Fighting Men

Wk 1 Day 3

Joshua 1:13-15
¹³ "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.' ¹⁴ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers ¹⁵ until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

// THOUGHTS:

.. There are few things that really stuck out to me reading this passage.
.. (1) the promised land has already been given to them - it has been divided for them; which tribe occupies which land, and such. (v. 13)
.. (2) the Lord knows that some of the "brothers" need help; therefore, some who are the "fighting men" ought to "cross ahead" in order "to help your brothers" (v. 14b)
.. (3) the Lord wants the "fighting men" to bring them to their place first (v .15a)
.. (4) then, the "fighting men" will then go back and occupy their own land (v. 15b)

// BELLE:

.. I may be one of the "fighting men"
.. I have to take people to their land first - to help them get there; to protect them; to guide them - then I can "go back" and occupy my own when I have finished my job.
.. This is a matter of time, my faithfulness in doing the job, and diligence with a focused attitude to finish the task that God has given me to do
.. KAIROS - when God has appointed that time for me to occupy my own land.
.. I ought not to lose heart and think that I am "occupying my own land" later than everyone else; but rather, to always have the honor of serving God through my brothers and sisters who need "accompanying" to get to their own land.

.. The good thing I see is that, God did not choose those "fighting men" out of no reason - God knew that they were capable of bringing the others to their own land; that they will have the attitude and the heart to finish the task (v. 16-18); that they will carry and follow through what they God has commanded them to do.
.. And we know they did (Joshua 3); they crossed the Jordan on dry ground!

.. This is a job to be fulfilled for the glory of God.
.. I WILL OBEY
.. I WILL BE FAITHFUL
.. AND I WILL RELY ON THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!
.. With Christ, I CAN.

// Lord, ALL glory to Your name. I know that You will empower me to do this task. I know that Your Holy Spirit will empower me all the way through - will give me the ability to look past my own needs and see the finish line ahead of me. To guide my brothers and sisters to their own land you want them to occupy. Once I've done my part, then it is when You will lead me to my own. This calls for my faithfulness to You O Lord. I need Your help. This is all for Your glory and and I will obey You with all my heart even if it's going to be tough. This life is not about me at all, but about YOU - solely and only. I know I can do this because it is for YOUR glory! In Jesus' name, amen.