After the Rain…
“Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, ‘Moses My servant is dead; now therefore, arise cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land that I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. …No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you, I will never leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people posession of this land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, be careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; do not turn from it, to the right or the left, that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-9)
After 40 years of wandering in the desert the end was at hand, the children of Israel could see the Promised Land. I imagine their was singing and dancing in the streets.(They were not Baptists.) Then suddenly in the middle of their celebration the unthinkable happens; their leader, Moses, dies.
The Israelites were stunned, shocked and bewildered. They had followed Moses out of Egypt, and for 40 years he had led them through the desert. It was he who had gone up Mt. Sinai to get the Ten Commandments, and it was him and him alone who received messages from God. He was in essence God to them, and now he was dead. What would they do now, what was going to happen to the promise of inhabiting the Promised Land?
Into this situation steps Joshua. The person whom God had chosen to replace Moses, and through Joshua God would allow the Israelites to take over the Promised Land, and fulfill the promise that was made through Moses.
There are very many similarities between this story, and the story of the Gospel.
The Lord God had been sending His messengers to the people for years; He had given them His requirements for Heavenly citizenship, but no matter how hard people tried they could not measure up to God’s demand for perfection. Into this situation steps Jesus(It amazes me because the name “Jeshua” was translated Joshua in Greek, and in Hebrew it is translated Jesus. The person, Jeshua, who delivered the Israelites into the Promised Land is the same name that will deliver us today. Acts 4:12)
For three years the disciples had followed Jesus, and He had just announced that He must go to Jerusalem. The disciples knew in their hearts what this meant. Jesus would soon set up His Kingdom. I can see heads bopping and feet shuffling as they get ready to dance.(They weren’t Baptists either.)but, before they could break out the instruments Jesus told them that He was going to be killed. HUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The disciples were speechless; after a few minutes Peter piped up. (You could always count on Peter to open his mouth, and his foot usually ended up there.) Peter said, “NEVER!!!!!!! It will never happen.” Then Jesus looked at him with eyes of love and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You have the thoughts of the world, this must happen.” We must always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and He will show us the Promised Land that He has prepared for us.
Jesus went to Jerusalem where He was handed over to the religious rulers, and crucified and laid in the tomb. But praise be to God the story does not end with the death of Jesus (Just like Joshua stepped up after the death of Moses; Jesus was resurrected after three days in the grave), and now He sits at the right hand of God where He intercedes for all who have called on Him.
There may be something that has happened in your life, and you wonder how you can go on; but just like God provided in these situations when the people thought all was lost He will provide for you today. He has already provided His Son to comfort you in hard times.
And just as Joshua stepped up to deliver the children of Israel into the Promised Land, Jesus stepped out of the grave to deliver us into the promise of Heaven, and the Glory of God.
The image above from the web can be found at;
Yes, You Can Ministry 