For those of you who are parents have you ever uttered a phrase like "Don't make me come over there!", or "Don't make me get up!"? Can't help but admit I have and with that statement came the understanding that if I DID have to get up, or come over there that the girls chances were up. Grace was no longer extended, it was time for justice! lol
As I was reading the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis chapter 11 I couldn't help but think of those early parenting days when the girls were little and fussing about something or disobeying and I would utter those phrases. The NLT says in verse 1-5 of Chapter 11....."At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land ob Babylonia and settled there. They began saying to each other, "Let's make bricks and harden them iwth fire." (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar) Then they said "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world." But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building.
Uh oh....it says the Lord came down. Un huh....to late. They went to far. They disobeyed to much, to long and God in essence had to come down. You see, God had already told them to scatter all over the earth. And when God says for you to do something...you will do it. Either of your own will...or not. I remember telling Hope one time to pick up her toys and she refused. (she was like 2 1/2) I physically went and opened her hand up and placed toys after toy in that little hand and she DID put them up. It wasn't by her own will...but it did happen. Fortunately Hope learned her lesson. I never had to do that again. She knew her Daddy and I meant what we said. Sometimes we as God's kids don't catch on so quick...do we? Those people were divided that day by different languages forcing them to scatter from each other and from "their" plan. That day they began carrying out God's plan. His plan will not be derailed or misled. It will happen.
Let's decide that we will obey so that we never hear God say "Don't make me come down there!"
Monday, May 10, 2010
How do you think Joshua felt?
I've been doing some reading in the Old Testament and the book of Joshua seemed to be calling my name so I have camped out there for a few weeks. I have allowed my sanctified imagination as my pastor calls it to imagine what it must have been like for Joshua. Can you imagine all that he saw and experienced while under Moses' leadership? Imagine how close their personal relationship was, maybe like a father and son, or an Uncle and nephew. Have you ever had the same pastor for years and then him be moved somewhere else or be called on home to glory? It is a very hurtful and empty feeling. You can even experience the feeling of abandonment. It will shake and test your faith of who you are really following...God...or man.
In Joshua chapter one we see Joshua being placed in the role of leadership after Moses' death. In verse 5 we find reassurance from the Lord "I will not fail you or abandon you." (There's that word by the way...abandon..hmmm) Then in verse 6 he tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. Then in verse 16 of chapter one we read the people's response to Joshua's leadership and it is in this verse I spent some time thinking about their words and Joshua's possible response. The NLT reads like this "They answered Joshua, "We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us. v17 We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses." At first glance this all sounds great! I mean it sounds like they accept Joshua...no one has risen up to say he shouldn't be their leader. That's good. They agree to do what he commands and go where he leads. That's awesome! But then I read the next part and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself wondering how Joshua felt when he heard it "We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses."...un huh. Hmmmmmmm. O.k., kinda scary. Weren't these the same people who had a problem obeying? Weren't they kind of the grumbling sort? Didn't they chunk Moses as leader to the side just because he was up on the Mountain (with God..by the way) longer than they thought he should be and chunked their gold into a fire and formed a calf to worship???? So how do you think Joshua felt when he heard that they would obey him just as they had Moses? I don't know how he felt, but I think I would be a little worried, no, a LOT worried!
Joshua continued on with God's plan. If he had doubts about the leadershp role and how the people "would" obey...he never showed it. He continued on doing exactly what God said for him to do. Isn't that what we all need to do? Don't worry about others and if they are following correctly...let us just lead correctly. Let us keep our focus on the Lord and his plan for US. May we not be consumed with worry, doubt, or dread, but instead let us just keep obeying and trusting.
In chapter 2 of Joshua the spies are sent into the land to check things out. In chapter 3 Joshua begins his journey toward the promised land and to cross the Jordan. In verse 7 of chapter 3 this is what the Lord says "Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses..." It dawned on me...Joshua had been leading the people and obeying the Lord but it was "this" day that God began to show the children of Israel Joshua was their leader. It was "this" day that they would begin to see that God WAS with Joshua and that Joshua was doing God's will. That spoke to me so deeply. Jeremiah 29:11 says that the Lord has a plan for each of us. We may know that plan and begin on our journey for that plan long before God makes it evident to those around us. It may take obedience and faith to follow when no one else believes...or supports. BUT....if we continue on...God will make it known one day. He may just be beginning "this day" to make you a great leader. Stick to it. Stick to the plan. Be obedient and be passionate about the plan He has for you...let God show those around you. You don't have to prove anything to anyone...just love God and follow Him.
In Joshua chapter one we see Joshua being placed in the role of leadership after Moses' death. In verse 5 we find reassurance from the Lord "I will not fail you or abandon you." (There's that word by the way...abandon..hmmm) Then in verse 6 he tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. Then in verse 16 of chapter one we read the people's response to Joshua's leadership and it is in this verse I spent some time thinking about their words and Joshua's possible response. The NLT reads like this "They answered Joshua, "We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us. v17 We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. And may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses." At first glance this all sounds great! I mean it sounds like they accept Joshua...no one has risen up to say he shouldn't be their leader. That's good. They agree to do what he commands and go where he leads. That's awesome! But then I read the next part and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself wondering how Joshua felt when he heard it "We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses."...un huh. Hmmmmmmm. O.k., kinda scary. Weren't these the same people who had a problem obeying? Weren't they kind of the grumbling sort? Didn't they chunk Moses as leader to the side just because he was up on the Mountain (with God..by the way) longer than they thought he should be and chunked their gold into a fire and formed a calf to worship???? So how do you think Joshua felt when he heard that they would obey him just as they had Moses? I don't know how he felt, but I think I would be a little worried, no, a LOT worried!
Joshua continued on with God's plan. If he had doubts about the leadershp role and how the people "would" obey...he never showed it. He continued on doing exactly what God said for him to do. Isn't that what we all need to do? Don't worry about others and if they are following correctly...let us just lead correctly. Let us keep our focus on the Lord and his plan for US. May we not be consumed with worry, doubt, or dread, but instead let us just keep obeying and trusting.
In chapter 2 of Joshua the spies are sent into the land to check things out. In chapter 3 Joshua begins his journey toward the promised land and to cross the Jordan. In verse 7 of chapter 3 this is what the Lord says "Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses..." It dawned on me...Joshua had been leading the people and obeying the Lord but it was "this" day that God began to show the children of Israel Joshua was their leader. It was "this" day that they would begin to see that God WAS with Joshua and that Joshua was doing God's will. That spoke to me so deeply. Jeremiah 29:11 says that the Lord has a plan for each of us. We may know that plan and begin on our journey for that plan long before God makes it evident to those around us. It may take obedience and faith to follow when no one else believes...or supports. BUT....if we continue on...God will make it known one day. He may just be beginning "this day" to make you a great leader. Stick to it. Stick to the plan. Be obedient and be passionate about the plan He has for you...let God show those around you. You don't have to prove anything to anyone...just love God and follow Him.
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