Be Strong and Courageous
Reflections: In today’s passages we see two different kinds of leaders. First we have Joshua, the newly anointed leader of the people of Israel as they prepare to go into the Promised Land. Notice it starts with the call that God has given him to lead the people, and the promise that God will be with him just as He was with Moses. This is the most important part of spiritual leadership, being led by the Lord and Him only. But then He gives him two additional exhortations. First be strong and courageous and be careful to do everything written in the Law of life, don’t turn from the left or the right so you may be successful in all you do. Finally, in order to be equipped to be God’s leader, he is encouraged to meditate day and night on the book of the Law. He is also encouraged to have it on his lips i.e. to talk about it all the time. Notice the relationship between God being with him, obedience and the role of the Word in His life. They are all inexorably tied together. These are the exact same terms that God works with us today as we seek to be used by Him for His purposes.
Then we see Jesus confronting the Jewish leaders who were charged with leading the people some 1,400 years later. Notice these leaders are nothing like the type of leader Moses and Joshua were. Instead of loving the Word and living it out for the people and empowering them with it, they were using it as a club to rule over people. They were “laying down the Law” but doing nothing in their own lives to honor the spirit of the Law. The Word had become hollow, it was only an instrument they used to control others and they completely missed the point. On the outward it may have appeared they were keeping some of the external elements like tithing, but they were neglecting the larger matters like reaching out to the poor and downtrodden in their society. Instead of being models of servant leadership, they loved to sit in the important places in the synagogue and sought adoration in the marketplace because of their position and prestige.
One wonders if Jesus came back into our world what he would say to the leaders today! These passage remind all leaders that leadership begins with a towel. With serving those God has called us to. And secondly we can’t transmit what we don’t have. If we are not living in God’s Word, meditating on it day and night and being careful to do all that is written in it, we are not worthy to lead others.
Leadership is a gift but also a privilege. As a leader it is sobering for me to think that one day I will be accountable for how I have led. I urge other leaders to get in groups where you can have support and prayer as we seek to lead as Jesus led. And we must always remember that just as God was with Joshua, God is with us so that is probably the most important aspect of being a leader.
Psalm 89:9-18
9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Joshua 1,2
Joshua Installed as Leader
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them —to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates —all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
Luke 11:37-54
Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law
37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. 42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. 43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” 46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 8:10 (NIV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
We are fed and cared for in all of life so we can give thanks for everything large and small. Let us never forget how blessed we are and praise the Lord each day. Amen.
Then we see Jesus confronting the Jewish leaders who were charged with leading the people some 1,400 years later. Notice these leaders are nothing like the type of leader Moses and Joshua were. Instead of loving the Word and living it out for the people and empowering them with it, they were using it as a club to rule over people. They were “laying down the Law” but doing nothing in their own lives to honor the spirit of the Law. The Word had become hollow, it was only an instrument they used to control others and they completely missed the point. On the outward it may have appeared they were keeping some of the external elements like tithing, but they were neglecting the larger matters like reaching out to the poor and downtrodden in their society. Instead of being models of servant leadership, they loved to sit in the important places in the synagogue and sought adoration in the marketplace because of their position and prestige.
One wonders if Jesus came back into our world what he would say to the leaders today! These passage remind all leaders that leadership begins with a towel. With serving those God has called us to. And secondly we can’t transmit what we don’t have. If we are not living in God’s Word, meditating on it day and night and being careful to do all that is written in it, we are not worthy to lead others.
Leadership is a gift but also a privilege. As a leader it is sobering for me to think that one day I will be accountable for how I have led. I urge other leaders to get in groups where you can have support and prayer as we seek to lead as Jesus led. And we must always remember that just as God was with Joshua, God is with us so that is probably the most important aspect of being a leader.
Psalm 89:9-18
9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Joshua 1,2
Joshua Installed as Leader
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them —to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates —all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
Luke 11:37-54
Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law
37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. 42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. 43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” 46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 8:10 (NIV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
We are fed and cared for in all of life so we can give thanks for everything large and small. Let us never forget how blessed we are and praise the Lord each day. Amen.
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