S) "1 Now Joshua was old and advanced in years when the Lord said to him, 'You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed.'"
Joshua 13:1 (NASB)
O) Backing up a little bit, we need to read this verse in a little bit of longer context. Moses led these Israelites through their great Exodus, showing them who the LORD really is. He showed them that the LORD is great, mighty, to be feared and worshiped. He showed them that the LORD loved them, and would protect them, provide for their needs, fight for them. All the while, he was preparing them to come into the land promised to them since their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had served and worshiped and feared their God. But, Moses sinned. Moses was barred from the promise. He was disallowed entrance into the place they'd sought for forty years. Then, Joshua was told to take the place of Moses, leading the people of God. Those were very large shoes to fill. But, here he was filling them! The Israelites had come into their Promised Land, and Joshua led them in quite a few notable, miraculous victories while the LORD delivered kingdom after kingdom into their hands. But, even though Joshua hadn't committed any barring sin. He hadn't done anything to cause the LORD to exclude him from promises, but here he was advanced in years, with the promise still not finished, still not fulfilled. This is because these promises superseded Moses. These promises were bigger than Joshua. In truth, these promises were bigger than the people who had come into the land. These promises were not really about them, but about God Himself. These promises were about accomplishing God's will, revealing His glory. These promises were about blessing all nations through the seed of Abraham to the praise of the LORD. Moses was not going to fulfill the promises of God. Joshua was not going to fulfill them either. In fact, it would be almost 1500 years before God's promise would truly be fulfilled (in Christ).
A) Now, Joshua had left nothing undone by the will of God (see Joshua 11:15). He was obedient in accomplishing his missions as God laid them before him. But still, God told him he was nearing his end, with much work to be left beyond him. This was confirmation of a truth I must also accept: Joshua was not making anything happen. I am not making anything happen. God's will is beyond me. His plans are greater than my sphere of influence. I can do everything right, but that does not mean everything gets done. Sometimes I feel a pressure to get everything right. I must raise my kids right. I must evangelize my unsaved family. I must counsel everyone with perfect biblical wisdom. The truth is, though, that I may very well never see the fruit of my work. I might never see the end results. Yes, God gives me tasks. Yes, I have responsibilities and I must take them seriously. But, I can do everything right in raising my children, and when I am ready to die they might very well have a lot of life to live. I can share the gospel, give my testimony, answer every question, and give perfect biblical and godly counsel, yet never actually see any of it make an effect. This does not, however, mean that I have failed. This does not mean that I have left anything undone. I want to obey well. I want to do God's will. When my life is done, it is my hope that God, my Father says, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Master." (see Matthew 25:14:23). But, I cannot begin to think that I am going to make anything happen. I must find my satisfaction, not in the results, but in the obedience itself. My satisfaction must be found in my relationship to God, not in what I accomplish for Him. Joshua might very well have looked around near his death, and felt defeated emotionally. He might have looked at all of the land not yet possessed and thought he had messed things up. But, he hadn't. He did everything he was asked to do, but the fulfillment of promise was bigger than him. He could not make anything happen. I cannot make anything happen. I can only obey, and find satisfaction in my relationship with the LORD my God.
P) Father, I want to do. You are worthy of praise and worship. You are worthy of loyalty, obedience, and greatly to be feared. I want to do this for You, Lord. I want to make people know. I want to make my children have a right relationship with You. I want to make people accept the gospel. I want to make people take biblical, wise, godly counsel. But I cannot. I cannot make them. I cannot force the accomplishment of Your promises. I pray for Your will to be done. I pray that I am obedient in the call You have placed in my life. As a husband, father, relative, and friend, I want to do what You are calling me to do. But, I confess that even in my obedience, I cannot make anything happen. It still must be You, who fulfills the promises. Father God, I pray desperately, I pray solemnly, let Your will be done! Draw my wife into close relationship with You. Draw my children to authentic, right relationships with You. Soften their hearts, and the hearts of my relatives, to accept the truth and grace and mercy of the gospel. Let them be changed by the power of the gospel. Open the eyes and ears of my friends, and certainly guide my mind and words, so they hear and accept wisdom that is actually Yours, from You in truth. Help me to rest in Your overwhelming will, God. Your will is beyond me to accomplish. Your will, Your promises, go on beyond me. I am incapable of doing it, because I am only man, and You alone are God. Let Your will be done, Lord. When I am at the end of my days (I don't know when, but You know Lord), let Your will be done beyond my life. Strengthen me, and give me focus, to be obedient while I can. While there is still day, while strength is still in me, let me be obedient. And let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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