Saturday, July 05, 2008

Doing the impossible

"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Then the people answered…"We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God." (Joshua 24:15-18)

Christians are the most blessed people in the world. You can go to bed secure in the knowledge that because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God the Father forgives you for all of your mistakes, evil thoughts and careless words. You can get out of bed in the morning with eagerness and joy, knowing that you will have the leadership and encouragement of the Holy Spirit to see you through the coming day. And when death draws near, you can close your eyes in peace, knowing that the Son of God, who rose from the grave victorious over death, will raise you from your deathbed and bring you to heaven, where you will live in the love of God with all believers forever.

But the blessings of being a Christian go beyond inner peace, hope, and the promise of everlasting life. Christians, when working for God under His direction, can undertake tasks that are seemingly impossible. We do not rely on human power, but on God’s power. As an example, let's consider a man who, with God’s help, did the impossible.

The first time we hear of him, Joshua was a young man serving as a leader in Israel’s army under Moses’ leadership. The Amalekites were determined to block the people of Israel from passing through their land. Joshua was given the responsibility to lead the fight against the Amalekites while Moses stood on Mount Rephidim, praying to God for victory. During this long battle, Joshua learned an important lesson—that success depends more on prayer than on military might. As long as Moses kept on praying, Joshua’s army experienced success; when Moses grew tired of praying, Joshua’s forces were driven back. There is a lesson here for the people of the United States in connection with the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq; the success of any nation depends far more upon their prayers to the Triune God than on their military power.

We hear of Joshua again at Mount Sinai. He was not among the people who defected from devotion to God and began instead to worship the golden calf. Instead, Joshua was with Moses up on the mountain heights to God. And after the Tent of Meeting was built at God’s direction as the place for sacrifice and worship, we read: The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua…did not leave the tent (Exodus 33:11).

Joshua did not leave the Tent of Meeting. Here is the secret of Joshua’s achievements: he wanted to stay close to God. Take advantage of the opportunities God gives you to get closer to Him. Worshipo at church regularly. Join a Bible study group. Read your Bible and set aside time for devotions as a family. Every person of true greatness has spent much of his or her time listening and speaking to God. Gladstone, a renowned statesman of England, said: "I have known 32 truly great men, and all of these were men of prayer."

Taught and shaped by God, Joshua was on the fast track. He was chosen as one of the twelve men who would scout the land of Canaan in preparation for the Israelites’ moving into their new home. When the twelve scouts returned with their report, they described the Promised Land as a place flowing with milk and honey. They even brought samples of grapes in proof of the land’s fertility. "But," they added, "we might as well forget about it. The land is full of people, and they are huge—we will look like grasshoppers to them." In response to this pessimistic assessment, the people despaired and talked about replacing Moses with a new leader, who would return them to the "safety" of their former slavery in Egypt.

It was then that Joshua stepped forward. He said, "It’s true, we can’t take the land with our own power. The natives are too strong for us. But if the Lord is on our side, then He will bring us safely into this land. We don’t have to fear these people; God is with us." (Numbers 14)

This was the turning point in Joshua’s life; he had graduated from God’s training to assuming a role of leadership on the Lord’s behalf. He publicly affirmed his belief that with God, man can do the impossible. Even though the people threatened to kill him if he didn’t shut up, Joshua held to his conviction.

What is your conviction? Do you firmly believe that as impossible as it seems, God loves you in spite of your sins? Do you firmly believe that He sent Son to do the impossible, to die for your sins and rise from the grave victorious over death? Do you firmly believe that when you are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, God will enable you to do things that are otherwise impossible?

All too often, people who have made a career of sinning say, "I can’t change myself." And they are absolutely right. Yet with these words they suggest a lie. While it is true that man can’t change himself, the power of God can do the impossible. With God’s help alcoholics have become sober, drug addicts have become clean, liars have embraced honesty, and cowards have acted bravely. People who feared commitment have become faithful spouses; people who despised authority have become law-abiding citizens; people who are shy have spoken publicly about their faith in Jesus. With God’s help, the impossible becomes possible.

After Moses had led the people of Israel for 40 years, God told him that he was soon to die. Moses asked God to appoint a new leader to succeed him. Quite naturally, God chose the man who believed that nothing was impossible with God’s help; God chose Joshua. Moses must have been thrilled. Shortly before Moses climbed Mount Nebo to be welcomed by God into heaven, he spoke these words to Joshua in the presence of the people: Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:7-8).

Not long after this, God gave Joshua an assignment that was impossible. The people of Israel, numbering over two million men, women and children, were camped by the Jordan River. The Promised Land lay on the other side. God told Joshua, "tell your people to break camp and go across." But there were no bridges, no boats. During the dry season, the Jordan was only about 100 feet wide and relatively shallow, but God’s command came while the river was at flood stage during the harvest season. The current was swift, and most the Israelites didn’t know how to swim, having grown up in the wilderness. How would you like to be responsible for getting the people and their animals across? How many do you suppose would drown?

However, following God’s command, Joshua had the priests bring forward the Ark of the Covenant. This was the sacred box which contained the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s staff, and a memorial portion of the manna which by which God had fed the Israelites in the wilderness. When set up in the Tent of Meeting, God would appear in His glory over the Ark of the Covenant, treating it as a throne. Joshua told the priests carrying the Ark to take the lead, and asked the people to pray to God as they followed. When the feet of the priests touched the flooding river, the water stopped flowing and stood up in a bank, allowing the people to cross the riverbed in complete safety. The impossible became possible.

They were barely across the river when Joshua met another impossible situation. Before them stood a large city named Jericho, a city protected by massive walls. How could Joshua’s people conquer such a city without guns or rocket launchers? It was impossible. But God provided instructions. Joshua was to select seven men, and instead of arming them, he was to give them trumpets. These men were to walk around the city walls, followed by priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant and a select group of men from among the people. No weapons were to be carried. Just walk around the city once a day for six days in a row, and on the seventh day, circle it seven times. Then, when the men sounded their trumpets, the people were to shout, and the walls would collapse.

Now that doesn’t seem very rational, does it? We can imagine the people of Jericho watching their tactics with puzzlement on the first day, and laughing at their foolish behavior each day thereafter. But on the seventh day the walls collapsed, though no physical attack had been mounted. The impossible had become possible, because God had made a promise.

Think of holy Baptism. Some people could say, "What’s the point? How can applying water and speaking a few words make any difference in that child’s life?" We could ask the same question about walking around the walls of Jericho for seven days. But Jesus commanded that we baptize when He said, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). He promised to create faith in the heart of that child when He instructed Peter to write, baptism…now saves you (1 Peter 3:21). Paul assures us, He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). This is why Christians bring their children to be baptized, even though human reason cannot see how it helps the child. It is enough to trust God and obey Him, in order to receive His blessings.

To make a long story short, the people of Israel conquered city after city with God’s help, until there was peace in the land and everyone had a place to make their home and livelihood. At 110 years of age, his work done and ready to die, Joshua spoke to the people one last time. It is always interesting to hear what men have to say when they know that death is imminent. Reflecting on his life, what lessons would Joshua share with those who would survive him?

Joshua had no regrets. He said, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua had served God all his life, and he was confident that his family would do the same. And the people responded, "We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God."

What is your response to Joshua’s challenge? I believe that I can speak for my wife and children when I say, as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. And I believe that we can, so long as we keep hold of Jesus’ hand and follow wherever He leads. Will you respond with God’s people, we too will serve the LORD, because He is our God? I pray that every one of you will say these words in your heart with all sincerity. If you do, and you trust in our Lord as Joshua trusted, then you will have a great week, and a great life ahead of you.

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