded them to camp – and
contemplate the impossible (3:1-2).
· For
three days they looked and thought, “This is the worst possible time to
cross.”
· This was way over their
heads and way beyond their means. They were in a crisis once again because God
had led them into the crisis. He had
created it, just as He did for their parents at the Red Sea.
Don’t
evaluate your situation until you have heard from Jesus. He is Truth.
- H. Blackaby
When
God invites you to join Him in His work, He has a God-sized assignment for
you. You will quickly realize you cannot
do what He is asking on your own. If God
doesn’t help you, you will fail. -
Blackaby
3. He
commanded their leaders to go first and stay in harm’s way – to demonstrate
their faith (3:3-8,12-17).
Were they anxious as they stood
there? They knew that their lives were
in His hands.
The spiritual shepherds were to be
men of faith, and that meant they went in the water first. They did not wait for a woman of faith to go
first. They put themselves on the line.
4. He
commanded the stones to be stacked – so the children would honor His name (4).
In
harm’s way – somewhere upstream a mountain of
water had been piling up.
water had been piling up.
They
went out in faith, trusting that God would continue to hold the water
back. Once again, they were commanded to
control their fear and do what God commanded.
That’s the Christian life. –
Steve Farrar
5. God
commanded the men to take the mark and completely depend on God (5:1-9).
· It
was the worst possible time to take the mark.
· They
faced the giant of complete vulnerability.
· For
several days every man – the entire army – was completely dependent on God to
defend their lives.
Joshua
didn’t let his fear or inadequacy keep him from moving ahead. He didn’t allow fear to paralyze or stop
him. He kept moving in the right
direction.
They
had to fight off anxious thoughts of fear and worry while they were completely
vulnerable. They had to take those fears
and worries and cast them on the Lord.
6. God
commanded them to trust His provision – even when it took a new form (5:10-12).
· They
had learned to depend on God day by day for 40 years.
· If you desire to be used by God,
you will more than likely have to face the giant of financial drought. When God stops one financial source, it means
that He is going to open up another source that you know nothing about. – Steve Farrar
When
God dries up your secure and familiar source, He will provide another.
7. God
commanded Joshua to take a knee – and submit to God’s lordship (5:13-15).
· When
Joshua realized He was in the presence of His Commander and Captain, he took
two knees and got on his face.
· He’s
the Captain – you’re not. Get off the
throne and acknowledge His lordship.
He’s the King, Master, Lord, Captain, and Commander in Chief.
Source used: Battle Ready by Steve Farrar
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