Mensa Otabil - Step Up to the Challenge
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We start a new week, and we’ll be looking at the Book of Joshua, Chapter 1. We start from verses 1 and 2: After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying, «Moses, My servant, is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, the children of Israel.»
The Book of Joshua starts on a very strong note because it’s a book of transition where new leadership is emerging. Joshua had served Moses for the better part of 40 years. Much of Israel’s life, Moses is the predominant figure, and now Moses is off the scene, and they’ve had some days of mourning for him. So it’s time for business. God speaks to Joshua, the new leader, and says, «It’s time. Arise, go out there and lead the people to the place I promised them.»
God told Joshua how to respond to leadership in a vacuum when it seems like what you trusted in is gone. There’s new leadership-what are you supposed to do? A couple of things He said to Joshua that will probably also help you: He said to Joshua, «Arise.» Arise does not mean he was sitting down; the word " arise» means to step up to the challenge. There is a challenge; there is a moment. Don’t just sit and talk about it and wail and mourn, but step up to the challenge. God was moving Joshua from a place of just waiting, assisting, and helping to taking the front seat and leading. Many times, when we’re supposed to lead, we keep following. It happens to many of us. When we’re supposed to make a decision, we want somebody else to make the decision for us. When we’re supposed to take a step, we want somebody else to take the step. But today, we have to take some cues from Joshua: Arise, it’s your turn!
Then God said to Joshua, «Go over this Jordan.» The Jordan River had been a stumbling block, so to speak, between Israel and the promised land. For almost 40 years, they had camped on the other side of the Jordan when their promised land was to cross over the Jordan. God says to Joshua, «Cross over the Jordan.» It’s quite interesting that Moses, the great leader, could never go over the Jordan. He who went over the Red Sea couldn’t go over the Jordan. That just tells you that sometimes people can be very victorious in one area and struggle in another area, finding that they’re not able to overcome some problems that come their way. Joshua is the one now who is supposed to lead the people across the Jordan.
There’s something very instructive here: Just because others you looked up to couldn’t get something done doesn’t mean you cannot get it done. Moses couldn’t go over the Jordan, but Joshua could go over the Jordan. Many times, when we look up to people, we respect them and value their leadership; we also make their standard our limitation. We say, «Well, even if so-and-so couldn’t do it, then I cannot do it.» But God shows us that even when a great leader like Moses is not able to accomplish something, his assistant can come in and do what Moses couldn’t do. So don’t let somebody’s failure become the limit to your own achievement in life.
So God says to Joshua, «I’m giving you the land; rise up, go over, and take it.» Let us pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, thank You that You are with me. Help me to rise above my limitations. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»