Sermon from April 25, 2009

Rev. Ted Strawbridge

Joshua, part 1

When I was a child I read the stories of the Bible and knew that there was more to them than what I was reading.  When I decided I would become a doctor, I began to memorize all kinds of stuff trying to catch up with the other students who actually became doctors.  As for me, I had this horrific sense that I was only filling my life with data and no real understanding.  Some who became physicians learned differently than I, but I was learning not to think.  Good thing they wouldn’t have me for a physician!

Bible reading can be the same.  The story of Joshua is a true story told to an original audience who needed to hear again how God gave the land to His people.  The first nine verses outline the story of the whole book.  In those verses we find that the story of Joshua is about the invasion of the Promised Land, the distribution of the Promised Land, and the obedience of the Law in the Promised Land.  Verses 2, 6 and 7 point to the larger stories of chapters 1-12, 13-21 and 22-24.  But even that doesn’t begin to tell the story of Joshua for the people.

The question for Joshua is not whether he will be strong and courageous.  The question is, “How do the people find in this story the assurance and hope to trust God in their day?” If the book of Joshua is written to the people in the time of the early monarchy, then it is going to tell them how to safeguard the reign of their new King.  If it is written during the fall of the Northern ten tribes, it will say to the Southern two tribes, “This is how you avoid the discipline and separation of God from your life and worship.”  If it is written to the tribes during the exile, it will tell them, “This is how you find God’s provision back to His fellowship and favor.  The original audience wanted to know God’s presence more certainly in their lives.

Do you need to know how to find God’s favor in your life?  Do you want to know how to gain His pleasure and blessing?  The stories of Joshua are written for you.  Read again the challenge to meditate on His Law day and night.  How are you finding yourself growing in your trust in His daily word?  The Holy Spirit has a clear voice in this passage that the leadership and fellowship of God’s presence is found in daily submission.  When you see God as a Divine Warrior, your heart will shed its arrogant excuses for the lack of time, heart, or interest.  You will fall before Him, and He will lead you to Himself.

Over the next several weeks we will see the motif of God as a Holy Warrior who fights for you.  You can put your trust in Him, for He will never leave you nor forsake you.  These are the same words that your heavenly Father offers you in Christ, “… lo, I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Dear friend, do you know that the Lord is a warrior who has disarmed the powers and principalities by the death and resurrection of Christ.  Do you know how that connects with your life today?  See if you can answer the following;

My purpose in life is to glorify God and serve other people through _______________ and ________________________.

Please come listen to Joshua and learn what it means to fill in your blanks.

I hope you find your life a blank fulfilled,

Ted