Joshua’s Secret

Each person would have wanted had successes in his life. But humans are often only measure of success based on the material and outward things alone. To the world, the measure of success is wealth, possessions, power, and position as well as one’s ability to satisfy all desires. Yet we know that there is no single thing in this world can satisfy human desire. But the Word of God says something different. In Peter’s first letter chapter 1 verse 9 written for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. This is the real success  when men are sinners reconciled again with God so that people get the salvation of his soul.

The Bible writes about the success of a remarkable figure that we should emulate. At first he was a young man from a slave nation in Egypt but in the end he managed to lead a chosen nation of God into the rich soil that promised by God. This young man named Joshua.

In the Bible, Joshua’s name appears first at the time of the Israelites against the Amalekites. Young Joshua trusted by Moses, the leader of Israel at that time to lead the Israelites to war against the Amalekites (⁹ Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” ¹⁰ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill… ¹³ So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. (Exodus chapter 17 verses 9-10 & 13)). Not without reason, Moses chose Joshua to be his servant. Joshua is a young man strong and powerful but the real secret of Joshua’s success is not it. In Exodus chapter 33 verse 11 we are told that 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 assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Young Joshua saw Moses spoke with God in a deep intimacy, thus making Joshua also want to have a close personal relationship with God. It kept him in the tent of meeting even though Moses had left.

I believe that God sees Joshua’s sincerity and longing, so God providing Joshua with obedience and courage.

This was proven when Joshua became one of the 12 spies that sent by Moses to Canaan to see circumstances. 10 Scouts deliver bad news to the people of Israel and caused them dither and rebellion to God. But Joshua and Caleb by faith say that God will be with Israel to acquire land which was promised (⁶ Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes ⁷ and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. ⁸ If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. ⁹ Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” ¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites . (Numbers chapter 14 verses 6-10)). Joshua’s obedience and faith are tested at the time. In fact he almost lost his life, but defense of God real to His faithful servant.  From the entire adult generation of Israel, only Joshua and Caleb who allowed by God to enter the land of Canaan, while the other adult generation will be destroyed in the wilderness.

Because of his obedience and faith, the Lord chose Joshua to replace Moses. (¹⁸ So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, [Or Spirit] and lay your hand on him.¹⁹ Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. ²⁰ Give him some of your authority so that the whole Israelite community will obey him. ²¹ He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by enquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.” ²² Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. ²³ Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD instructed through Moses .(Numbers chapter 27 verses 18-23)). God says that Joshua was a man full of the Spirit. Joshua’s spirit is the spirit that possessed the wisdom of God. This is the secret of Joshua’s success.

The proximity of the Lord made Joshua a man who has spirit and faith in God. God also strengthens Joshua to lead the nation. God knows it is hard for Joshua to do this great task, but God promised to be with Joshua as long as he clung to the Word of God and truly obey Him (¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: ² “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them — to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates — all the Hittite country — to the Great Sea on the west. ⁵ No-one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. ⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua chapter 1verses 1-9 ). Many times God tells Joshua  strengthened his heart because God will always accompany.

It is remarkable inclusion of God in the life of Joshua. We can see in the book of Joshua written successes of Joshua led the Israelites occupied the land of Canaan until finally he gave away the land of Canaan to the 12 tribes of Israel. But for Joshua real success is to remain steadfast in his faith in God until the very last step. This is said by Joshua at the end of his duty to lead the Israelites into the land of Canaan. ¹⁴ “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. ¹⁵ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua chapter 24 verses14-15). Hallelujah!

Asta Kids friends, in the present lot of people fight for success in various ways. There are even willing to do so in ways that are not good. But every person, every young man who gave his life to believed and earnestly to the Lord Jesus Christ will be taught and guided by the Holy Spirit to achieve real success in God. So whether believers is prohibited to achieve success in this world? Of course not! Any person who persevere and work hard deserve to reap the results match which is wealth or good position. But actually that is not the purpose of life for believers. We must remember that everything that exists on earth is transitory and will perish. Because of that the Lord Jesus Christ wants us to have a treasure that can never perish. His words in Matthew chapter 6 verses19-21 says ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God’s Word clearly says where your treasure is there your heart be also. If we are attached to worldly possessions then our hearts are bound to perish. But if our hearts and minds fixed on heavenly treasure that is the Lord Jesus Christ, then we get eternity. Beautifully hope was written in the Apostle Peter’s first letter chapter 1 verses 3-9 that is ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Therefore  also the Apostle Peter writes in 2 Peter chapter 1verses10-11 which says that ¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah! Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you already get a true success?