Joshua 2 Learn from past mistakes and trust God to bring about what He has promised.

 

Learn from past mistakes and trust God to bring about what He has promised…

Reading this chapter sparked two thoughts, the first is very practical, learn from past mistakes. I noticed an intriguing word in verse 1. Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." … I remembered that Moses sent spies, into the land too but he did so with pomp and circumstance, choosing a leader/representative from each tribe. The result was, that upon their return they gave a report to everyone and since it was a fear-filled report the people’s heart melted. The damage was done… 40 years of wandering resulted. Joshua learned from Moses’ mistake and sent the spies secretly. NO matter what their report, only he would know. Then as leader, he would make the resulting decision… a different tactic. It seems Joshua, knowing the people, chose a different approach as he set himself to accomplish God’s command. Learning from past failures is key to growing in Christ and living effectively. 40 years Joshua watched and learned from Moses. Who is mentoring you…???

The second thought grew from verses 11-12. When God issues a call or has something for us to do, God is already at work in ways we may not be able to see. God is already at work preparing for His task to be accomplish. Talking with Rahab, the spies learn that the people of Jericho live in fear of attack… We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Think about it, these people are repeating the story of the parting of the Red Sea which happened 40 years ago. The great things the Lord had done for His people are being told and retold by the people of the land who wait anxiously for Israel to attack. God had been at work all those 40 years. Sadly 40 years earlier the Israelites, who could not see the work God was doing, chose not to act faithfully, instead they acted fearfully and wandered the desert for 40 years as a result.

When God puts some action in our lives, we have to step out in faith. It is only as/when we step out that we learn if it is of God or not. Our risk is, “Have I heard God correctly?” There will always be this risk because that is what faith is about. Last November I took a risk to rally our church to eat a subsistence diet of rice and beans for a week and to donate their normal food spending to build a greenhouse in Africa. Was it merely a crazy plan I dreamt up in my head or was it a leading from God? I sought some counsel but ultimately only by stepping out would I know. It was from God because the fruit proved that and over $12,000 was given to provide sustainable food source to missionary friends in Africa. God had been at work and God produced the fruit.

O Lord, help me to trust You when I believe that You are leading, to step out in faith even when it feels a bit crazy or foolish. And help me, Jesus, to take kingdom risks, to learn and grow and become more effective. But Jesus, it is never about how good or how much I have learned. It is always about how closely I follow You, who is always right and always comes through, accomplishing what You want to accomplish. Lead on Jesus, lead on… and I will follow…