Ernest Smith

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why I am blogging what God is teaching during my personal time with Him, read this.

Joshua: Chapter One

Joshua 1:1-2 – After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

I normally plan to read at least one chapter every day from God’s Word; however, my goal is not read a certain number of words, but rather to read until God begins to speak to me.  Sometimes that takes the reading of multiple chapters and other times it takes just a few words.

As I began to read Joshua 1, it did not take long for God to arrest my heart.  In fact, I was only a few words in when God said “Stop! Go back and read the first five words again.”  Joshua 1:1 states, “After the death of Moses…”

As I read that, I felt the Lord impress it on my heart that in order for a new adventure to begin, in order for Joshua to step into his destiny, something had to die.  In Joshua’s case, it was Moses.  Moses had to die, not just because he rebelled against God, but because he represented an old way of doing things.  Moses dying meant not only that the old was gone, but there was a chance for the new.  Joshua could now set his own course of action, based on God’s direction.  Joshua could establish his own culture, based on the heartbeat of God.  Joshua could listen and respond to God more clearly, because he is now the leader and responsible for millions of people.  Joshua could lead the way that God created him to lead.  So something had to die for Joshua to start his new adventure.

Once, I realized that, then the question came up pretty quickly, ”What needs to die in my life for a new adventure to begin?”  I believe that no matter where you are, as long as you are still alive, there is always going to be a next step, a new adventure for you.  This is easy to think about when things are tough and you don’t like where you are at physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.  But, to think about this when you are in a place of growth and joy is difficult.  For me, to think about anything dying where I currently am, so that a new adventure can begin, that is difficult because I am extremely happy with what God has for me during this season.  But, if I want to begin a new adventure personally, professionally, relationally, then I must be willing to kill some things.

In order for my new adventure to begin, these things must die…

–Pride…I have to be more focused on what God wants than what I want.  Pride must die for me to fully walk into whatever God desires.

–My Dreams…there are certain things that I want in life.  There are desires that I have that may not be in line with what God wants for me.

–Relationships…I know that there are relationships that I currently have that would need to die in order for me to move into a new adventure.  I don’t mean that people have to die, but certain relationships might cease to exist as you walk into what God has planned for you.  Don’t believe me?  Do you think that Paul kept all his childhood friends as he went off to be a missionary?  Do you think that John kept in touch with all his family members as he sat alone on the island of Patmos, in exile?  Some relationships will cease to exist the way we know them if we are to walk into a new calling.

–Safety Net of Trust…Joshua had the trust of the people because he had the trust of Moses.  Moses trusted Joshua and the people trusted Moses, so they in turn trusted Joshua.  In order to step out into a new adventure, there would have to be a safety net of trust that dies. Notice: Joshua, never left the current people, he simply had to build trust another way.

–Comfort…When someone else is the main person in charge, it is comfortable.  They will take the blame.  They have all the responsibility.  Moses was the man who shouldered the responsibility of leading the people and the blame if things went wrong.  With him dying, Joshua was not only charge, but he was now responsible.  He was now the one who people would blame if things didn’t go right.  That is a fearful place to be…not very comfortable.

There are many things that must die in my heart and mind in order for me to be ready to enter into a new adventure.  I am ready.  Lord, please kill these things off in me.  Allow me to be completely ready for a new adventure….wherever or whatever that means.

What must die in you in order for you to begin a new adventure?

After reading Joshua 1:1-2, what is God saying to you?