A few days ago, I finished reading the book of Joshua. What I appreciated most about Joshua was his willingness to be obedient in carrying out all that God was calling him to do as he led the Israelites to conquer and settle into the Promised Land. His character inspires me as I pursue my own commitment to obedience in my walk with the Lord and all that I have been called to do in life.
Obedience has been a strong overarching theme in my walk with Christ over the last eighteen months. I must say that God continues to impress this word so strongly upon my heart. I hear the spirit of the Lord saying that while it is a tremendous blessing to have saving faith that offers the gift of eternal life for those that believe, there are also blessings connected to our earthly life here too. Those blessings are, in large part, connected to a willingness to be obedient to God’s calling upon one’s life.
First, let’s examine the meaning of obedience.
According to Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828, defines obedience as:
Compliance with a command, prohibition or known law and rule of duty prescribed; the performance of what is required or enjoined by authority, or the abstaining from what is prohibited, in compliance with the command or prohibition. To constitute obedience, the act or forbearance to act must be in submission to authority; the command must be known to the person, and his compliance must be in consequence of it, or it is not obedience.
There are many lessons from Joshua’s life that leave me even more inspired to “lean in” and pursue a life of obedience. Joshua’s life reminds me of following:
OBEDIENCE REQUIRES LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS TO GOD
It was Joshua’s loyalty and faithfulness to God that laid the foundation for his commitment to a life of obedience to God. Not only did Joshua exemplify this but he also encouraged the Israelites to do the same. As the Bible says, Joshua said the following to the Israelites:
“Now obey the Lord and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and worship the Lord. If you have no desire to worship the Lord, then choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord.”
~ Joshua 24:14-15 NET
OBEDIENCE REQUIRES HUMILITY
Joshua’s ability to carry out the will of God was connected to his heart posture of humility. Through humility, Joshua demonstrated a willing heart that was prepared to honor what God was calling upon him to do. It was Joshua’s humility that would likewise have him pray to God after the surprising initial defeat when the Israelites went against Ai, as Scripture reveals:
“Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?”
~ Joshua 7:6-8 NIV
Joshua was willing to humble himself and offer an honest prayer, expressing his true feelings, to God. This, in turn, brought forth a word from God, who would reveal Achan’s sin, God’s instruction that the Israelites consecrate themselves and the strategy that would ensure the Israelites’ victory against Ai the second time around.
OBEDIENCE REQUIRES TRUST IN GOD
Joshua trusted God completely as he allowed God to order his steps in leading the Israelites to conquer the various cities of the Promised Land. Joshua did not dispute God’s commands but boldly and faithfully carried out all that God instructed him to do. Joshua took the following words from the Lord to heart:
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”
~ Joshua 1:6 NIV
OBEDIENCE BRINGS FORTH BLESSINGS
Joshua’s obedience to the Lord reminded me that obedience always brings forth blessings. It was Joshua’s obedience that would allow him to enter into the Promised Land while ten other scouts were prohibited from entering the Promised Land for inciting rebellion, dying in the wilderness instead. Joshua would go on to experience multiply victories in leading the Israelites to conquer various cities of the Promised Land because of his obedience in carrying out God’s instructions. Joshua would also ultimately receive the blessing of Timnath Serah, the city he requested, as his inheritance. God promises blessings for obedience, as His Word reveals:
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
~ Deuteronomy 28:2 ESV
What a powerful example Joshua offers us in what it means to be obedient to God’s calling and instruction. What lessons have you learned from Joshua’s life? What inspired you the most? Please share. I’d love to hear!