Joshua 1:1-9 Holy Ambition
Joshua 1:1-9
1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Background
Moses, together with his generation perished in the wilderness. Joshua was the dawn of a new era of conquest and revival. God assured Joshua that His commitment to him was no less than Moses. Today’s passage teaches leaders to imbue the law into future leaders and release them with full assurance of God’s undiminished commitment and protection. The requisite to success is to be strong and courageous in the face of dire circumstances while holding on to God’s laws. Our holy ambition is to be like Christ in all manner of life and to be a blessing to the world.
Observation
Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise…
When it was time for Moses to conclude his role as deliverer of Israel, Moses laid his hands on his successor Joshua the son of Nun, and he was filled with the spirit of wisdom (Deuteronomy 34:9). For the time being, Joshua was called Moses’ aide, and God started to communicate directly with Joshua as leader of Israel. The era of Moses had passed; the dawn of Joshua had come! Now, God’s commission to Joshua was formidable and pointed, “…cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.” The implication “I am giving…” constituted God’s intention but required man’s full cooperation and obedience to His law.
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you.
It is the will of God that territories be conquered by the footfalls of His sons. Through Joshua’s leadership, God was taking the land of Canaan into His kingdom. Now, God made explicit the boundaries of the land. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads … carries a prophetic call that extends beyond Joshua’s generation. Those who obey God’s law will facilitate the kingdom’s expansion with respect to where they are planted. The kingdom will expand from Joshua’s generation and continue beyond Canaan to the whole earth. However, in the context of Joshua’s generation, God had laid out for them the boundaries of Canaan for their taking.
No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.
This seemed like a formidable promise which was exceedingly encouraging and reassuring. These words brought to naught the most fearsome of enemies while driving the hearers towards the safety of God. These words also implied perils and oppositions that would stretch the tenacity of Joshua’s trust in God. It is important to note the continuity of leadership and God’s undiminished commitment rendered to Joshua no less than Moses: Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.
Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law
Even as God had given His guarantee of divine assistance in all of Joshua’s exploits, God directed Joshua to assume personal responsibility for the commission at hand: for you shall give this people possession of the land… The responsibility was not just on God to see him through; Joshua must take the journey himself with footfalls on every territory to take possession of it.
Joshua’s success hinged on the choices he made whenever he faced challenges beyond his natural ability to handle; he must resolve to be strong and courageous being fully assured of God’s personal guarantee. At the same time, he must discipline himself in the ways of righteousness by doing according to all that was written in the law. By studying and meditating on the law, he saturates his mind and heart with the precepts and promises of God. Israel, a prototype of God’s kingdom on earth must have in its culture the righteousness of God. Therefore, not only must Joshua be courageous in conquering lands, he must inculcate the people with values befitting the citizens of God.
Truth
God’s kingdom comes by waves of revivals brought on by a succession of leaders that are vastly different from each other. Each leader sees the kingdom through his own unique lenses forged by the culture and challenges of his time. However, when the dawn of a new era is near, he must accept that another who is vastly different will succeed him. Hence, a leader must envisage unchartered waters and make preparations for it. He must beware of the dangers of imposing his ideals on his successors and risks stifling the move of God. He must recognize that as God is with him, God will also be with the succeeding leader. Some leaders have the tendency to insist on matters of preference rather than on matters of principle. They tend to mix culture and spirituality supposing a tried and tested form is wiser and safer. A leader must understand where his work ends and be confident that the principles he has imbued in the succeeding generation will well enable them to make wise decisions.
In the kingdom of God, our ambition must be undergirded by kingdom’s culture and values. Believers must possess ambition in all their endeavors and in achieving expand their circle of influence both in the workplace and in their communities. However, many are selfishly ambitious desiring to be exalted through the ranks of society. They supposed the blessings of Christendom include material wealth and power; they exhibit their achievements as testimonials of Christian blessedness thus, falling into pride and sin. Such parade their trophies but are severely lacking in humility and the virtues of Christ. They no doubt pose an attraction to those who harbor selfish ambitions aspiring to higher positions. God said to Joshua, “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law …” God commanded Joshua to take territories for Israel, but he is to achieve the goals of kingdom expansion in the spirit of the law. Put in a nutshell, believers must do all to achieve their highest potential, but in the spirit of righteousness and love. They are to make sure that every job is well done for the good of others while bearing the attitudes of mercy, justice and humility. On that day, God put a holy ambition within Joshua:
Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.” Joshua 3:7
Joshua was exalted because he had a servant’s heart while striving with all his might for the good of Israel. Therefore, one’s ambition is not to move up the ranks of society, but to be like Christ in all manner of life and to be a blessing to the world.
Strength and courage is a matter of choice. In the thick of dire circumstances, one can make a choice to be strong and courageous. Strength of heart and courage is a matter of the will. There is no need for strength and courage when challenges are manageable. Thus, God commanded Joshua, to be strong and courageous in tumultuous times as if it was wholly a matter of choice. Is it possible to change one’s emotional state when he is clearly overwhelmed? Yes. By directing one’s focus away from the circumstance to God’s divine guarantee: Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. By recognizing God’s unceasing commitment and protection, and in declaration of God’s promises, strength and courage will follow. Strength and courage is not a result of clever quotes or psychological maneuvering, but in fixing our gaze on the God who cannot lie.
Applications
- Are you able to accept that your future leader’s working style and preferences are vastly different from yours? Or are you trying to mold them into your form and ideals? Spend more time listening and empathizing with their views. God made them different for a reason, so that your legacy may continue to be relevant to the new generation.
- Are you accustomed to letting one bad event spoil your whole week? If you are, you are probably a snow baller who is not able to control your emotions. Be aware of your emotional state and how your mind works. Be strong and courageous and try to see your tribulations from God’s perspective. The apostle Paul said,
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11
Therefore, we must guard our hearts from descending into despair by putting on the armor and be strong in the strength of His Spirit.
Dear Lord, help me to understand your future plans, and make preparations for new leadership to emerge. Give me wisdom to earmark the right people and disciple them. Even as I aim to achieve and do well in my career, I desire to be respected more than be promoted. As I appropriate your promises, cause me to be strong and courageous in my present challenges. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.