eDevs

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-30 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Stay on track

Stay on track

The Hebrew word used for God's Word implies a road or a pathway. When we face big challenges and have big shoes to fill, our strength and courage is greatest when we are on the right path. As God gives Joshua his marching orders, He refers him to a safe pathway - God's Law.

But what was "the Law"?
Joshua didn't have a full Bible. He only had the laws given to the people on Mount Sinai and in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. His "Bible" didn't have Psalms, prophets, or New Testament.

So how does a bunch of ceremonial and moral laws give courage, strength and success in a dangerous mission?
These laws reveal the character and nature God and provide the ethics of a just and caring society. A quick glance at the Ten Commandments reveals this:

No other Gods - this is obvious - when we take our eyes off the one true God we will sink in the brokenness of the world.
No idols/graven images - The minute we try to draw God or make a statue of Him, we begin to limit Him and shape Him according to our own desires.
Don't misuse God's name: when we use God's name for our purposes instead of in worship we shipwreck ourselves.
Remember the Sabbath: Take time to slow down and remember that everything comes from God.
Honour your parents: It is easy to discard the elderly and when we do this society crumbles.
Don't murder: Life isn't cheap
Don't commit adultery: Marriage is a stabilising force for society
Don't steal: Taking without earning creates a downward spiral that devalues work and human dignity.
Don't lie: Truth holds society together
Don't covet: Unbridled ambition and greed destabilises society

Joshua is called to create a Godly, just and caring society. This society needs to be under-girded by values and principles. These values are the worship of God, the valuing of life and property and the reining in of the vices of greed and ambition.

Joshua isn't being asked to have a daily QT reading a psalm or proverb each day. He is being asked to build a society on values and principles that reveal God and create a just society.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 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." (Joshua1:6-9)

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-29 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Fear vs Courageous

Fear vs Courage

Courage and Fear are quite different.

Fear is something that happens to us. It is caused by circumstances and pressure. It is often involuntary and irrational. Things happen and we feel fear - often at a very basic instinctive level. When the door slams shut, when the lion roars or when something goes "bump" in the night, our adrenal systems kick into high gear preparing us for fight or flight.

Courage on the other hand, is more of a choice than an instinct. We don't feel courage like we feel fear. We choose courage. We make a decision to face our fears. Courage does not cancel out or dilute fear. Being strong means that we push through fear. We work around and in spite of fear.

Forty years previously fear and a grass-hopper mentality caused the nation to listen to the ten fearful spies instead of Joshua and Caleb. This resulted in forty years of wandering in the desert... Now Joshua and the people find themselves at the border again. Nothing has changed on the other side of the Jordan. It's still the same cities, the same topography and the same enemies.

But God calls Joshua to be strong and courageous...
Be strong and courageous. Choose to face your fears. Choose to endure your circumstances. Choose to keep going and not quit or run. Step up and report for duty. Do what it takes, but keep moving.

Courage is not the absence of fear or even the opposite of it.
Courage and Strength are decisions we make in spite of our fears.
In just three verses God tells Joshua three times over:
"Be Strong and Courageous."

Joshua had to choose and so must we...

(Tomorrow we'll look at a few things that help us to be strong and courageous.)

Friday, May 25, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-25 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Promise, Destiny and Participation

Promise, Destiny and Participation

God's future for us as His children is an exciting one. The scriptures are full of pictures of our destiny, both in this life and the next:

"For I know the plans I have for you - to prosper and not to harm you" (Jer.29)
"All my days were written in your book" - (Ps.139)
"...a life of good works which God has prepared in advance for you to do" - (Eph.2)
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" - (1Cor.2)

The destiny God offers Joshua is the Promised Land, victory over opposition and His constant presence.

I think the promise of land can be translated in all sorts of ways. I think many of us may not possess physical land, but our "territory" could be impact, influence and legacy.

The interesting thing about Joshua's "land" is that he has to set foot on it. Money in the bank means nothing until we withdraw it. A promise means little until we act on it. Influence is only effective when we leverage it. Very often we have incredible resources at our disposal, but we sit back and wait for it to happen instead of recognising that God chooses to have us participate in our destiny. We are not passive share-holders - God wants us to be co-workers in His plan for us.

This requires courage. We have leave the known behind and take a plunge into unknown territory. But we have God's good promise: "I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you."

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua1:3-5)

Thursday, May 24, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-24 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Resolution, Resolve and Promise

Resolution, Resolve and Promise

It's very easy to go into the future while still being shackled to the past. My favourite image of this comes from the film, "The Mission" where a former slave trader, Rodrigo Mendoza, played by Robert de Niro, converts to Christianity and struggles to climb up a waterfall dragging his armour (a penance to his former life of violence) only to get to the top and have a tribesman of the people he captured as slaves run up to him with a knife and instead of killing him, cuts him free of his burden.

Our past, sometimes good, sometimes bad, can hinder us in going into the future. God sets Joshua free from the past when He says "Moses my servant is dead." After stating the obvious God then mentions Joshua by his full name "Joshua, son of Nun", thereby recognising Joshua as his own person. For all the times we have mentioned the "big shoes" that Joshua has had to fill - we must now realise that these shoes need to be put in the cupboard. Joshua will fill his own shoes.
This is vital Resolution.

Now God frames a new mission "You and all these people, get ready..."
Before going into the land we have to get ready. We'll see in the next few chapters that getting ready will involve circumcision, crossing, eating, rededicating, re-thinking and a couple of other steps. We must never under-estimate the importance of preparation. This demonstrates our Resolve.

The last aspect of today's reading is the importance of Promise. Resolution and Resolve rests on the certainty of a good future. We can't let go of the past and prepare for the future if we are not convinced that it will be worth it. By God promises Joshua and the Israelites that He is leading them into a future that He will "give" to them.

What about you? Do you have resolution for the past? Moses wasn't forgotten, but Joshua was set free being held back by Moses. Do you have resolve for the future? What are you doing to prepare and consecrate yourself? And, finally, are you convinced that God holds your future?

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You can see past devotions at http://emmdev.blogspot.co.za

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-23 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Strong and Courageous - Overview

Strong and Courageous - Overview

The first nine verses of the book bearing Joshua's name are well beloved. We read them to our young people at baptisms and confirmations, we reflect on them at the start of new endeavours and we turn to them for encouragement when the going gets tough.

Over the next few days we'll pore over these wonderful truths.
But here are a few thoughts as an overview...

We've already noted that Moses was a tough act to follow and that there would be many who felt that Joshua had been too sheltered and lacked the necessary experience to be a good leader. The Promised Land offered great bounty, but also some imposing enemies and serious threats...

Before we read the passage, there are four things to note:

God is clear on what Joshua must do: Many times we fail to start well because we are not clear on exactly what it is that we must do
He promises His supportive presence: We fail when we become discouraged by the size of the task and the effort we think it will take. God has promised His presence!
He calls Joshua to be courageous and strong. Big challenges will stretch and shape us. Nothing worthwhile is done without effort and courage. God is more concerned with our character than our comfort!
Joshua must be careful to do things according to God's guidelines. If we allow our insecurities to push us into taking moral and spiritual "shortcuts" we doom our endeavours to failure. When we courageously do things God's way, He blesses us!

We'll zoom into each of these areas over the next few days, but for today, just read through this beloved passage.

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them... 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (Joshua1:1-10)

Friday, May 18, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-18 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Big shoes - Resourceful God

Big shoes - Resourceful God

Have you ever been faced with a tough and daunting task or had some serious shoes to fill? Have you wrestled with a sense of inadequacy or just felt completely unprepared and overwhelmed?

It's especially difficult when one follows in the footsteps of a someone who has done the job well and done it for a long time. Joshua had a daunting task and serious shoes to fill.
"Following in the shoes of Moses?"
For goodness sake! It's some 3000 years later and people are still writing leadership based on Moses! Moses went toe to toe with Pharoah. Moses and the Ten Plagues. Moses and the Ten Commandments. Moses and Water from a rock and manna and quail! Moses talking to God, like one speaks face to face with a friend. Moses, the living legend, who finished as strong as an ox and as sharp as nails.
Would you want to follow after him??

And did we mention that Moses was loved and respected?
The Israelites grieved his death for a month!

And then the Promised Land loomed in front of the Israelites who, forty years previously, had succumbed to grasshopper mentality...

But Joshua wouldn't be filling these shoes only in his own strength!
God's Spirit was given to Joshua when Moses inducted him as leader over the people. The Spirit gave him wisdom and authority.
And the people listened.

The life of faith excludes the "safe" option. The life of faith will take us to the borders of daunting, challenging and stretching.

When we face daunting tasks, God will equip us, inspire us, infill us, guide us, uphold us, transform us and use us!

Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. (Deuteronomy34:7-9)

Thursday, May 17, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-17 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Shepherd

Shepherd

Yesterday we saw how Moses longed for a shepherd for the flock of Israel. This is because Moses, and all good and Godly leaders, are shepherds - just like God shepherds us.

We're going to look at Ps 23 to understand how God shepherds us.
It is intimidating to even attempt to comment on a psalm that is so loved and appreciated by people. There are many who know this psalm by heart and it has been a comfort for many. I'm simply going to make a few comments on some of the key features of the Psalm.

The Palestinian shepherd does not herd or chase the sheep, he leads them. They know and follow his voice and go where he has already been. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He does not ask us to go where He has not been.

As sheep get heavier with wool, drinking can be very dangerous, rapidly moving water can overwhelm a wooly sheep as the wool absorbs the water very quickly and can weigh the sheep down allowing the water to sweep it away. When we listen closely to the Shepherd's voice, we will hear Him calling us to 'come apart and rest a while' so that we can feed where we will not be overwhelmed and where our souls can be restored.

We can be sure that He will lead us along paths of righteousness: His name is at stake. It is one of the sure ways to test whether it is God leading us or someone else. If there is a chance that His name will be dishonoured, then it is not God leading us.

The valley of the shadow of death is a place where the sheep get jumpy and can do silly things. Our Shepherd has not only been through the valley of the shadow, He has been through the valley of Death too. We know that He will be with us. The rod (or shepherd's crook) is used to hook around a sheep that has panicked and headed in the wrong direction. The staff is used to beat off predators. The Lord will pull us back when we are being silly and he will protect us when we are in danger.

The imagery shifts from a shepherd to a host, and the table we come to is the table of grace and love, the table of bread and wine, body and blood. The oil is the symbol of the Spirit and we overflow with the blessings of God's goodness, grace, and love.
In that love we would dwell forever.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalms23:1-6)

Thank You Lord that You are our Shepherd. Help us to find the still waters You lead us to so that we can know Your presence in the valleys and shadows. Help us to see how our cups overflow.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-16 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Leadership, Transition and Commissioning

Leadership, Transition and Commissioning

The time had come for Moses to pass on the baton, and being the great leader that he was, he did not want to leave a leadership vacuum as his legacy.

Today's reading deals with this transition and contains Moses' plea and God's answer. There are some noteworthy moments and concepts in our passage:

Notice how Moses recognises the fundamental spiritual nature of humanity. He addresses God as the "God of the spirits of all humankind". (Another translation renders it, "the God who gives breath (Ruach) to the flesh of man".)
Moses also speaks of the nature of leadership: To lead out of the past and in to the future and to be a shepherd. (The shepherd model of leadership merits further thought and we'll look at this tomorrow...)
Moses had a deep concern that the people should not be shepherd-less. This gives us an insight into his caring pastoral leadership style. He could have been insecure - after all Joshua gets the "cherry on the top" of leading the people into the Promised Land. He could have argued that such a big task needed an experienced and proven leader, but Moses doesn't cling to power, he wants what's best for the people.
In God's eyes, Joshua is qualified for leadership because the Spirit is in him. It is not Joshua's skill-set or training, but his willingness to be led and guided by God's Spirit.
Commissioning to leadership happens in the presence of the priest and the community with Moses clearly passing on the baton. Leadership is about God, community and continuity.
Authority is best received rather than taken.
The leader's task is to listen to God. The "Urim" referred to in the passage refers to an ornate vestment worn by the priest. When they made inquiries of the Lord, different gems on the vestment would glow, indicating the Lord's answer. Joshua had to learn to work with the priest to discern God's will.

What qualities or aspects of leadership do you see in this passage?

Moses said to the LORD, 16 "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."

18 So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in."
22 Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly.
23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD instructed through Moses. (Numbers 27:15-23)

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-15 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] From a scarcity to abundance mentality

From a scarcity to abundance mentality

The Israelites had been complaining again. They were sick of Manna and wanted meat. Moses wasn't coping with the strain of leading the people and their complaints. He'd reached the point of burnout...

So God asked Moses to gather the 70 elders who would be given the same Spirit that was on Moses. This would assure Moses that he was not carrying the load alone. And that's exactly what happened... These elders were powerfully filled with God's Spirit. The NIV Study Bible explains that they probably broke out in spontaneous prophetic utterance which was regarded as the presence of God's Spirit.

But there were only 68 elders at the Tent of Meeting. Two had stayed behind in the camp. Maybe they weren't well, maybe they were ritually unclean, or maybe they had a legitimate reason to be in the camp. But they had the same spiritual experience even though they weren't at the tent. God's Spirit is not confined to a place. (Makes one wonder at all the people who insist that one must go to a person or a place to be blessed!!!)

When this is reported to Joshua, he responds defensively. He perceives these two as a threat. This has happened outside of his sphere of influence and control and he is threatened by it. It is a sign of a scarcity mentality and a need to be in control.

Moses invites him to a more abundant view...
"I wish this could happen to everyone!"

Three important lessons emerge:
1. We don't have to do everything by ourselves.
2. God often works in ways that extend beyond our knowledge and control.
3. Good spiritual leaders recognise the work of the Spirit in others and encourage it with a beautiful sense of the abundance of God's love and the opportunities He gives us to serve Him.

However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."
28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!"
29 But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" 30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp. (Numbers11:26-30)

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Friday, May 11, 2018

EmmDev 2018-05-11 [Faith among grasshopper hearts] Being with God

Being with God

We've seen that Joshua was mentored in the areas of leadership and war (particularly that war also has a spiritual dimension). Today we consider two passages that describe Joshua's spiritual tutelage.

Joshua didn't go to seminary or Rabbi school - he learnt about God by being with God.

When Moses went up on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, he left Aaron and Hur to watch over the people, but Joshua went up on to the mountain with Moses while the people trembled at God's presence at a safe distance.

One can't help but wonder if the Israelites would have made the Golden Calf if Joshua was around... Or maybe Joshua had to experience the incredible presence of God so that when he descended with Moses, he would see how pathetic the golden calf really was...

Later, when the tent and tabernacle that God had spoken about on the mountain had been built, Moses would go to the Tabernacle where God would speak "face to face" with Him as "a man speaks with his friend". Can you imagine the intimacy of those encounters?

Joshua seems to have functioned as the gatekeeper to the Tent. One can imagine that people with ambitious intentions would want to be able to claim that they too had heard from God.

But Joshua was not only a gatekeeper - he would have been there to see Moses go into the holy of holies and seen him come out. Even if he saw and heard nothing else, I am sure that the anticipation, joy, contentment and resolution would have been evident in Moses as he went into and came out of the Lord's presence and it would have left a lasting impression on Joshua.

I believe that even if Joshua did not hear God's words to Moses, he would have sensed God's presence. This would have shaped his heart and soul...

(We see a similar journey in the life of a young Samuel growing up in the Lord's presence in the tabernacle at Shiloh...)

The best way to learn about God is to be with God and His people...

Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. (Exo 4:13)

The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. (Exodus33:11)