I was once asked by a young college student, “I want to be you when I “grow up;” how did you get to where you are?” Oh my, was my first inner response. Nobody had asked that of me before this moment in time.  Then, my life “flashed before me” as I began remembering all the prep work God had to do in me before doing the work He gave me.  I remembered the battles with losses and gains but God was in it all and made all things new and good.  I remembered standing firm when all around me seemed to be falling apart.  I remembered how God led me through the high waters and would also still my soul by quiet streams for renewal.  But the first thought expressed out loud was, “I didn’t seek position—only God.”  God prepped me for this current work in over thirty years of volunteer work.  I didn’t just arrive here and I have not yet arrived.  God is still working on me and I love that He does.  God uses everything in our lives to prepare us for His next thing He wants to do in and through us.  This might not have been the answer she was looking for but it was the truth. 

Backstory:  At that time, I was a national leader in the area of Youth and Family which included discipleship ministries for our denomination of churches.  This work included organizing discipleship training events, taking college kids on mission trips to teach and nurture them while helping others, overseeing compatible curriculum, and writing curriculum, when necessary, that fit our goals of discipling others.  It was not a position I sought but led into by God’s hand.  I was happy being a public school teacher who volunteered locally and on the state level as a youth leader with my husband who was also a teacher.  He also volunteered to be a leader in various ways to promote the good health of churches, using the command of Jesus to “Go and make disciples, baptizing them, teaching them…”  He was led by God into full time ministry as a pastor.

However, our side gig of teaching kids why choosing to follow Christ as the most important relationship they will ever have with how to live a life pleasing to God took time but oh so rewarding!  However, at that time, it also was in opposition, if you can believe it. We were deemed “heretics” to those used to the old ways of compelling kids to repent by putting the “fear of God” in them—preaching loudly about God as a punisher who would send them to hell if they did not repent.  “Turn or burn” was the mantra of the messages. It seemed loudness was the predicter of truth.

But this is what God was calling us to do at that time—teach.  We led our state church camps, meant to save our “young people” from hell, with teaching kids about Jesus with showing them how to be like HIM as the perfect example to follow.  “Alter calls” came after information was taught as to who God was, why His Son came, with more in depth teaching, using Jesus’ words. This calling was not easy.  We were reprimanded for “y’all teaching too much” and not bringing kids the altar nightly.  Many in the established church were very set in their ways with leaders who solely relied on passionate “altar calls” to get sinners to repent without including the “making and teaching disciples” part of God’s command through Jesus. (Matthew 28:20) It was a battle, a “holy war”, so to speak, that prepped us for future works God would do in and through us while standing firm on the promises of God.  

The final response to my young protégé was this: “Do you really want to be me?”  I would rather you be like Jesus.  What He calls you to be and do is between you and God who knows your heart and his prepping you right now!  The prep work will be personally unique and will fit you perfectly. 

Joshua is not Moses.  He is a leader who loves God like Moses with a committed, compassionate heart; but he is not Moses.  God has called, consecrated, and anointed Joshua to a new work.  Joshus will lead God’s People into the land God promised Abraham centuries ago. God has prepped Joshua throughout his life to do God’s work for the good of His People which will declare His glory. First assignment—Take Jerico! 

Joshua 5

Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

² At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” ³ So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.

⁴ Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. ⁵ All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. ⁶ The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁷ So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. ⁸ And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

⁹ Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

¹⁰ On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. ¹¹ The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. ¹² The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

The Fall of Jericho

¹³ Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

¹⁴ “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

¹⁵ The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

TAKE NOTE of how the relationship between God and Joshua is growing as God tells him what to say with what to do. The more love Joshua has for God correlates to how quickly and reverently he obeys God. What does that teach us?  Ponder this question as I am. Take all the time you need.

IT’S NEVER ALL ON US!  The commander of the Lord’s army appeared to Joshua, which showed Joshua that he didn’t have to bear the responsibility alone of conquering Jericho.  

GOD’S TIMING IS VITAL TO VICTORY!  The events described in Joshua 5 took at least ten days, and then the people marched around Jericho for six more days. God waited over two weeks before giving His people their first victory in the land. Are you presently struggling with accepting God’s timing rather than your own?

SURRENDER—With a surrendered heart, ask Godhonestly for His perfect, pleasing will along with His timing. When we do; His peace will fill us as we wait for God to act in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. He always has for me and I believe He always will for all who surrender to His will—He promised!     

WHY WAIT?  We might have expected Joshua to mobilize the army immediately and attack Jericho. After all, the people of Israel were united in following the Lord, and the people of the land were paralyzed by fear. Perfect time—from the human point of view! But God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah. 55:8, 9).  Joshua was resolved to get his orders from the Lord, not from the military experts.

As believers, we are constantly challenged to see the situation through God’s perspective rather than our own.  I believe this “training of perspective” is also a vital part of our prep work provided by God before asking us to join Him in HIS work, whatever that work will be!

GOD’S CALLED HAVE THESE THINGS IN COMMON—

• They know to “be still, (let go), and know that He is God.” Joshua inquires of the Lord before doing anything for the Lord.  Jesus was our perfect example.  “I only say and do what the Father tells me,” the gospels proclaim.
• “Perfect submission; all is at rest.”  The Lord came to Joshua that day, not just to help but to lead. “For without Me you can do nothing”, says Jesus (John 15:5). We must also submit daily, offering ourselves as an “offering” to God, seeking His perfect and pleasing will.  Romans 12:1-2
• “Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord” –”those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
• Obedience demonstrates our love for God.  “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22 Do all that God says and don’t leave anything out for any reason for God has the best plan—always. 
• Train others to do what you do.  With joy what them do it even better than the way you do it as they rely on God’s help and leading.  Then they will know God is in charge and leads the charge to do His will in His time.  2 Timothy 2:2

Lord,

Thank you for these lessons in leadership as we read of Joshua’s obedience to you.  We have not obtained perfection in all things but we are grateful that you perfect forgive us.  Thank you for not giving up on us but instead turn our messes into messages that tell of your greatness!  To You be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen