31 Kings

Posted by Chuck Dunlop on Aug 24, 2010 in Daily Bread | 4 comments

Imagine how easily it would have been for Joshua to be completely paralyzed by his fears when Moses died. He was now in charge of a nation of people and God told him to get ready, that he and the Israelites were to cross the Jordan River and go into the land that God was going to give them. Joshua knew that as soon as he crossed the Jordan that they would be at war and that lives would be lost. It was going to be really tough physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Sometimes I have this fear that builds up in me in the morning as I lie in bed and I know that as soon as my feet hit the ground I am effectively touching down on the other side of the Jordan.

I can all too easily forget that I have a God who is big enough to take on any fear I will ever have no matter how big or how small. Some fears can just seem so big though at times and I can truly lose sight of the fact that the same God that worked through Joshua can work through me as well if I let Him.

In Joshua 3:5, Joshua tells the people just prior to crossing the Jordan, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” They dedicated themselves for a sacred purpose and God truly did amazing things in their lives. We can absolutely be encouraged by the presence and power of God! The Bible is full of stories of the effects of God’s presence and power and those stories continue today, just ask the person sitting to your right or your left next Sunday for their story or tell them about yours.

God commanded Joshua to meditate on the Word, day and night, so that he would be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua was all about the Word and Prayer. He made the Law of God the basis for his life. He was a prayer warrior and God worked powerfully in his life. Can I just focus on being in the Word and Prayer? Life will fight me at every turn though to do this, so I know that I am in a battle and I can’t do it on my own.

After crossing the Jordan, Joshua led the Israelites into battle against the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. Reading a little further in the book of Joshua to chapter 12 we see the list of 31 kings who were defeated by the Israelites. 31 Kings! And there were still more battles to come as Joshua grew old and God continued to deliver victories to Israel.

Here’s the example that is set for us. Joshua was not terrified or fearful. Instead he was strong and courageous. He knew that God would be with him no matter what. He was an ordinary man with no power of his own. He had seen God’s power in Moses and now God told him that He would be with him as well. The effect of God’s presence in his life was victory over seemingly invincible enemies.

When we are serving in God’s will we have every reason to be strong and bold and to not be fearful. What are the “31 Kings” that you are facing in battle? Turn them over to God, be in the Word and Prayer and follow His will because God is prepared to do mighty works in your life, just as he did in Joshua’s.