Change is all around us. Often it excites us, frequently it frightens us, but it will always challenge us. Joshua 1 is all about change. Moses has died and Joshua is now called to fill his shoes and lead the people into the Promised Land. Talk about a challenge! He had “trained” under Moses but now it was his turn to step up and lead. We may find ourselves in similar positions of transition. Whether the change is something we desire or is something we dread, there will be questions to answer and challenges to face. Changing Wanderers into Worshipers simplifies Joshua 1 into “Six Guidelines to kick-start a new beginning”:
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Face reality. (Joshua 1:1-2) Moses is dead, Joshua is now leader. Look at the facts and get ready to face the challenge.
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Move on. (Joshua 1:2-4) For Joshua and the people, it was time to finally move into the Promised Land. No more waiting, no looking back. What’s next for us? We can’t live in the past. The challenge lies ahead and it’s time to accept what is happening and tackle it.
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Don’t be afraid. (Joshua 1:5) God promises Joshua, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” What a great reassurance! God promises us the same thing…just as he did with Moses and Joshua! If God is leading, He will be there, through it all!
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Stand tall. (Joshua 1:6-9) Three times God tells Joshua to “be strong and courageous”. Don’t back down from change. It will not be easy, but we can’t turn and run, make excuses or avoid it if we want to succeed through it. It’s time to embrace it and “step up to the plate”.
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Stay focused. (Joshua 1:7-8) For Joshua and the Israelites, the leadership had changed, but the authority and focus had not. They were to remember the law that had been passed down through Moses. In the midst of change, we often get distracted, confused, and overwhelmed. We need to know the vision, the focus, and the foundation on which we stand to keep us anchored.
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Enjoy this. (Joshua 1:8) Celebrate success! Change can be good or bad, but it is never easy. When we accomplish the mission, succeed in staying on task, and working through it all, it’s time to enjoy the achievements….that is, until the challenge of change hits again…
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This is a really great look at this passage. Thanks for this. Excellent for leadership.
Brent
“If God is leading, He will be there, through it all”
Absolutely. I love that you said that. Cuz if we’re leading…we’ll know real quick.
One of my favorite quotes from my Pastor (but possible not his very own) is…”A God inspired vision finds itself through purposeful action.”
Like you said above “working through it” – there needs to be action.
This is a timely post from you…yet again. Thanks Rindy!
Merry Christmas!
I love the “face reality” part. Too often I get caught up in what I want reality to BE, instead of what it IS.
This came at a great time!! I am so glad that you posted on this because its very encouraging. It definitely made me take a deeper look at how I deal with change and gave me some good insight!
Thanks a bunch and if you are at the christmas party tonight I will see you then
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD –
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling [a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
Merry Christmas, Rindy and Boys!