DAY 12: GOD CHOSE JOSHUA

 THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY

(A DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM)

 

TOPIC: GOD CHOSE JOSHUA

DATE: 12 SEPTEMBER, 2020

BIBLE READING: NUMBERS 27:12-23

MEDITATION/MEMORY VERSE: NUMBERS 27:18 (CEV)

The Lord answered, “Joshua son of Nun can do the job. Place your hands on him to show that he is the one to take your place.

 

Joshua was a man whom God has chosen to bring the children of Israel to their promised land. What happened to Moses that God chose initially? The Bible makes us to understand that he broke faith with God (Deut. 32:51, 52). The man that the Bible calls, ‘the meekest man in the earth’ (Numb. 12:3), a man who exemplified faith and was listed in Hebrews 11. Even in the tribute of Moses, we were told that he was a powerful prophet risen in Israel that performed powerful and awesome deeds (Deut. 34:10-12). Yet he broke faith with God; and because of this one sin, God refused him to lead the children of Israel to their promised land.

First we must understand why God did that, because this has been the basis of many preachers that the moment we sin, God takes our lives and sends us to hell.

All things work together for good (Rom. 8:28), God refused Moses from entering the promised land for certain reasons, first Moses dishonoured God by being disloyal and unfaithful to His Word and command. Moses betrayed God in the congregation of God’s people by ascribing God’s honour and glory to himself. Moses said, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then he struck (when God commanded him to speak) the rock; not just once, but twice with his staff (Numb. 20:10-11). Notice two things here, he said ‘we’, not ‘God’- that’s pride. If he had continued leading the children of Israel to their promised land, he would have taken all the glory to himself, and as the God who guards the jealousy of His glory, He refused him.

Second, he struck the rock, which typified Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). He had struck the rock once in Exodus 17:6, just like Christ was crucified once (Heb. 7:27). And he was instructed to speak to the rock, as an act of faith in Him, but he crucified him again (Heb. 6:6).

Now concerning these issues; pride, disobedience and misrepresentation of God’s kingdom, which was what Adam and Eve did that led them to be driven out of the Garden of Eden (God’s presence). Not because of God had waited for them to fall; no. We even saw how he clothed them in love (Gen. 3:21). He drove them out for their own good (just like Moses), so that they will not eat from the tree of life and the entire human race will not be eternally corrupted and unredeemable (Gen. 3:22-24). And just as how Adam and Eve were clothed in love, God buried Moses (Deut. 34:5, 6), and to show us that God never sent him to hell, Satan was rebuked in God’s name to have Moses’ body (Jud. 1:9).

 

Hebrews 6:10 NKJV

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

 

Secondly, God refused Moses for another reason. He needed a military leader who will lead His people into war and possess the land. And Joshua had been a faithful military leader (Ex. 17:9)/ From scriptures, you would have thought it could be Caleb, because initially it was Caleb who tried to quiet the people as they give their report to Moses about Canaan land (Numb. 12:30), and it was because of that God said. “But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” (Numb. 14:6-9 NKJV). Though Caleb and Joshua were the ones who believed in the faithfulness of God (Numb. 14:6-9), that was why God exempted them (Numb. 14:30). Now balancing scriptures, Caleb seems to be the one (Deut. 1:36), but God chose a fearful Joshua (Deut. 1:38 Ref. Deut. 1:21; Josh. 1:6, 7).

God had chosen Joshua, because Moses, his servant had chosen him (Ex. 24:13). In fact, Joshua was a spiritual son to Moses and it was Moses who named him Joshua; as a sign of spiritual fatherhood (Numb. 13:16). And Joshua had mastered the Mosaic leadership of bringing the children of Israel into their promised land (Ex. 17:14; 33:11). So God worked it out in a way that Joshua would be the one to finish the job, because God had told Moses before his fall that he should teach Joshua (Ex. 17:14) and encourage him (Deut. 1:38).

Against all odds, God chose Joshua. Do you feel that God can’t choose or use you? Despite Joshua’s fearfulness; though a faithful military leader, God chose him nonetheless. Despite your limitation, God is still interested in using you to His glory.

 

DECLARATION: AGAINST ALL ODDS, I AM CHOSEN! DESPITE MY LIMITATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, GOD WILL USE ME TO HIS GLORY! PRAISE GOD!

 

FURTHER STUDY: JOSHUA 1