Joshua the Man

For Friday October 10, 2014

(#912, Imperial, 1962)
Read Joshua 1:1-8.

The Book of Joshua is more than a record of historic events.  It is a revelation of what God can do in and through the life that is utterly yielded to Him.  Consider Joshua, God's man and leader.

Joshua's preparation.
Joshua had lived in the hardship, frustration, cruelty and intolerance of Egypt, perhaps for as long as 40 years.  And then he had endured 40 more years in wilderness wanderings.  He had been one of the spies to enter the land, and in his minority report he had acknowledged the giants and walled cities but he believed God was able.
God's preparation of our lives may seem unnecessary, especially the hardships.  But who knows what God is preparing us for.

Joshua's call (vs.2-6).
The important factor in the service we perform is not that we are qualified but that we have been called!  There may be a river to cross, foes to defeat, walled cities to conquer, but if we are called of God, all things are possible.
Joshua was no superman.  He was weak (for God said to be strong).  He was frightened (for God said be not afraid).  He would give up (for God said be not dismayed).
Most of us are too big for God to use, we are too full of our own schemes and our own way of doing things.  God has to humble us, break us, empty us.

Joshua and the Word of God (v8).
The Word of God was to be Joshua's source of strength and power.  We must be willing to pay the price of the closed door -- of being alone with God.  Meditate therein day and night.  We must be saturated with the Word of God.

We must refuse anything that would keep us from the closed door.