Monday, November 12, 2007

Day 28 - Josh 8:1-2 & Ex 20:18

Do not Fear
Joshua 8:1-2 - 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. 2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.”

This command to not be afraid comes at an important time for Joshua. A few chapters earlier, Joshua had sent a small band of his army to defeat the city of Ai, but was routed and 36 Israelites died. This was the first time the Israelites had been defeated and Joshua threw himself before the Lord in grief and confusion. The Lord responded to Joshua by telling him to get up and that the reason they were defeated was because someone had sinned. After letting God lead them to the right person, Aachan admitted that he had taken some precious jewelry when he was commanded not to. The consequence of his coveting was huge. But, as a result, with the Israelites now forgiven and holy, they are having a second chance at this city. So, the Lord reminds Joshua to not be afraid or dismayed and literally gives him the brilliant battle plan. Joshua did exactly what the Lord told him to do and it worked well. Sin destroys lives, leads to failure and defeat and causes grief for everyone. The only requirement by God here was to be holy and obedient. What a great encouragement to us this morning that holiness can lead to fearlessness. If we are holy before the Lord, we have nothing to fear.

Fear God
Ex 20:18 - When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance

If only we had this respect for God in every decision and every temptation. Someday we will see with eyes wide open the glory of God and we will fall down before him and worship like the angels in Heaven do, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty who was, who is and is to come..."

Day 27 - Josh 1:9

Do not Fear and Fear God
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

When we think of a verse that will comfort us in our fears, most people come to this one. It again strikes me that all we are commanded to do is to either BE or not to BE... BE strong. BE courageous. Do Not BE frigthened. Do not BE dismayed. It isn't a matter of war or strategy or innovativeness or ingenuity. Joshua is to be strong and he is not to be frightened. That is the extent of the commandment of God. The reason I believe He says this is because when we fear, we are unable to carry out the will of God. Fear paralyzes and gives someone or something more power than God. And the reason, again, that we are to be or not to be is because the LORD (the God of all Gods, the creator, the sustainer, the judge, the most powerful and righteous and Holy one) who is also YOUR God, is with you wherever you go. Again, the character of God is our foundation, our cause and effect, for our well-being. If you are going to fear anything, fear displeasing him, disobeying him, not trusting him or forgetting Him. That should be your biggest concern.