A PEOPLE MOBILIZED FOR ACTION

(Joshua 1:10-18)
A Message by Rev. Dr. Vincent Leoh on 26th February 2000
 
Moses is dead. God has spoken. Joshua, fresh from his individual encounter with God, returns to the camp and faces the people. They need to be mobilized for action, to move out into the Promised Land. But what does it take to mobilize for action?

I.    BE ACTION-ORIENTED (1:10)

To do nothing indefinitely would have ended up being a negative course of action. Joshua could have rationalized indecision and lack of activity for another decade or two. Instead he knew that the time for action had come. He was willing to mobilize the people, to move out into the Promised Land.

Vision must be blended with Action. Great “believers” were great “doers.” Our faith determines the course and actions of our lives. There are 5 types of people in the world: Dreamers, thinkers, planners, talkers and workers. Edison defined genius as : “One percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. The emphasis of the passage is life lived in a community. Both communities, Israel and the church, are communities of hope, promise and ACTION.

II.    GET ORGANIZED (1:10-11)

Organization is as much required in the Church as in the army. God is not the author of confusion, but of order. Such organization would facilitate the realization of the vision.

Maintain Clear Channels of Communication/Chains of Command. The nation of Israel was so organized that Moses could quickly communicate with the people through its officers who formed a chain of command (Dt. 1:15). Joshua commanded the “officers of the people” to carry word through the camp – that within three days, they would be passing over the Jordan River. The officers were subordinate officers of some sort with both a military function and a responsibility in civilian government (ref. Dt. 16:18; 25:9; Exo. 5:6-10). The ideal community mobilized for action has a “network” of persons who faithfully carry out their responsibilities. They know that the leader trusts them to do their work. They are trained for their responsibility. They’re given responsibility. They carry out their responsibility. Such organization would present the most formidable front to the enemy. Every man has his place, every man moving at the same word of command, every man living for the common good. Disorder is weakness. Disorder is waste!

III.    PREPARE PROVISIONS (1:11)

God’s plan involves preparation, organization and action. Though he trusted God for a miracle, Joshua still had to prepare for the everyday necessities of life. The Israelites were to prepare their provisions because manna would no longer be provided. They were to get ready for the conquest in a way that used their own natural resources.

God Never Does for Us What We Can Do For Ourselves. Men can fill the six water pots with water; gather the loaves and fishes already in possession of some of the multitude; roll away the stone from the grave of Lazarus. That which men can do, Christ will not do for them. Superhuman help only begins where human power fails.

IV.    SPEAK WORDS OF FAITH (1:11)

Joshua’s words to his leaders were words of faith and encouragement: “You shall pass over! You shall possess the land! The Lord will give it to you!” Joshua had made a similar speech forty years before, but that generation of leaders wouldn’t listen. Now that generation was dead and the new generation was ready to believe God and conquer the land.

“In three days you shall pass over this Jordan.” God didn’t give Joshua explanations as to how this would be accomplished. God’s people live on promises and not explanations. When you trust God’s promises and step out by faith (:3), you can be sure that the Lord will give you the directions you need when you need them.

V.    DON’T BE A “BORDERLINE” CHRISTIAN (1:12-15)

It was a concession on Moses’ part to allow the two and half tribes to live outside the Promised Land. The tribes liked the land there because it was “a place for cattle” (Num. 32:1,4,16). Apparently, their first concern was making a living, not making a life. They would rather have big flocks and herds than dwell with their brothers and sisters in the inheritance God had given them.

They represent the many “borderline believers” in the church today who get close to the inheritance but never quite claim it, no matter how successful they seem to be. They are willing to serve the Lord and help their brethren for a time, but when their appointed job is finished, they head for home to do what they want to do.

VI.    OBEDIENCE – GETTING THE JOB DONE, TOGETHER (1:16-18)

The people assured Joshua of their complete obedience (:16-17a). “Command us and we will obey; send us and we will go!” No hidden agendas. They asked for no concessions. They would obey all his commands and go wherever he would send them. We could use that kind of commitment in the church today!

“Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). If God’s people today saw obedience to Christ a matter of life or death it would make a difference in our ministry to a lost world. With soldiers like that, it’s easy to conquer the world. If we are busy doing of the will of God it leaves us no time for disputing about His plan.

There are two kinds of Christian communities. One is like sea gulls, made up of loners. You are only safe if you, as an individual, have got it together. If you’re wounded, you are left to take care of yourself. The other is like Canadian geese. They help each other as they fly. They take turn in the lead position, cutting through the air interference, creating a draft that makes it easier for the others to fly. No one ever drops out alone. If one is injured, another stands by nursing it to health. It’s a unified community that does not encourage superstar status.