Old Testament for November 5, 2023

 

Yahweh said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
~ Joshua 3:7 [World English Bible]

START WITH SCRIPTURE:

Joshua 3:7-17

CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

One can only imagine how difficult the “changing of the guard” must have been for Israel after having been led by the legendary Moses for forty years. And also, just how daunted Joshua must have felt when he thought of taking over from the greatest leader the Israelites had ever had, or would ever have!

Therefore the Lord intends to give Joshua a clear “mandate” for his new role as the new leader of Israel.  Ironically, it will follow a familiar pattern — just as Moses led the Israelites through the dry land with the walls of water of the Red Sea on either side, so God intends to lead Joshua and Israel through the dry riverbed of the Jordan! (This happens when the river is at flood stage, during the time of harvest in the fall of the year.)

This will be the illustration to the Israelites that God is with Joshua as he was with Moses, with a nearly identical miracle. And Joshua is very quick to tell the Israelites that this miracle will be a sign to them that the Lord of all the earth is with them as well.

Joshua asks the people to choose a representative from each of the twelve tribes to go into the riverbed first, along with the Levites who are carrying the ark of the covenant.  This seemingly democratic act is actually a way of letting them know that the entire nation participates in this act of God. And all Israel enters the Promised Land, even if some of the tribes have already taken possession of the land to the East of the Jordan River. (Even though the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half -tribe of Manasseh inhabited land to the East, they still vowed to participate in the conquest of Canaan.)

There is a sense of solidarity as one nation. They are fulfilling the promise of God together. And God demonstrates that Joshua truly is the newly anointed leader of Israel.

APPLY:  

Transition in leadership is difficult even under the best of circumstances.  But taking over from a charismatic, powerful leader like Moses would be overwhelming!

Perhaps the best application to our own situation when we are faced with having to take on the mantle of authority from a strong leader is to look to the ultimate Leader. The only way that we will ever experience real success is if the Lord is with us.  If the Lord isn’t in it, we’re not going to win it!

So, when confronted with difficult situations in leadership, the answer is prayer, prayer, prayer and then proactive obedience to God’s guidance.

RESPOND: 

Whenever there is a change in leadership, the new leader experiences the perils of comparison — especially if the previous leader was particularly effective, popular, and visionary.  New leaders may experience the phenomenon I call living with a ghost —that is, the ghost of their predecessor’s reputation.

What should the new leader do?  I am sure of at least one thing the new leader should not do — never speak ill of one’s predecessor, even if tempted to do so by the negative comments one may hear from those who were around during the previous leader’s tenure.  This will only make the new leader look bad.

Instead, the new leader needs to focus on the vision that God has implanted in their own heart, and focus on those signs of success that will come when the leader is focused on God’s vision.  Our signs may not be quite so dramatic as Joshua experienced, but if we are faithful to God, God alone is qualified to measure success and failure.

Our Lord, leading your people across the River to take on the work of discipleship and mission is daunting.  Grant your strength and your direction; for without that I am helpless.  Amen. 

Old Testament for October 29, 2023

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Deuteronomy 34:1-12 
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This passage is a kind of summation and valediction on the life and ministry of Moses.  What’s interesting about this is that this passage is quite honest about his tragic flaw and his incredible virtues.

After 40 years of leading the Israelites (first, out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness of Sinai, then along the eastern borders of Edom and Moab, and after fighting the Ammonites), at last the Israelites are on the very edge of the “Promised Land” of Canaan.

But because Moses literally took matters into his own hands many years before, trying to cause water to gush from the rock by striking it (contrary to Yahweh’s command), Moses will not enter the new land.  In Numbers 20:12, Yahweh says to Moses and Aaron:

Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

Nevertheless, Moses is granted a vision of the new land; and he is honored with the title servant of Yahweh, and described as a prophet without any peer in all of Israel’s history.  Perhaps the most distinctive description concerns his intimate relationship with God, even despite his punishment.  He was a man:

 whom Yahweh knew face to face.

The mighty deeds that he performed were certainly extraordinary, but even more extraordinary was his relationship with God!

And now the same spirit of wisdom that had filled Moses has now come upon Joshua.  This has occurred because of the imposition of hands by Moses upon Joshua, in order that the leadership of Israel might remain intact.  God provides for continuity in the guidance of his people.

This is a key transitional passage, reminding us that the story of God’s people will continue with the story of Joshua in the next book.

APPLY:  

It is important to remember in our spiritual lives that none of us are purely sinful or purely saintly.  Like Moses, we may fail spectacularly at times, yet still be loved by God.  And God may still give us a glimpse of the land of promise as a sign of his grace.

But we can also be known as people who know God “face to face” like Moses, through our faith.  We may not be able to perform the same mighty deeds, but we can do other mighty deeds in the name of Christ.

Jesus promises his disciples:

Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father (John 14:12).

RESPOND: 

I find it very easy to be intimidated by Moses’ example.  But I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the Jewish Talmud: “At the last judgment God will not ask you why you were not Moses; he will ask you why you were not you.”

My prayer is to seek God’s face, as Moses did, and do what God has called me to do.  Nothing more, and nothing less.

Our Lord, I may never deliver a nation from slavery, part the sea, or feed the multitudes with manna.  All I ask is that I may know you face to face by faith; and that you will empower me to do your work as long as you desire me to do so.  Amen.

PHOTOS:
“Mount Nebo (2007-05-821)” by Vyacheslav Argenberg is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Old Testament for October 25, 2020

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Deuteronomy 34:1-12 
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This passage is a kind of summation and valediction on the life and ministry of Moses.  What’s interesting about this is that this passage is quite honest about his tragic flaw and his incredible virtues.

After 40 years of leading the Israelites (first, out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness of Sinai, then along the eastern borders of Edom and Moab, and after fighting the Ammonites), at last the Israelites are on the very edge of the “Promised Land” of Canaan.

But because Moses literally took matters into his own hands many years before, trying to cause water to gush from the rock by striking it (contrary to Yahweh’s command), Moses will not enter the new land.  In Numbers 20:12, Yahweh says to Moses and Aaron:

Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

Nevertheless, Moses is granted a vision of the new land; and he is honored with the title servant of Yahweh,  and described as a prophet without any peer in all of Israel’s history.  Perhaps the most distinctive description concerns his intimate relationship with God, even despite his punishment.  He was a man:

 whom Yahweh knew face to face.

The mighty deeds that he performed were certainly extraordinary, but even more extraordinary was his relationship with God!

And now the same spirit of wisdom that had filled Moses has now come upon Joshua.  This has occurred because of the imposition of hands by Moses upon Joshua, in order that the leadership of Israel might remain intact.  God provides for continuity in the guidance of his people.

This is a key transitional passage, reminding us that the story of God’s people will continue with the story of Joshua in the next book.

APPLY:  

It is important to remember in our spiritual lives that none of us are purely sinful or purely saintly.  Like Moses, we may fail spectacularly at times, yet still be loved by God.  And God may still give us a glimpse of the land of promise as a sign of his grace.

But we can also be known as people who know God “face to face” like Moses, through our faith.  We may not be able to perform the same mighty deeds, but we can do other mighty deeds in the name of Christ.

Jesus promises his disciples:

Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father (John 14:12).

RESPOND: 

I find it very easy to be intimidated by Moses’ example.  But I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the Jewish Talmud: “At the last judgment God will not ask you why you were not Moses; he will ask you why you were not you.”

My prayer is to seek God’s face, as Moses did, and do what God has called me to do.  Nothing more, and nothing less.

Our Lord, I may never deliver a nation from slavery, part the sea, or feed the multitudes with manna.  All I ask is that I may know you face to face by faith; and that you will empower me to do your work as long as you desire me to do so.  Amen.

PHOTOS:
“Mount Nebo (2007-05-821)” by Vyacheslav Argenberg is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Old Testament for November 5, 2017

START WITH SCRIPTURE:

Joshua 3:7-17

CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

One can only imagine how difficult the “changing of the guard” must have been for Israel after having been led by the legendary Moses for forty years. And  also, just how daunted Joshua must have felt when he thought of taking over from the greatest leader the Israelites had ever had, or would ever have!

Therefore the Lord intends to give Joshua a clear “mandate” for his new role as the new leader of Israel.  Ironically, it will follow a familiar pattern — just as Moses led the Israelites through the dry land with the walls of water of the Red Sea on either side, so God intends to lead Joshua and Israel through the dry river bed of the Jordan! (This happens when the river is at flood stage, during the time of harvest in the fall of the year.)

This will be the illustration to the Israelites that God is with Joshua as he was with Moses, with a nearly identical miracle. And Joshua is very quick to tell the Israelites that this miracle will be a sign to them that the Lord of all the earth is with them as well.

Joshua asks the people to choose a representative from each of the twelve tribes to go into the river bed first, along with the Levites who are carrying the ark of the covenant.  This seemingly democratic act is actually a way of letting them know that the entire nation participates in this act of God. And all Israel enters the Promised Land, even if some of the tribes have already taken possession of the land to the East of the Jordan River. (Even though the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half -tribe of Manasseh inhabited land to the East, they still vowed to participate in the conquest of Canaan.)

There is a sense of solidarity as one nation. They are fulfilling the promise of God together. And God demonstrates that Joshua truly is the newly anointed leader of Israel.

APPLY:  

Transition in leadership is difficult even under the best of circumstances.  But taking over from a charismatic, powerful leader like Moses would be overwhelming!

Perhaps the best application to our own situation when we are faced with having to take on the mantle of authority from a strong leader is to look to the ultimate Leader. The only way that we will ever experience real success is if the Lord is with us.  If the Lord isn’t in it, we’re not going to win it!

So, when confronted with difficult situations in leadership, the answer is prayer, prayer, prayer and then proactive obedience to God’s guidance.

RESPOND: 

Whenever there is a change in leadership, the new leader experiences the perils of comparison — especially if the previous leader was particularly effective, popular, and visionary.  New leaders may experience the phenomenon I call living with a ghost —that is, the ghost of their predecessor’s reputation.

What should the new leader do?  I am sure of at least one thing the new leader should not do —  never speak ill of one’s predecessor, even if tempted to do so by the negative comments one may hear from those who were around during the previous leader’s tenure.  This will only make the new leader look bad.

Instead, the new leader needs to focus on the vision that God has implanted in their own heart, and focus on those signs of success that will come when the leader is focused on God’s vision.  Our signs may not be quite so dramatic as Joshua experienced, but if we are faithful to God, God alone is qualified to measure success and failure.

Our Lord, leading your people across the River to take on the work of discipleship and mission is daunting.  Grant your strength and your direction; for without that I am helpless.  Amen. 

PHOTOS:
“A Good Leader Follows God” uses the following photo:
“River Rock Large” by Lee Marletto is in the Public Domain.

Old Testament for October 29, 2017

Start with Scripture:

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 

CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This passage is a kind of summation and valediction on the life and ministry of Moses.  What’s interesting about this is that this passage is quite honest about his tragic flaw and his incredible virtues.

After 40 years of leading the Israelites — first, out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness of Sinai, then along the eastern borders of Edom and Moab, and after fighting the Ammonites, at last the Israelites are on the very edge of the “Promised Land” of Canaan.

But because Moses literally took matters into his own hands many years before, trying to cause water to gush from the rock by striking it (contrary to Yahweh’s command), Moses will not enter the new land.  In Numbers 20:12, Yahweh says to Moses and Aaron:

Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

Nevertheless, Moses is granted a vision of the new land; and he is honored with the title servant of Yahweh,  and described as a prophet without any peer in all of Israel’s history.  Perhaps the most distinctive description concerns his intimate relationship with God, even despite his punishment.  He was a man:

 whom Yahweh knew face to face.

The mighty deeds that he performed were certainly extraordinary, but even more extraordinary was his relationship with God!

And now the same spirit of wisdom that had filled Moses has now come upon Joshua.  This has occurred because of the imposition of hands by Moses upon Joshua, in order that the leadership of Israel might remain intact.  God provides for continuity in the guidance of his people.

This is a key transitional passage, reminding us that the story of God’s people will continue with the story of Joshua in the next book.

APPLY:  

It is important to remember in our spiritual lives that none of us are purely sinful or purely saintly.  Like Moses, we may fail spectacularly at times, yet still be loved by God.  And God may still give us a glimpse of the land of promise as a sign of his grace.

But we can also be known as people who know God “face to face” like Moses, through our faith.  We may not be able to perform the same mighty deeds, but we can do other mighty deeds in the name of Christ.

Jesus promises his disciples:

Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father (John 14:12).

RESPOND: 

I find it very easy to be intimidated by Moses’ example.  But I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the Jewish Talmud: “At the last judgment God will not ask you why you were not Moses; he will ask you why you were not you.”

My prayer is to seek God’s face, as Moses did, and do what God has called me to do.  Nothing more, and nothing less.

Our Lord, I may never deliver a nation from slavery, part the sea, or feed the multitudes with manna.  All I ask is that I may know you face to face by faith; and that you will empower me to do your work as long as you desire me to do so.  Amen.

PHOTOS:
“Mount Nebo (2007-05-821)” by Vyacheslav Argenberg is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.