Recipe for Success - 250401

SPEAKER 1 Hello, I'm Clive Nash. Welcome to Let God Speak. Today we begin a new series on the Bible book of Joshua. Is a book written more than three millennia ago still relevant to us today? What lessons can we learn from Israel's history? Is their entry into the promised land meaningful for the 21st century? Our panel will begin the discussion in just a moment. SPEAKER 2 It. SPEAKER 1 On our panel today we have Gayl Fong and Harold Harker. Good to have you with us today. I always enjoy our discussions together. I think we make a good team, don't you? SPEAKER 3 It's a great team. SPEAKER 1 But before we begin, let's take time to pray. Our wonderful Father in heaven, we just want to thank you that you have given us again the Bible to study today. And we pray that you'll not only bless us here in the studio, but you'll bless all those who are listening on radio or those who are watching on 3 ABN TV. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. SPEAKER 3 Amen. SPEAKER 1 Well, I'm going to begin by reading from chapter one of the book of Joshua and particularly verse seven. And here in verse seven it says, only be strong and very courageous that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant, commanded you. Now this is God speaking to Joshua. Be strong and very courageous. And says, do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go according to the law which Moses my servant. It says here. Harold, were these big shoes for Joshua to fill following in the footsteps of Moses? SPEAKER 3 Sure, they were very big shoes. Moses led for 40 years there. And now Joshua's called. Well, let me say in Joshua chapter one and verse one, it says, after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of nun, Moses assistant, saying. So he had been working with Moses, with Moses, but now it's his turn and God's calling him. You know, he was the assistant, but Moses was still a big figure. And even when you read Joshua, his name is mentioned 10 times. Well, he was just dead now, but people will be remembering him and his leadership. SPEAKER 1 Okay. And as significant as we'll find out, he's called Moses assistant. So but was he still a new kind of Moses you think? A new Moses figurely? What do you think, Gayl? SPEAKER 2 Well, Joshua was a replacement leader, taking the place of Moses. And just reading Numbers 27:18, the Bible reads there, and the Lord said to Moses, take Joshua the son of nun with you. A man in whom is the spirit. Spirit and lay your hand on him. So here he's chosen of God. Although, yes, he's Moses, he's been Moses assistant, but he's chosen of God because he has the Holy Spirit. He's filled with the Holy Spirit. I love that aspect about Joshua. And it also says there that Moses was to lay his hands on him. So there was going to be a blessing and a consecration transferring the dedicating him to that office publicly. And the promises made to Moses would now be fulfilled through Joshua, as it says in Joshua chapter one and verse three. It says, every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given you, as I said, to Moses. SPEAKER 1 And Joshua. The son of nun is N u N by the way, not N o N e. SPEAKER 3 You have a father. SPEAKER 1 Yes. While Moses was alive, Harold, what role did Joshua play? SPEAKER 3 Well, while Moses was alive, he would have been assistant. We have in business today you have someone who's the chief officer and someone who works beside them. And as his assistant, that's what Moses was. That's what Joshua 1 says in verse 1. He was Moses assistant. So I guess if Moses was in charge of a huge multitude, he'd need someone to help him. And Joshua had been chosen by God to be that assistant to Moses. SPEAKER 1 Okay, and Moses was actually given the title in these writings of the servant of the Lord. Yeah, in the first verse there in chapter one. Moses the servant of the Lord, Jehovah. Did Joshua have to wait to be given that same title? Go. SPEAKER 2 Well, yes, it was only when Joshua actually died that he was given that title. And the Bible reads In Joshua chapter 24, 29, we read there. Now, it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of nun, the son, servant of the lord died, being 110 years old. So yes, he did have to wait. The reality is that both Moses and Joshua are very faithful servants and they were earthly leaders. But the true leader, their true leader was the Lord himself. And we read about that in the book of psalms, Psalms chapter 77 and verse 20. And the Bible reads, let your people like a flock. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. So God was there ultimately. SPEAKER 1 Yeah. And the Exodus story is quite a big thing in the Bible because quite a number of the Psalms, not Only just Psalm 77 that you refer to there, but quite a number of the other Psalms also tell about the story of the Exodus. That's how important it is. The first chapter of the book of Joshua, Harold, gives us a foretaste of the structure of the book of Joshua. Can you just expand on that idea? SPEAKER 3 Sure. The chapter one of Joshua we could see, it has four different sections, or we could call them four little speeches that God is giving the direction there. And if you look at it, it's really the keynotes of the four big sections of the book. And so the first speech was in verses two to nine. Let me read verse two. Moses, God is speaking. Moses, my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I'm giving to them, the children of Israel. And so here is the first section. Crossing the Jordan, they've got to move into the land. And tells me a little further in that first section in verse eight. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success. This was the recipe of success. Follow what God has given. He's given the details there and it really is great because success depends upon it. You could really say you it's using a Hebrew word for each section, in this case the word cross. They had to cross Jordan and that anticipates where they will go in the next few chapters here. SPEAKER 1 Yeah, and that promise of prospering, as. SPEAKER 3 You say there, being prosperous and success. SPEAKER 1 Yeah, the marginal reference in my bulbs for prosperous is have success, as you say, or to act wisely. SPEAKER 3 Correct. SPEAKER 1 Which is interesting. The second word is take. Gael, can you tell me about that one? SPEAKER 2 Yes, that's right, yes. That second word there is take. And just reading from the book of Joshua, chapter 1 and verses 10 and 11, and this is on the order to cross the Jordan. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, saying, pass through the camp and command the people saying, prepare provisions for yourselves for within three days you will cross over this Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess. So they're told to possess or take possession of the land. And so this land, this is a land that was promised to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. And we find that this anticipates what began to happen in the book of Joshua. In Joshua chapter 5 and verse 13 and onward there, where Joshua takes special time outside of Jericho to go and pray and meditate. And as he does this, he's met with the commander of the Lord of hosts. And there from there on, it's just success after that success as they followed in the steps of God's counsel right through to Joshua 12:24. We find that they took, they conquered 31 kings, which is a massive amount. And Joshua and the people of Israel, they took Jericho AI the southland generally followed by the northland. SPEAKER 1 And your mention of Jericho reminds me you've been there, I think, Harold, have you been to Jericho? You've seen those excavations and you probably thought to yourself about that song Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came a tumbling down. So the third word in this section. Can you tell us about that, Harold? The third section? SPEAKER 3 Sure. SPEAKER 2 Third section. SPEAKER 3 In this section, the key word would be divide. How they're going to divide up this land. There were 12 tribes, but let me read verses 12 to 15 of Joshua 1. And God is giving explicit directions to where they would go. And to the Reubenites, the Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh. Joshua spoke, saying, remember the word which Moses, the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, the Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land. Your wives, your little ones and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren, armed all your mighty men of valor and help them until the Lord has given your brethren rest, as he has given you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it which Moses, the Lord's servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise. Well here some of them were going to take the eastern side of the Jordan, but they would then go with their arms and help the others to take get to the west side. So every part of it, every tribe was given a part of it there. And this chapter here, this section of this first chapter represents what chapter 13 to 21 would be when they marched in and took possession. Some of them on the east of Jordan and the rest on the west. SPEAKER 1 So what's the fourth section of the book that's foreshadowed here in chapter one? SPEAKER 2 Gayl, I'm just reading. Joshua, chapter one, verse 16 to 18. And it says, so they answered Joshua saying, all that you command us, we will do. And wherever you send us, we will go. Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses. Moses, whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words in all that you command him shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage. So serving by obedience was embodied in this fourth speech from the Israelites. And that corresponds with Joshua 21:1 right through to Joshua 24:33. And the main point to note is that God promised the land. But this was not going to happen without cooperation and obedience from the tribes of Israel. And the fulfillment of the promise was not going to be automatic either. God's always growing us in our faith and trust. So it's the same with us. And God gives us many promises in the Bible, but the fulfillment of those promises actually won't happen against our will or without our cooperation. And so God is looking for willing hearts. It says in Revelation, chapter 14, verse 12, here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. So trust and obey. Faith and obedience is very, very important. And there's the Andrew Study Bible comments. Obedience to God's law is an essential characteristic of God's people in the end time. SPEAKER 1 Yes. Now Harold, in this first chapter of Joshua, in verse 2 it says, the land which I am giving to them. And verse three it says, the land which I have given you, as I said to Moses, what's the difference between the giving and the given here? SPEAKER 3 Okay, let me read those verses again. Moses, my servant is dead. Now, therefore arise. Go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, the children of Israel. This was the promise that God had made while Moses was there. Then verse three. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given you, as I said to Moses. So one was the promise. The other is what we could call prophetic, perfect. God's promise is sure. When you go over, it's yours. The promise is sure. And so one was a promise in the future. Now, now they're about to cross that within three days they were going to go over and it will be yours. So what he had promised way back in the time of Moses will now become eventuated in theirs. I have given it because it will be given. That's God. And what God has given, that was the end of the story there. And so God's promises of sure, when he says he's given the land, it's as though it was a fulfilled action. SPEAKER 1 Yeah, I don't know about you folk, but you know, I make promises with good intentions. So Gayl, how can we trust the promises of God? Is it different to him? SPEAKER 2 Well, yes, our promise keeping is very different to God's because God is all powerful. When we make promises. We are faulty human beings, and we may have good intentions, but it doesn't always mean we're able to carry out the promises that we make, unfortunately. But that's not the case with the omnipotent God. And it says in the Bible in Second Corinthians, chapter 1 and verse 20, for all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him, amen, to the glory of God through us. And Peter wrote also in Second Peter, chapter one, verse three to four, in that letter there, Peter wrote that God and Jesus our Lord have given us exceeding, great and precious promises, that through these, you may be partakers of the divine nature, which is an amazing promise that God has made. It truly is all about our character, isn't it? When God says, every place I've given you, he's not just speaking to Joshua. The use of the plural form of you includes all Israel, and we're part of spiritual Israel today. So the inheritance of the land promised through the covenant with Abraham was to be complete and comprehensive. SPEAKER 1 So coming back to Joshua one, Harold, was the challenge to Joshua. Was it personal or was it corporate? What do you think? SPEAKER 3 Yeah. In verse five and six, let's look at it. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide the inheritance, the land which I swore to their fathers to come. You know, as Gayl has said, the you can be plural, as it was to the children of Israel. But now God is talking to Joshua and says, you, I will be with you as I was with Moses, so I'll be with you. And that's singular. Okay, so you can be singular and plural. In this case, God is speaking directly to Joshua and says, I'll be with you. You know, the letter to the Hebrews links the promise of the inheritance made to Abraham with our hope. And that's in Hebrews chapter 6. God is not changeable like us, and we can trust him. And when he includes us in his promises, they're sure. God's promises are sure. But he was speaking to Joshua and he will speak to us, too. SPEAKER 1 Yeah, it would have been very reassuring, wouldn't it, for Joshua? I will be with you. SPEAKER 3 Particularly when you're facing Jericho. SPEAKER 1 Yes. A walled city which seemed impenetrable. I will be with you. But, you know, for the rest of the people, I just wondered whether it would have seemed like A great challenge for them, you know, they're just wilderness wanderers, weren't they? They were prepared for war. What do you think? SPEAKER 2 Oh, yes, that's so true. The walled cities. Apparently they were. They were even a challenge for the military might in Egypt. So here we have the Israelites, and they're not really trained for battle. They haven't really trained for battle during the 40 years of their wilderness wandering. Yet God used the imperative form of the verb to to be when he admonished courage and strength. I had to look that up, I have to admit. That imperative form. So that means a mood that expresses an intention to influence the listener's behavior. So when you think of it like that in Joshua chapter one, and just rereading verse six, there be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Verse 7, Only be strong and very courageous that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. And then verse nine, just in case he didn't get it. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. So wonderful encouragement and promise was to Joshua and to us to be strong and of good courage? SPEAKER 1 Yes, actually reminds me, my wife and I of sang a duet spe strong and be of good courage. I remember it's based on this very verse or concept here now. But Harold, it's one thing to be held, be strong, but was something more needed besides that for the children of Israel? What do you think? SPEAKER 3 Well, spiritual strength was necessary. You know what Paul reads in Ephesians 6, 10, onwards. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. And then it says, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. So somehow being strong in the Lord gives you that inner strength to be able to fulfill what's needed. Fidelity or truth, or being true to God's moral law does give us strength. And Israel had made a promise to be true to Jehovah and to care for his law. And so that's also true for us. And that's why when we read in Joshua 1:7, it says, only be strong and very courageous that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from the right, to the right hand or to the left, that you might prosper wherever you go. So somehow the Bible links spiritual strength with God. That gives you physical strength to do what he's asked. SPEAKER 1 Now, Gayl, putting this into a 21st century context, do we have, if I might put it that way, much land to possess as Christians in the world today? SPEAKER 2 Well, God has given us a mission field the world. And he wants us to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. And we need God's strength and God's help for that. And it says in Matthew 28:20, God says, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. So with the difficulties, God says, I'll be with you. SPEAKER 1 Harold, earlier on we talked about going in person and possessing the land and being prosperous, successful. What do you think was meant? What kind of prosperity did God intend here? SPEAKER 3 Well, there's material prosperity for sure, physical prosperity. But there's also, it infers to us soul prosperity or soul health. You know, Isaiah says in verse, and it's talking about Jesus, Isaiah 53:10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He's put him to grief. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed and prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. So this was true of Jesus and it will be true of us. You know, the Messiah's mission was successful. I'd like to read how the Psalms puts it. David, in Psalm 1:1 onwards, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he shall meditate day and night. So spiritual strength is the basis for our life and physical strength. SPEAKER 1 There now, Joshua 1:8 commanded meditation on obedience to the book of the law. Do faith and obedience go hand in hand, as it were? SPEAKER 2 Well, I liken this to a little child who loves his parents and he loves to to show his love by obedience. It says in the Bible in Romans, chapter three, in verse 31. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not. On the contrary, we establish the law. So faith and obedience go hand in hand. Faith without obedience is presumption. SPEAKER 1 And Harold, just in the moment we've got left, how do you see our great need today? SPEAKER 3 Well, our great need is to be strong. Let me Galatians says in 324 the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ. If we're in Christ, you have the answers and you know Hebrews is a great promise. I love Let me read Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. In Christ there is success. This is the best recipe for success you can ever have. SPEAKER 1 Wonderful promise to end our discussion on Harold and Harold Harker and Gayl Fong were my guests today and I'm Clive Nash. Just like the days of Joshua, we face personal trials as well as enemies of the faith community. Be assured that the promises of God are still true. He is faithful to be with you and with God's people today. God's encouragement to be strong is not just positive thinking philosophy. It is backed up with the promise that he will be with us as Jesus promised. I am with you always, even to the end of the age. We're glad you joined us today on Let God Speak. If you are blessed by this program, why not tell your friends? Remember, all past programs plus teacher's notes are available on our website 3abnaustralia.org.au. email us if you wish on [email protected]. Join us again next time. God bless. SPEAKER B You have been listening to let God speak, a production of 3ABN Australia television. To catch up on past programmes, please visit 3abnaustralia.org.au. 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