The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 13:1, 6,
"When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over... As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites.'"
Joshua had been given the task to lead the Israelites in conquering the occupants of the promised land. The Lord had given Israel land that they needed to take possession of. Here, at the end of Joshua's life, there are some things left undone, some things that needed to be tended to. Some, the Lord delegated Joshua the task, others, the Lord said he would do it himself.
This, of course, speaks to me of those things the Lord wants me to accomplish myself, before I start pushing daisies. It also speaks to me of those things in my life the Lord has said he would take care of himself. For all of us who have embraced the Lord in faith, there are those things the Lord wants us to do and some he will do himself.
I am reminded of Paul's words, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13. Here is a responsibility the Lord has given us with a hint at what he intends to do ("God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose"). Here is another one from Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
God has some things he is going to do in our lives, "He [God] will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. We don't keep ourselves strong or firm to the end, God does that and has taken this on in our lives as something he does. Here is something else he does we are told of in Jude 24, " To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy..." God will keep us from "stumbling" and will present us without fault and with great joy before his glorious presence!
"When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over... As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites.'"
Joshua had been given the task to lead the Israelites in conquering the occupants of the promised land. The Lord had given Israel land that they needed to take possession of. Here, at the end of Joshua's life, there are some things left undone, some things that needed to be tended to. Some, the Lord delegated Joshua the task, others, the Lord said he would do it himself.
This, of course, speaks to me of those things the Lord wants me to accomplish myself, before I start pushing daisies. It also speaks to me of those things in my life the Lord has said he would take care of himself. For all of us who have embraced the Lord in faith, there are those things the Lord wants us to do and some he will do himself.
I am reminded of Paul's words, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13. Here is a responsibility the Lord has given us with a hint at what he intends to do ("God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose"). Here is another one from Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
God has some things he is going to do in our lives, "He [God] will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. We don't keep ourselves strong or firm to the end, God does that and has taken this on in our lives as something he does. Here is something else he does we are told of in Jude 24, " To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy..." God will keep us from "stumbling" and will present us without fault and with great joy before his glorious presence!
God has some things he wants us to do while here and he has some things he intends to do in us while we are here. Blessed is the one who does what God wants and sees God doing what he intends to do himself in their lives.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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