Drenched

Drenched

Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." (Joshua 14:12)

You'll never have a problem-free life. Ever. Pigs might fly. Kangaroos might swim. Men might surrender the remote control. Women might quit buying purses. None of these are likely, but possible. But a problem-free, no-hassle, blue-sky existence of smooth sailing? Don't hold your breath. Problems happen. They happen to rich people, sexy people, educated people and sophisticated people. They happen to retired people, single people, spiritual people and secular people. All people have problems. But not all people see problems the same way. Some people are overcome by their problems; others overcome their problems. Some people are left bitter; others are left better. Some people face their challenges with fear. Others with faith. Caleb did. His story stands out because his faith did.

Forty-five years earlier, when Moses sent the twelve spies into Canaan, Caleb was among them. He and Joshua believed that the land could be taken. But since the other ten spies disagreed, the children of Israel ended up wandering in the wilderness. God, however, took note of Caleb's courage. The man's convictions were so striking that God paid him a compliment that would make a saint blush. "My servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly." (Num. 14:24) How would you like to have those words on your resume? So then, what type of spirit catches the eye of God? What qualifies as a "different spirit"? Answers begin to emerge during the distribution of the lands west of the Jordan. But before the people received their inheritance, a promise needed to be fulfilled. “And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: ‘You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea.’" (Josh. 14:6)

I'm envisioning a sturdy guy with sinewy muscles. Caleb, gray-headed and great-hearted, steps forward. He has a spring to his step, a sparkle in his eye, and a promise to collect. "Joshua, remember what Moses told you and me at Kadesh Barnea?" (Id.) Kadesh Barnea. The name stirred a forty-five-year-old memory in Joshua. It was from this camp that Moses had sent out twelve spies, and it was in this camp that Moses had received two different reports. All twelve men agreed on the value of the land – it flowed with milk and honey. All twelve agreed on the description of the people and the cities – large and fortified. But only Joshua and Caleb believed that the land could be taken. Read carefully the words that Caleb spoke to Joshua at the end of the military campaign:

Caleb . . . said to [Joshua]: ‘You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.'

And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." (Joshua 14:6-12; emphasis added.)

What name appears and reappears in Caleb's words? The Lord. The Lord. The Lord. The Lord. The Lord. The Lord. The Lord. The Lord. The Lord. Nine references to the Lord. Who was on Caleb's mind? Who was in Caleb's heart? What caused him to have a different spirit? He centered his mind on the Lord. So what about you? What emphasis would a transcript of your thoughts reveal? The Lord, or the problem, the problem, the problem, the problem? The economy, the economy? The jerk, the jerk? Inheritance people don’t deny the presence of problems. Canaan is full of giants and Jericho’s. It does no good to pretend that it isn’t. Servants like Caleb aren't naive, but they immerse their minds in God-thoughts. Caleb was different because he soaked his mind in God.

The psalmist showed us how to do this. He asked, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?" (Ps. 42:5) He was sad and discouraged. The struggles of life threatened to pull him under and take another victim. But at just the right time, the writer made this decision: "Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him . . . I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar." (vv. 5-6) There’s resolve in those words. "I shall yet . . . I will remember You." The writer made a deliberate decision to treat his downcast soul with thoughts of God. Everywhere I go, I will remember you – from Jordan to Hermon to Mizar. Maybe in your case the verse might read, "From the ICU to the cemetery, to the unemployment line, to the courtroom, I will remember you." There’s nothing easy about this. Finding God amid the billows will demand every bit of discipline you can muster. But the result is worth the strain. Besides, do you really want to meditate on your misery? Will reciting your problems turn you into a better person? No, but changing your mind-set will. "Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed." (John 14:27) Instead, immerse your mind in God-thoughts. When troubles come our way, we can be stressed and upset, or we can trust God.

Caleb could have cursed God. He didn't deserve the wilderness. He had to put his dreams on hold for four decades. Still, he didn't complain or grow bitter. When the time came for him to inherit his property, he stepped forward with a God-drenched mind to receive it. "Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things)." (Col. 3:2) When giants are in the land, when doubts swarm your mind, turn your thoughts to God. Your best thoughts are God-thoughts. He is above all this mess. He is "the Most High over all the earth." (Ps. 83:18) Moses announced, "Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you – majestic in holiness?" (Ex. 15:11) Isaiah wrote, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isa. 6:3) God is not just holy or holy, holy; he’s holy, holy, holy. Wholly unlike us. Pain does not plague him. The economy does not faze him. The weather does not disturb him. Elections do not define him. Diseases do not infect him. Death cannot claim him. He has resources we do not have, and wisdom we've never imagined. He is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." (Eph. 3:20)

Stare at the mountain less and at the Mountain-Mover more. Ponder the holiness of God. Let his splendor stun you and inspire you. Turn a deaf ear to doubters. Ignore the naysayers. People have a right to say what they want. And you have a right to ignore them. Just because someone sings the blues, doesn’t mean you have to join the chorus. Caleb and Joshua were outnumbered ten to two, but they still believed in God's power. "My brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God." (Josh. 14:8) Caleb chose to ignore the doubters and believe anyway.

Let's take our cue from Caleb. Disregard the lethal disbelief of cynics. That’s not to give sanction for rudeness or isolation. When people express their sincere struggles or questions, help them. But some folks just don’t want to be helped. They prefer the wilderness. They traffic in misery, manufacture unhappiness, and spurn growth. They would rather pull you down than let you pull them up. Don't let them. Caleb didn't. He filled his mind with faith and took on a God-sized challenge.

When Moses sent Caleb to spy out the land, Caleb saw something that troubled him: the town of Hebron. Hebron held a special spot in the history of the Hebrews. It was the only piece of land that Abraham ever owned. Abraham buried his wife there. He was buried there. So were Isaac, Rebekah and Jacob. Hebron was a sacred site. But on the day Caleb first saw it, the holy hill was inhabited by unholy people. To see the burial place of Abraham disrespected and disregarded bothered Caleb. It was more than he could take. So Caleb asked Moses for Hebron. Hebron, beneath whose oaks Abraham had slept; whose soil had known the visitation of angels; whose earth entombed the holiest family. Caleb, the man with a different spirit, had a secret desire. "Just give Hebron to me; I'll take care of it." So, Moses took the request to God. God gave the answer, and Caleb was given the land.

And forty-five years later, at the age of eighty-five, the old soldier was ready to inhabit Hebron. "Give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day." (v. 12) Last sighting of Caleb had him turning his face toward Hebron, where he did what he promised to do. He chased the enemy and reclaimed the city. Caleb wanted to do something great for God. He lived with a higher call. How high is yours? Maybe the reason your problems feel so great is because your cause is too small. Perhaps you need to set your mind on a holy cause, because when your cause is great, the problems begin to shrink. Do you have a holy cause? A faith worth preserving? A mission worth living for? Ask God to give you a Hebron to claim for his glory. A neighbor to encourage. A needy family to feed. A class to teach. Some senior citizens to encourage. It really is better to give than to receive.

In the kingdom of Christ we gain by giving, not taking. We grow by helping, not hurting. We advance by serving, not demanding. Want to see your troubles evaporate? Help others with theirs. You'll always face problems. But you don't have to face them in the same way. Instead, immerse your mind in God-thoughts. Turn a deaf ear to doubters. Set your mind on a holy cause. Once you find your mountain, no giant will stop you, no age will disqualify you and no problems will defeat you. After all, you and Caleb have something in common. You have a different spirit. You’re drenched.

Grace,

Randy

Drenched - Audio/Visual

You Be You

You Be You

So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war. (Joshua 11:23)

No one else has your "you-ness." No one else in all history has your unique history. No one else in God's great design has your divine design. No one else shares your blend of personality, ability and ancestry. You are heaven's first and final attempt at you. You are matchless, unprecedented and unequaled. Consequently, you can do something no one else can do in a fashion no one else can. You aren't the only person with your skill. But you are the only one with your version of your skill. Call it what you wish. A talent. A skill set. A gift. An anointing. A divine spark. An unction. A call. The terms are different, but the truth is the same: "The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others." (1 Cor. 12:7) Each of us – not some of us, a few of us, or the elite among us. Each of us has a special way – a facility, a natural strength, a tendency or an inclination. This "special way" is the work for which you are ideally suited. This is your destiny. This is you at your best. This is Canaan.

Many people stop short of their destiny. They settle for someone else's story. "Grandpa was a butcher, Dad was a butcher, so I guess I'll be a butcher." "Everyone I know is in farming, so I guess I'm supposed to farm." Consequently, they risk leading dull, joyless and fruitless lives. They never sing the song God wrote for their voices. They never cross a finish line with heavenward-stretched arms and declare, "I was made to do this!" They fit in, settle in and blend in. But they never find their call. Don't make the same mistake. "It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." (Eph. 2:10) Your existence is not accidental. Your skills are not incidental. God "shaped each person in turn." (Ps. 33:15)

Uniqueness is a big message in the Bible. And it’s a huge message in the book of Joshua. In fact, one could argue that the majority of its chapters advance one command: know your territory and possess it. Joshua's first goal was to establish Israel in Canaan by taking the land, neutralizing the enemy armies, and eliminating the major seats of authority. The lists of conquered kings in chapter 12 proclaim, “The land is taken.” The rest of the book urges, “Now, take the land.” As a result, each tribe was given a distinct territory and/or assignment. The inheritance was for everyone. All the Hebrews were welcomed to Canaan – the old, the young, the feeble, the forceful. The inheritance was universal. But the assignments were individual. They are listed in detail in Joshua 13-21. And if you can't fall asleep tonight, read those chapters.

The book moves from an action novel to a land survey. The pages make for dull reading unless, of course, you stand to inherit something. But since all the Israelites stood to receive an inheritance, they all stood alert as Joshua assigned their territories. Each tribe was called forward. Reuben, Gad, Manasseh, etc. Each territory was different. Judah's parcel was large and central. Dan's section was smaller and coastal. Even the assignments were unique. The tribe of Levi, for example, wasn’t given any land, but God himself as their inheritance. Their role was to lead worship and teach the Torah.

The big message was this: No one gets everything, but everyone gets something. Drive out the remaining enemies. Build your farms. Cultivate your fields. Find your lot in life and indwell it. And Joshua wasn't the only commander to distribute territories. Jesus distributes gifts that are unique as well. The apostle Paul explained it this way: "[God] has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say, 'When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.'" (Eph. 4:7-8) The apostle was using the metaphor of a victorious king. It was common in Paul's day for the conquering monarch to return to his palace with prisoners and treasures in tow. He celebrated his conquest by giving gifts to his people. So did Jesus. Having defeated sin and death on the cross, he ascended to heaven, took his rightful place at the right hand of God, and "gave gifts to his people." Jesus, eternally crowned, distributing abilities and skills. Wow.

Joshua said, "Tribe of Judah, take the high country." "Manasseh, occupy the valleys." "People of Gad, inhabit the land east of the Jordan." Jesus says, “Joe, take your place in the domain of medicine.” “Mary, your territory is accounting.” “Susan, I give you the gift of compassion. Now occupy your territory.” Everybody gets a gift. And these gifts come in different doses and combinations. “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is.” (1 Cor. 12:7) Our inheritance is grace-based and equal. But our assignments are tailor-made. No two snowflakes are the same. No two fingerprints are the same. So why would two skill sets be the same? No wonder Paul said, “Make sure you understand what the Master wants.” (Eph. 5:17) Do you understand what your Master wants?

Do you know what makes you, you? Have you identified the features that distinguish you from every other human who has inhaled oxygen? You have an “acreage” to develop, a lot in life. So, “make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.” (Gal. 6:4) In other words, you be you. "If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies." (1 Peter 4:11, emphasis mine). Ability reveals destiny. So, what’s your ability? What do you do well? What do people ask you to do again? What task comes easily? What topic keeps your attention? Your skill set is your road map. It leads you to your territory.

God loves you too much to give you a job and not the skills. Identify yours. What you do for a living should conform to your design. Few situations are more miserable than a job misfit. Yet few maladies are more common. One study concluded that only 13% of all workers find their work truly meaningful. No wonder commuters look so grumpy: nearly nine out of ten of them don't want to go to work. So, find something you like to do, and do it so well that people pay you to do it. Look for ways to align your job with your skills. This may take time. This may take several conversations with your boss. This may take trial and error . . . but don't give up. Not every tuba player has the skills to direct the orchestra. If you can, great. Then do it. But if you can't, blast away on your tuba with delight. "Stir up the gift of God which is in you." (2 Tim. 1:6, emphasis mine) You be you.

Don't be your parents or grandparents. You can admire them, appreciate them, and learn from them. But you can’t be them. You aren't them. "Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." (Gal. 6:4-5) Jesus was insistent on this.

After the resurrection he appeared to some of his followers. He gave Peter a specific pastoral assignment that included great sacrifice. The apostle responded by pointing at John and saying, "'Lord, what about him?' Jesus answered, 'If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me.'" (John 21:21-22) In other words, don't occupy yourself with another person's assignment; stay focused on your own.

A little boy named Adam wanted to be like his friend Bobby. Adam loved the way Bobby walked and talked. Bobby, however, wanted to be like Charlie. Something about Charlie's stride and accent intrigued him. Charlie, on the other hand, was impressed with Danny. Charlie wanted to look and sound like Danny. Danny, of all things, had a hero as well: Adam. He wanted to be just like Adam. So Adam was imitating Bobby, who was imitating Charlie, who was imitating Danny, who was imitating Adam. Turns out, all Adam had to do was be himself.

So stay in your own lane. Run your own race. Nothing good happens when you compare and compete. God doesn’t judge you according to the talents of others. He judges you according to your own. His yardstick for measuring faithfulness is how faithful you are with your own gifts. You’re not responsible for the nature of your gift, but you are responsible for how you use it. Don’t be like the Hebrews. I wish I could report that each tribe moved quickly into its land, drove out the inhabitants, and put the acreage to good use. They didn't. In some cases the tribes didn’t drive out the enemies: "The children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites." (Josh. 13:13) "They did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer." (16:10) Your enemy, the devil, is determined to linger in your land as well. You must drive him out. He’ll lure you with thoughts of greed, power or jealousy. So, be on your guard.

Unfortunately, other tribes fell victim not to the Canaanites, but to their own laziness. Long after Joshua had distributed the land, seven of the tribes were still in the military camp. Joshua had to scold them: "How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?" (18:3) How do we explain their indolence? They marched out of the wilderness and conquered the land. Yet when the time came to inherit their unique parcels, they got lazy. Don't make the same mistake. You are an heir with Christ of God's estate. He has placed his Spirit in your heart as a down payment. What God said to Joshua, he says to you: "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you." (1:3) But you must possess it. You must deliberately receive what God so graciously gives. All that you need to enter your inheritance is to walk by faith. So walk. Move forward. Find your lot in life and live in it.

You be you.

Grace,

Randy

You Be You - Audio/Visual

Audacious

Audacious

The day God gave the Amorites up to Israel, Joshua spoke to God, with all Israel listening: “Stop, sun, over Gibeon; halt, moon, over Aijalon Valley.” And the sun stopped, and the moon stood stock still until he defeated his enemies. (You can find this written in the Book of Jashar.) The sun stopped in its tracks in mid sky; just sat there all day. There’s never been a day like that before or since — God took orders from a human voice! Truly, God fought for Israel. (Josh. 10:12-14)

When Martin Luther's good friend, Friedrich Myconius, was sick, Luther wrote to him: "I command thee in the name of God to live because I still have need of thee in the work of reforming the church . . . The Lord will never let me hear that thou art dead, but will permit thee to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, and may my will be done, because I seek only to glorify the name of God." Friedrich outlived Martin Luther by two months. As John Wesley was crossing the Atlantic Ocean, howling winds began to blow. Wesley was reading in his cabin when he became aware of some confusion on board. When he learned that the winds were knocking the ship off course, he responded by praying. Adam Clarke, a colleague, heard the prayer and recorded it. “Almighty and everlasting God, thou hast sway everywhere, and all things serve the purpose of thy will, thou holdest the winds in thy fists and sittest upon the water floods, and reignest a king forever. Command these winds and these waves that they obey thee, and take us speedily and safely to the haven whither we would go.” Wesley stood up from his knees, took up his book, and continued to read. Dr. Clarke went on deck and found calm winds and the ship on course. Wesley never said anything about the answered prayer. Clarke wrote, "So fully did he expect to be heard that he took it for granted that he was."

How bold are your prayers? Boldness in prayer is an uncomfortable thought for many. We think of speaking softly to God, humbling ourselves before God, or having a chat with God. But agonizing before God? Storming heaven with prayers? Pounding on the door of the Most High? Wrestling with God? Isn't that irreverent? Even presumptuous? It would be had God not invited us to pray that way. "So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need." (Heb. 4:16; emphasis mine) Joshua did that, but not before he didn't. His prayer life teaches us what happens when we don't pray, as much as it tells us how to pray.

In the days following the Shechem gathering, a group of strangers entered Joshua's camp. They told him, "From a very far country your servants have come." (Josh. 9:9) They presented themselves as hapless pilgrims from a distant place. And everything seemed to fit their story. Their grain sacks, sandals and clothes were all worn-out. Even their bread was moldy and dry. They praised the accomplishments of God, and asked Joshua and his men to make a covenant with them. Joshua weighed the options, and his rulers eventually agreed. Three days passed before Joshua realized he’d been hoodwinked. These people weren’t from a distant land; they were from Gibeon, only a day's walk away. Their weathered clothing was a disguise. They pretended to be foreigners because they knew that the Hebrews had ransacked Jericho and Ai. Maybe they also knew about God's laws which had a special provision for any city that agreed to make peace with God’s people would be spared. So they resorted to deception.

Why didn't Joshua and the elders detect the ruse? Because "they did not ask counsel of the LORD." (Josh. 9:14) The practice of the Hebrews was supposed to be pray first, act later. In fact, Joshua was told to "stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD." (Num. 27:21) But Joshua didn’t do that. He and his council entered into an alliance with the enemy because they didn't first seek the counsel of God. We’d do well to learn from Joshua's mistake.

Our enemy enters our camp in a disguise, too. "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Cor. 11:14) He’s crafty. That's why it’s essential that we consult God in everything. Always. Live with one ear toward heaven. Keep the line open to God. "Is this opportunity from you, God?" "Are you in this venture, God?" "Should I take this road, God?" At every decision. At each crossroads. Acknowledge him, heed him, and ask him, Do I turn right or left? "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Prov. 3:5-6; emphasis mine) Our relationship with God is exactly that: a relationship. His invitation is clear and simple: "Come and talk with me, O my people." (Ps. 27:8) And what should be our response? "Lord, I am coming." (v. 8) We abide with him, and he abides with us. He grants wisdom as we need it.

God will help us against the tempter. He will disclose the craftiness of Satan. But we must regularly consult him. In everything. His word is a "lamp unto [our] feet" (Ps. 119:105), not a halogen spotlight into the future. He gives us enough light to take the next step. Call it footstep faith. We learn to hear God's voice telling us to turn this way or that way. "Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, 'This is the way you should go,' whether to the right or to the left." (Isa. 30:21) Refer every decision to the tribunal of heaven. Wait until God speaks before you act. Be patient. Monitor your impulse. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." (Ps. 32:8) If you feel a check in your heart, heed it and ask God again. That’s the only way to outwit the devil's deceit. Consult God in everything, and call on God for great things. Joshua did.

The alliance with the Gibeonites quickly proved to be a nightmare. The other kings of Canaan saw the Gibeonites as traitors and set out to attack and kill them. Five armies bore down on the people of Gibeon. They were overwhelmingly outnumbered. But since they had an alliance with Joshua, they asked the Hebrews for help. And because he had given his word, Joshua had no choice but to come to their rescue. “So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.’ Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal." (Josh. 10:7-9)

The five kings didn’t stand a chance. Apparently they didn’t expect Joshua to respond with such fervor. They turned and ran with the Hebrews hot on their heels. And as Joshua's army thundered behind them, the clouds began to thunder above them. "Large hailstones" fell from the sky in a divine carpet bombing. (v. 11) Joshua saw the hailstones falling and anticipated the sun setting. But it was midday. We need more time, he realized. Nightfall would give the enemies a chance to regroup. If he had just a few more hours of daylight, he could win the battle and strike a decisive blow. So he began to pray. He’d failed to pray about the Gibeonites, but he didn't make the same mistake twice. So Joshua prayed. For reinforcements? No, he prayed for the world to stop. Now that’s praying, or just plain crazy.

“The day God gave the Amorites up to Israel, Joshua spoke to God, with all Israel listening: ‘Stop, sun, over Gibeon; halt, moon, over Aijalon Valley.’ And the sun stopped, and the moon stood stock still until he defeated his enemies. (You can find this written in the Book of Jashar.) The sun stopped in its tracks in mid sky; just sat there all day. There’s never been a day like that before or since — God took orders from a human voice! Truly, God fought for Israel.” (Josh. 10:12-14) This was a stunning, unprecedented prayer. The narrator, knowing his readers would be shocked at the story, referred to the Book of Jashar, an extra-biblical volume that contained stories of the Hebrew people. He was stating, in effect, "Hey, if you think that one’s hard to believe, just check it out in the Book of Jashar." But the verse that really deserves your highlighter is verse 14. "GOD took orders from a human voice!" God, in his providence, pressed the solar Pause button. He chose to hear and heed Joshua's request. Might he do something similar for us?

Greg Pruett is trained as an engineer, linguist and Bible translator. But his most significant contribution might be in the area of "extreme prayer." In his book by the same name, he relates how he returned from Guinea, West Africa, to assume the role as president of Pioneer Bible Translators. It was 2008. The great recession was sucking dollars out of the economy and confidence out of the public. The ministry's financial chart was in a free fall toward a pool of red ink. Greg had no tangible place to cut expenses. Resources were few, and donors were disappearing. Greg knew of only one response: prayer. "That's when I began to learn not to pray about my strategies, but to make prayer the strategy." So, in July he wrote a half-page letter to his teammates worldwide, calling them to prayer. He urged them to stand before God's throne with specific and bold requests. They did, and Greg described the result: “When I saw the end-of-the-year report, I knew God had heard our prayers. My eyes welled up with tears . . . If a financial expert were to analyze this graph, he or she would put their finger on the month of July and say, ‘What did you do right here? Whatever it was, you need to do a lot more of that.’ I searched in vain for a tangible explanation. I wanted to find trends to explain how it worked, so we could do it again. I never could . . . I just know [God] provided. All I had was God and prayer.”

Maybe God and prayer are all you have, too. Like Joshua, you face battles. Maybe five kings are bearing down on you called discouragement, deception, defeat, destruction and death. They roar into your world like the Hells Angels. Their goal is to chase you back into the wilderness. But don’t give them an inch. Respond in prayer – honest, continual and audacious prayer. You’re a member of God's family. You come to God not as a stranger but as an heir. Confidently approach his throne. Earnestly make your requests known to him – not because of what you’ve achieved, but because of what Christ has done. Jesus spilled his blood for you, so you can certainly spill your heart to God. "Ask and it will be given to you." (Matt. 7:7) "If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer." (Matt. 21:22) Yes, it’s a battle, but you’re not fighting in vain. Consult God in all things. Call on him for great things. And then bring extra sunscreen because the day of victory will last long into the night.

Grace,

Randy

Audacious - Audio/Visual

Consequences

Consequences

Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal. He followed the commands that Moses the Lord’s servant had written in the Book of Instruction: “Make me an altar from stones that are uncut and have not been shaped with iron tools.” Then on the altar they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. And as the Israelites watched, Joshua copied onto the stones of the altar the instructions Moses had given them. (Joshua 8:30-32)

The last words I remember hearing before I stepped into the water were, “Remember, son, still waters run deep.” I waved away the odd warning without even turning around. Still waters? What was he talking about? I was in my dad’s waders on the banks of the Metolius River – fly rod in hand; big trout on my mind. Besides, this was a river. What “still waters” could he possibly be talking about? And that’s when I spotted it; the perfect place to wade into the clear, frigid waters of the Metolius – a beautiful river nestled in a forested valley on the east side of the Cascades in central Oregon, and one of the largest spring-fed rivers in the United States whose clear, cold and constant waters are to fly-fishing what Wrigley Field is to the Chicago Cubs. That still pool of crystal clear water couldn’t have been more than a foot deep, anyway, and would be the perfect place to wade out into the river and catch that monster trout. It was more than a foot deep.

It was closer to four feet deep, and my three foot waders on my 5’10” frame were filling up with ice cold water. Fast. In fact, the water was so cold that I started to hyperventilate as I was carried out into the middle of the river by the swift-flowing water. Teenagers, you know, can do anything, but the only thing I wanted to do at that moment in time was to save my dad’s cherished fly rod and reel. So, I found a little island out in the middle of the river, threw the rod and reel onto dry land and looked for something to grab onto before taking an unplanned whitewater rafting trip down the river in waders, rather than a kayak. That’s when I spotted a log near where I had thrown the rod and reel. I latched onto it and pulled myself onto the sandbar. Soaked and shivering, I sheepishly looked across the river at my mom and dad, dumped the water from the waders, and found my way back to the river’s edge. The only thing that would’ve made me feel better that day was if I’d at least found a trout in those waders.

Life comes with voices. Voices lead to choices. Choices have consequences. Why do some saints thrive while others scramble to survive? Why do some tackle Everest-size challenges and succeed, while others walk seemingly downhill paths and stumble? Why are some people unquenchably content while others are inexplicably unhappy? Some seasons feel like a downhill, downwind bike ride. Others are like pedaling a flat-tired unicycle up Pikes Peak. Why? The answer comes back to voices and choices. Our happiest inheritance days happen when we make good choices. Trouble happens when we don't.

That’s the headline message delivered by Joshua to the nationwide assembly in the Valley of Shechem. As you compile your list of key geographical touchstones in the book of Joshua, don't overlook this one. The list includes: the Jordan River (site of the crossing); the Gilgal encampment (the stones of remembrance, and the renewal of circumcision); Jericho (where Joshua saw the Commander, and the walls collapsed); Ai (where Achan fell, and Joshua rebounded); and now, Shechem.

The pilgrimage to Shechem was actually Moses' idea. (Deut. 27:4-8) He had instructed Joshua to bring the invasion to a halt, and every person to the Valley of Shechem. Shechem was a twenty-mile hike from the Hebrew encampment at Gilgal, and the Hebrews must have looked like an Amazon River of humanity as they marched inexorably toward their destination. Once they reached the valley, Joshua set about the task of building an altar. (Josh. 8:30-32)

In the ancient Near East, it was customary for kings to commemorate their military achievements by recording their conquests on huge stones covered with plaster. Joshua, however, didn't memorialize his work. He celebrated God's law. The secret to the successful campaign of the Hebrews was not the strength of its army, but the resolve of its people to keep God's commandments. And then this: “Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.” (vv. 33-34)

The then-meadows of Shechem sit between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Gardens, orchards and olive groves grew throughout the valley. Limestone strata sit in the deepest part of the ravine, broken into ledges giving the appearance of a series of stone benches. The rock formation creates a natural amphitheater with acoustic properties that allow a sound originating on one side of the valley to be heard on the other. So, the twelve tribes were assigned their places: six on one side, and six on the other. In between the tribes stood the priests, Levites, leaders, and the Ark of the Covenant. When Joshua and the Levites read the blessings, the million or so people standing on Gerizim shouted, "Amen!" And when the leaders read the curses, the million or so remaining on Ebal declared, "Amen!"

Can you imagine the drama of that moment? "If you listen obediently to the voice of God, he will . . . "Defeat your enemies!" "Amen!" "Order a blessing on your barns!" "Amen!" "Lavish you with good things!" "Amen!" "Throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land." "Amen!" (See, Deut. 28:1-13) The proclamation of the curses followed the same pattern. "Cursed is anyone who . . . "Carves a god image!" "Amen!" "Demeans a parent!" "Amen!" "Takes a bribe to kill an innocent person." "Amen!" (See, Deut. 27) Back and forth, back and forth. Voices reverberated off the stone cliffs. All the people – children, immigrants, old-timers, everyone – in antiphonal rhythm proclaimed their values. "There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them." (Josh. 8:35)

Keep in mind the “when” and “where” of this particular assembly. This was in the middle of an invasion, in the midst of enemy territory. These desert-toughened people pressed the Pause button on the physical battle in order to fight the spiritual one, because heeding God's Word is more critical than fighting God's war. In fact, heeding God's Word is fighting God's war. Conquest happens as the covenant is honored. Do you want to experience Canaan to the fullest? Then obey God's commands. What? Were you expecting something more mystical, exotic, or intriguing?

Did you think that the Canaan-level life was birthed from ecstatic utterances or angelic visions, mountaintop moments or midnight messages from heaven? Sorry. "Obedience," wrote C. S. Lewis, "is the key to all doors." Don't think for a second that you can heed the wrong voice, make the wrong choice, and escape the consequences. At the same time, obedience leads to a waterfall of goodness not just for you but for your children, your children's children, and the children of a thousand generations in the future. God promises to show "love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Ex. 20:6) As we obey God's commands, we open the door for God's favor.

Obedience leads to blessing. Disobedience leads to trouble. Remember Jesus' parable about the two builders who each built a house? One built on cheap, easy-to-access sand. The other built on costly, difficult-to-reach rock. The second construction project demanded more time and expense, but when the spring rains turned the creek into a gulley washer, guess which builder enjoyed a blessing and which experienced trouble? According to Jesus, the wise builder is "whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them." (Matt. 7:24) Both builders heard the teachings. The difference between the two was not knowledge versus ignorance, but obedience versus disobedience. Security comes as we put God's precepts into practice. We're only as strong as our obedience. As the apostle James encourages, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)

Voices await you. Maybe not on the banks of the Metolius, but at work, in your neighborhood, at school, on the Internet. They're waiting for you. You can't eliminate their presence, but you can prepare for their invitation by remembering whose you are. You are God's child. You've been bought by the most precious commodity in the history of the universe: the blood of Christ. You are indwelled by the Spirit of the living God. You are being equipped for an eternal assignment that will empower you to live in the very presence of God. You’ve been set apart for a holy calling. You are his. And remember where you are. This is Canaan. You’re in the Promised Land. Not geographically, but spiritually. This is the land of grace and hope and freedom and truth and love and life. The devil has no jurisdiction over you. He acts like he does, but as you resist him and turn to God, he must flee. (James 4:7) Decide now what you will say then. Choose obedience. And, as you do, you can expect blessings: the blessing of a clean conscience; the blessing of a good night's sleep; the blessing of God's fellowship; the blessing of God's favor. This is no guarantee of an easy life. It’s the assurance of God's help. "The good man does not escape all troubles – he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one." (Ps. 34:19)

One final thought before leaving the Valley of Shechem. Take note of the altar's location. Did you notice where it was built? Not on Gerizim, the mount of blessing. Joshua built it on Ebal, the hill of the cursing, instead. You see, even in the midst of poor choices, there’s grace. So, may we hear the right voice. May we make the right choice. May we enjoy blessing upon blessing. But if we don't, may we return to the altar on Ebal. It was built for people just like us.

Grace,

Randy

Consequences - Audio/Visual