If you’ve been reading along with me, then you will begin to notice how much easier the reading will become. That’s because we are into a story.
I just read somewhere that the six most powerful words are “let me tell you a story”. I don’t know about you, but I am almost always ready to here a story, especially when the person I am listening to is a gifted story teller. I can’t remember much about the sermons I sat through as a child, but I remember the illustrations and stories clearly. Just like songs and music, stories are filed away in different drawers in our mind. I don’t know what drawer birthdays, math facts and to do lists are filed in…but it isn’t with stories and music. I know, I checked and they aren’t there.
What a difference 40 years in the desert has made! The leaders are telling Joshua to be strong and courageous! 40 years ago it was the parents of this generation who were recoiling in fear. Now this group is saying “do whatever the Lord says and we will follow you wholeheartedly”. That’s both exciting and encouraging to hear. I have no doubt that this generation followed the Lord with all their heart. But you have to wonder about the generations to come…and the generation before them. I mean, these folks have more faith than their fathers, and probably more faith than their children. We know that the children, or grandchildren grow up and forget God, so how in the world does that happen? You can see it happening today….Parents serving the Lord with honor, and children wandering away, and sometimes children choosing God when the parents haven’t.
I guess every generation has to choose for themselves. It’s been said “God has no grandchildren”. Maybe it’s easier for the people who actually witnessed God doing these incredible things…then again, the generation that walked across the Red Sea on dry ground complained and was fearful, so witnessing a miracle doesn’t guarantee strong faith. Maybe it has more to do with what we are focused on. If you are looking for God working, then you will see Him, and you will be encouraged and emboldened to step out in faith, which increases your faith and begins spiritual growth. If you are focused on yourself, then you begin to see problems and roadblocks, and your growth stops….spiritual decay begins.
I have found personally that the people who are focused on Jesus are always more excited about life in general. They are usually positive and encouraging, and rarely complain. Can you imagine an entire nation of people like this? That’s who is standing in front of Joshua right now.
Nothing can stand in the way of the people of God when they are being obedient to Him. Even the laws of gravity don’t apply if God chooses to alter them. A river can collide with an invisible barrier and “stand up in a heap” miles away. Why? Because the Ark of God is in the stream, and the Lord’s people are following it. There isn’t any more exciting place to be than behind the Holy Spirit…our modern day “Ark”. Some people say that following God can be dangerous…I suppose that seems correct, crossing a stream at flood stage, going into battle against a walled city, etc. But is there any place safer than being under the wing of the Almighty?
“Under his wing” gives the mental image of a bird on the nest, snuggling her young. But here, “under His wing” means arming yourself and moving into battle.
Thanks for being with me on the journey. I appreciate you!
Faithfully,
PR