Series Inspired Word of God
God called Moses (Exodus 3)
Acts 7:22 ESV
Moses died (Deuteronomy 34:1-5)
Moses was buried (Deuteronomy 34:6)
Burning Bush (Exodus 3:2 and Exodus 3:4)
Joshua 1:6 ESV
*Joshua 1:8 ESV
Joshua 3:16 ESV
Hebrews 11:30 ESV
Joshua 24:14 ESV
Leadership for some is like breathing. For others it’s like being caught up in a tornado. As the tornado swirls about gaining strength, strength grows in the heart of the whirlwind.
We remember that when God called Moses from the burning bush. Moses was the one God chose to lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt (Exodus 3).
Moses had been educated in Pharaoh’s house in Egypt. In Acts 7:22 we read, “And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.”
As the book of Deuteronomy closes Moses and God speak on Mount Nebo, on the top of Pisgah facing Jericho. On the mountain Moses could see all of the land of Judah which was promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses saw the land but he did not enter the land and he died in Moab before Israel took possession of the land (Deuteronomy 34:1-5).
What is striking is that while Moses was called to live in Egypt in the house of Pharaoh’s court and to liberate Israel from Egyptians rule, he was also the one who would meet with God to receive the commandments. No one else in scripture has seen God (even though he did not look on God’s face).
It was Moses who wandered in the wilderness with God’s people for forty years.
He was instrumental in preparing them to enter the Promised Land, but he did not enter the land. His body did not enter the land. His final resting place was in Moab (Deuteronomy 34:6).
Moses had filled ‘big shoes’ in preparing Israel for their future. Moses did not ask God to choose him. We remember when God appeared to Moses he was tending sheep and Moses just happened to notice a bush was burning but it did not burn up (Exodus 3:2) so he went to investigate the phenomenon.
When Moses went to the bush to see why it did not burn up God call to him from the bush (Exodus 3:4).
Moses did not go to the shoe store to choose to be the person who would fill the shoes to lead Israel out of Egypt. Yet, God had been preparing him all his life for the task.
Every step of the way had been for a specific purpose.
As the book of Joshua opens God commanded Joshua to take possession of the new land. God told him in Joshua 1:6 to, “be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.”
Now even though we hadn’t heard a lot about Joshua he had been with Moses all along. He was a disciple, he was a spy, and he was a military leader. In other words all along the way God had a plan for Joshua. God had been preparing and grooming Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land.
We know from Joshua 1:8 that God told Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
What we know about Joshua in that moment in time is that he was facing multiple challenges.
#1 He was following an icon of the faith and he had huge shoes to fill. God met Moses on the mountain and gave him the Ten Commandments. Moses came closer to God than anyone because God appeared to him and let him see him from behind.
#2 Israel first faced a raging river to get to Jericho. How would they get across? When the Priests carrying the Ark touched the river, it stopped flowing upstream. Joshua 3:16 tells us, “the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.”
#3 Getting across the river was just their first challenge. Jericho was a city that had strong fortified walls. Instead of taking up arms and developing a military strategy they obeyed God and marched around the city with the Ark of the Covenant. For six days they marched. Then on the seventh day when they marched with the Ark of the Covenant the city walls fell. Hebrews 11:30 tells us, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.”
#4 They faced a daily battle in the hearts of every Israelite. It was a spiritual battle. That’s why they were told to meditate day and night…be careful to do what is written.
#5 Ultimately, as a people they had to choose who they would serve. In Joshua 24:14 we are told, “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.”
Even though Joshua and Israel faced many challenges those who turned to God, listened, and waited.
God did not fail to show up.
Spiritual Practice: Turn to God
Pray, listen and wait for instructions.
In God, Deborah