LIVING IN PEACE AND PROSPERITY

(Joshua 21:43 – 22:34)
A Message by Rev. Dr. Vincent Leoh on 16th & 17th September 2000

The war years were over. The whole of the Promised Land had been partitioned in peace. The spoils of war had been seized and distributed with justice to all. It was time now for the fighting men of Israel to return to their tents, to rejoin their families, to settle down quietly, to establish their homes in contentment. Now at long last they were in a powerful position to enjoy their newly won land in security and strength. They could relish their newfound rest in a region of fruitful and abundant productivity.

For God had given His people rest. The concept of rest is important in the Book of Joshua and means much more than simply the end of the war. The word carries with it the meaning of both victory and security. The spiritual application of this rest for God’s people today is made in Heb. 3 and 4. When we trust Christ as Savior, we enter into rest because we’re no longer at war with God (Rom.5:1). When we yield ourselves completely to Him and claim our inheritance by faith, we enter into a deeper rest and enjoy our spiritual riches in Christ.

Joshua set before his tough fighters the preconditions for living in peace and prosperity.

I. LIVE COURAGEOUSLY THROUGH TRANSITIONS (22:1-9)

This biblical story in Joshua 22 demonstrates both the celebrative aspect of transition and the ways that transitions rip and tear at the fabric of normal existence.

1. Transitions mark both an end and a beginning.
2. Transitions are both a high point and a low point in life of a person and of a community.
3. Some live forever in the fear of transition and do everything they can to maintain the status quo because it is comfortable.

II. DEAL DECISIVELY WITH RUMORS AND MISUNDERSTANDING (22:10-34)

Rumors begin when someone “heard someone say…” (22:11)
Rumors unattended produce misunderstanding and warfare.
But when rumor are addressed as rumors and hard realities are sincerely confronted peace and understanding can result.

What do we do with Rumors?

1. We must learn never to discount rumors. They may be true, and we had better take them seriously and get to the heart of them.
2. It’s important that we do our reality testing, because a rumor also may not be true.
3. We should learn to keep cool while we gather the information. Do not move to any final action in a moment of fury.
4. We need to talk frankly with the one about whom the rumors have spread. It is important to engage in honest conversation and to listen if we are still not certain.
5. Don’t make assumptions about people’s action or motives without listening to their own explanation first.
6. Peace, combined with truth, is the highest priority.

“If there is a rumor in the air about you, you’d better treat it as you would a wasp; either ignore it or kill it with the first blow. Anything else will just stir it up.” (James Thorn)

III. SHARE GENEROUSLY THE BLESSING/ WEALTH (22:8)

Joshua blessed them (22:6-8). What a sight to see a general asking God’s blessing on his troops! Joshua sent the two and a half tribes away to their homes blessing them with the promise of great wealth, large herds, silver, gold, bronze, iron and plenty of clothing.

Material blessing was a sign of God’s blessing in Israel
(Deuteronomy 28:1-14)

The policy determining the distribution of conquered wealth was given to Moses by God: (Numbers 31:27). The two and a half tribes were to return home and ‘divide with your brothers the plunder from your enemies’ (22:8). Not all the men of these tribes had crossed the Jordan for battle. some had inevitably remained behind to provide and care for the women and children. But they would get a share of the spoils.

In all of this we are moved to share our abundance with others, not to expend it only on ourselves. We are stimulated to serve our generation and bless our God with the bounties He has bestowed on us.

IV. LOVE FERVENTLY THE LORD OUR GOD (21:43-45; 22:5)

Joshua was more concerned with the spiritual walk of His people than anything else. Just as they had been diligent in battle, they must be diligent in following the Lord their God.

Action steps that we can take if we want to achieve success on God’s terms.

1. Give God the Glory - Give Him the credit for all you have and all you are. Joshua reminded the people, “…the Lord gave…” (21:43, 44).

2. Love God - The real issue is that of loving God, not wealth and prosperity. It is often wealth and plenty that perverts the best of people, and thus their love for God grows cold.

3. Walk in His Ways – As in war, so I the place of peace, it is imperative to comply precisely with the will and wishes of God. If anytime more so, since our human tendency is to grow slack and indolent when things go well. It takes as much faith to produce a crop of padi as it does to strom and seize an enemy stronghold. One must act in confidence, sure that God will play His part, whether in a padifield or on a battlefield.

4. Obey God - In achieving success on God’s terms, obey the Lord (22:5).
Very often amid affluence, ease and relative peace, human beings tend to
settle down softly and take their heritage very much for granted. Often
truth itself is lost more reality in the lap of luxury than it ever is in the
clash of battle. God’s Word does not change whether our lives are in danger or in security.

5. Cleave to Him – Always, ever, an individual must cleave to Christ. Our strength reposes in Him. It is He and He alone who by His constant companionship can impart to us contentment and serenity in the days of our rest. We do not build our hope around our achievements, possessions, friends, or families. Our confidence reposes in the remarkable presence of our God sharing all the events of our tranquil little lives with us.

6. Serve God – The spin-off of loving God is the genuine desire to serve Him
and others. Out of genuine gratitude and hearty appreciation to our Father
for all of His benefits, we are motivated to serve Him as faithful in peace as in war. We are overwhelmed by His gracious generosity.

These were the cardinal rules to success that Joshua shared with his comrades in arms. They were the wise rules of personal conduct for anyone wishing to flourish and prosper in the days of rest just as they had gloried in the days of their battles. If this nation was to prosper in peace, Joshua realized it could be accomplished only by careful compliance with God’s will – not by subtle or cunning human diplomacy. It is tremendous tribute to Joshua that he constantly centered the attention of his contemporaries on the character of God rather than on his own personal charisma. The same spiritual principles apply to modern life as they did to Israel in 1427 BC. Three thousand four hundred years of human history have not eroded their validity one iota.