Joshua: Yes & Amen
‘Yes & Amen’. These are not just words, they are a committment. They mean you are in agreement. And when they are used in regards to vision, they are a surrender. A surrender to your dreams, your desires and your will. And an acceptance to God’s will, no matter the cost to you. Joshua knew this. He understood this. And yet, he still said ‘Yes & Amen’.
The Vision:
I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.
Genesis 17:7-8
The vision was given to Abraham. It was God’s vision for Israel. And being the owner of the vision, He set in motion a series of events, that span generations to bring it to fruition. He raised up individuals, who agreed with His vision and participated in unfolding it. One of these individuals was Joshua.
The Expectation:
And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites — a land flowing with milk and honey.
Exodus 3:17
These were the words God used to describe His vision- ‘a land flowing with milk and honey‘.
And usually, that is how we view vision. As an escape from misery and a plunge into hope, light and everything nice. And this is what we usually say ‘Yes & Amen‘ to.
The Reality:
They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”[…] ” We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”[…]”The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.[…] We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
Numbers 13:27-33
The Israelites saw the reality of the vision. It was not going to be sugar, spice and everything nice. It was going to be challenging. They were going to have to face not only giants, but their view of themselves. Living out the vision was going to be costly and even painful. And it is at this point that most people walk away from the vision. Their ‘Yes & Amen‘ becomes, ‘No, it is impossible’.
But then, there are those, like Joshua and Caleb ( whom we shall encounter next week), who continue to say, ‘Yes & Amen’.
What differentiates the Joshua’s of this world from the rest of the people?
i) Focus on the Vision
They are not blind to the challenges they will face. They see the challenges, but they make the decision to focus on the vision.
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.
Numbers 14:6-8
ii) God -Focus not Self-Focus
Joshua understood that the Owner of the vision shall bring it to pass.
If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us to that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 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.
Numbers 14:8-9
Joshua understood that it was only by God’s power that they were going to live in the promised land. By themselves, by their own self effort, by their own strength, it would be impossible. After all, God already mentioned the “-ites” when He spoke to Moses. He was aware of their presence and the challenges they posed. Nevertheless, He still promised them the land.
iii) Step Up
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all the people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them–to the Israelites.
Joshua 1:1-2
Joshua saw firsthand what it meant to be the leader of Israel. He saw the challenges Moses faced. He understood the frustrations that came with leadership. Yet, when God called, he answered.
Joshua stepped up to the call, because he knew that the call was not about him. He was answering to a call that was greater than him. He was stepping up to the vision.
iv) Afraid but Courageous
Fear engulfed Joshua when he answered the call. How do we know this? God had to repeatedly reassure him:
[…] As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5
“Be strong and very courageous […]
Joshua 1:6
Be strong and very courageous.
Joshua 1:7
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 1:9
Joshua was human. He knew, from observation, what it took to lead Israel. He saw the responsibility that he was undertaking and it frightened him. It also did not help that he was taking over from the great Moses!
Every God given vision is “scary”. Joshua did not pretend to be unafraid, rather he presented his fear to God. And in so doing, he denied it its power.
v) Fulfillment
The book of Joshua reads like an action thriller! Joshua did everything that was required of him by God. He carried out the instructions given to him by Moses. And at the end, he was able to boldly say:
“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.
Joshua 23:14
This can only be said by those who remain true to their ‘Yes & Amen‘.
After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. And they buried him in the land of their inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
Joshua 24:29-30
Your Turn:
Will you say ‘Yes & Amen‘ to God’s vision for your life?