Joshua the servant of the Lord

Greetings to all our dear brothers and sisters in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus of Nazareth. He is our Prince of peace. A wonderful counsellor. He is Emmanuel. May the Lord’s abundant grace abound on all of us, more so on the sick, wounded and the persecuted……in these days of toil and turbulence, questions galore as to “How can I love this world filled with  hatred and violence ? The good suffer and weak humiliated . The just persecuted and compassion rewarded with insolence “ The “VUCA” world, the management schools call it ! (VUCA –  Volatility , Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity”).  How do I carry on with my Mission the Lord has given me : is the big question in the minds of so many youth, especially those  who want to stand up for Christ. The  cross has become too burdensome and heavy, even before one starts on his/her mission, dutifully… 

There was a man of God. He was born to the jewish slaves in Egypt. He remained a slave during youth and served his Egyptian masters. He moved out of slavery and with great awe and aplomb crossed the parted red sea, the sea waves roaring on either side…..When and where he met Moses, the  deliverer chosen by God to bring out His people is not well documented in the Bible. But I remember vaguely form the legendary movie : “ The Ten Commandments” (The first 70 MM  Cinemascope movie in the world!) – there is a scene where our man, by this time well guessed by you : JOSHUA , is about to be executed by his Egyptian masters ! The scene remains dramatic in my memory even today, as our Hero Moses suddenly enters the scene and at the nick of the moment, saves Joshua from dying !  In one of the episodes of “ The Chosen”  the famous television series of today, an interesting conversation occurs between Joshua and Moses : As Moses is making a bronze serpent : Joshua says all along the serpent has represented evil and how can the Lord ask Moses to make one to save His people dying from snake bites ? Moses says, he doesn’t know but he knows only to OBEY the Lord. Thousands of years on,  Jesus said, the Son of Man also has to be raised above for the redemption of man (from sin) …… I only know that the Holy Bible refers to Joshua as his story is written as : Joshua, servant (Minister) of Moses…. and end of the story calls him “Joshua the servant of the Lord    (Joshua 24:29). What an elevation for someone born and raised as a slave !

Moses, even though born to the slaves

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.  ( Joshua 1: 5-7)

The Lord called Joshua after the death of Moses and spoke to him these words. The Lord speaks directly to His chosen ones ! That includes you too…. Like King David, some times He (The Lord) speaks in your heart… If only we listen and obey to the Master’s voice, as little Samuel did…..

Moses, even though born to the slaves, was raised in the King’s palace and was taught in all science and academics and warfare of those days. Later on he wandered as a shepherd in wilderness before the Lord would call him, already a seasoned man qualified to be a leader. But Joshua was born a slave, raised and worked as any other jewish slave of his time. We know that he faithfully accompanied Moses wherever he went, but was limited to some boundary during the interactions Moses had with God : face to face  ! But once the Lord chose him to be the leader to succeed Moses on the important task of leading more than six million people of God, The Lord anointed him with Power and Authority as seen above and promised him great things. The Sun and Moon obeyed him so also the time zone ! The river Jordan stopped ( a corollary of parting of red sea) . He conquered more than two dozen local Kings in their stronghold , literally wiped off these races ! His vision and mission was only that of His God’s. The one time aberration of war with the people of “ Ai “ gave him a bitter experience for a lifetime (that too because of disobedience by one of the chosen people that the Lord’s anger was kindled).   

Joshua’s dying statement was only this : “ As far me and my house, we will only serve the Lord”. (Joshua 24:15). He made the people to confess this as a oath and made it a covenant at Shechem. My dear brothers and sisters, if only we surrender totally and obey to the voice of the Lord, who has called us, what or who can stop us from fulfilling His mission ? One last reference as to the word “ Prosper” (Joshua 1: 7) stated above: Preachers say the “prosperity” referred here is not relating to “Riches(money)/ wealth or earthly power, but it relates to a flourishing career of your own where you accomplish the Lord’s mission to your fullest joy and satisfaction without fail. What more counselling we want , even as we are in a chaotic world ?

Prayer :

“Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart ;

Naught be all else to me ,Save that Thou art .

Thou my best throughout by day or by night

Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Amen.

God’s Love Missions Family.