Faith In The Life Of Joshua

   Sports teams sometimes make dramatic comebacks in the standings; sometimes, as they say, they go from “worst to first.”  Joshua made a dramatic comeback, but the stakes were not trophies and rings; the stakes were righteousness and life.

After Joshua and Caleb reported that the land of Canaan was a fair land that could be taken through the power of God, the congregation rebelled against Moses and said, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” (Numbers 13.4).  Joshua and Caleb addressed the rebellious crowd, once again urging them to trust God and go forward fearlessly into the land that flowed with milk and honey (Numbers 14.6-9).  Notice the reaction of the congregation to their future leader: “And all the congregation said to stone them with stones.” (Numbers 14.10).

This scene depicts Joshua almost at absolute and total odds with the rest of Israel; only a handful of folks believed as he that they should take the land as God had said.  From a political standpoint Joshua was at the bottom of the ratings; only Aaron and Moses ranked lower.  As a mental exercise, fast-forward the clock about 38 years or so and meet Joshua again; the circumstances being radically changed.  Shortly before dying, Moses had laid his hands on Joshua (Deuteronomy 34.9) consequently, the record says that Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom and the people heeded him.  Joshua had gone, as the saying goes from worst to first!

Now watch the first official act of Joshua as the leader of Israel:  “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’” (Joshua 1.11).  Hundreds of years of slavery and forty years of wanderings were about to come to an end; the land of Canaan lay just ahead and only obedient faith was required to proceed.  From the past deeds of Joshua and Caleb, one can see that God had made the right choice of a leader.  Joshua was unafraid, obedient, and determined.  Under his hand, the people would go forward and ultimately conquer the land of Canaan.

The life of Joshua shows once and for all that it truly isn’t over until it’s over.  When others might have counted him out, Joshua’s service was just beginning.  We shouldn’t find this entirely strange since the same could be said of Joseph and Moses; Joseph rose to power from a prison cell and Moses inherited the reins of Israel from a land of refuge!

Faith was a central and fundamental part of Joshua’s character.  When others did not believe God, Joshua took the Lord at His word; he looked at things through the eyes of faith.  Going from worst to first demands faith.  Going from worst to first means never giving up!                                       Eric