For the past few months we have studied Bible passages with the theme of “The Holy Love of God”. God is holy.  He is love.  God saves and sanctifies his people through his holy love. From this week, we will examine the faith and practices of pioneers in faith; so we call this the “Pioneering Series”. Today’s passage is about God’s instructions to Joshua. Joshua is a pioneer. Joshua led the Israelites to possess the Promised Land (Heb. 4:8-9).

The title of today’s message is, “You will be prosperous and successful”. This is about success and prosperity that God blesses.  This is different from success and prosperity that the world seeks.  God clarifies three conditions of godly success and prosperity: strength and courage, obedience to all of God’s law and meditation of God’s law day and night.  Let’s hear God’s voice for us today.   

First, “Be strong and courageous”(1-6).  Verses 1-6 are about the first aspect of success and prosperity that God blesses.  Real success and prosperity is about influence in this world.  At this time God put Joshua in a position of influence. He also instructs him how to be influential in this world. The primary qualities needed are strength and courage. “Be strong and courageous”. These are the first qualities for success and prosperity that God blesses.

Look at verse 1: “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aid.” This verse describes the context of this passage.  Moses died. Moses was a great man. God did mighty miracles through Moses. God gave Moses the title, “the servant of the LORD”. Joshua was Moses’ aid. How old was Joshua at this time? When he had left the land of Egypt, he was probably at least 30 years old. Since then, 40 years had passed in the wilderness. He was at least 70 years old! As Moses’ assistant, Joshua stayed very close to Moses at many important historical moments—the exodus from Egypt, many battles along the way, at Mount of Sinai, spying out the Promised Land, and throughout 40 years of their wilderness journey. After Moses’ death, God instructed Joshua to get ready to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land (2).  

Look at verses 3,4: “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates -- all the Hittite country -- to the Great Sea on the west.” God promised Joshua that all the land—every place where Joshua set his feet—would be given to him.  In a sense, God promised Joshua the world that he knew at that time.

Look at verse 5: “No one will be able to stand up 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.” God promised to give Joshua the same extent of authority and influence that Moses had. Even Moses at the beginning was not so credible in the eyes of the people. The Israelites rebelled against him as often as they obeyed him. With great patience, Moses persevered. The people saw that God was with Moses. They experienced many successes and miracles that God performed in answer to Moses’ prayer. Now, to Joshua, Moses’ successor, God gives this promise—“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you”. 

Eventually, all of us assume responsible positions before God in one way or another. We have to master our destiny. We must lead and move forward. High school graduates become college students.  They are no longer little ones, but pioneers. Parents lead their children.  Shepherds must feed the flock of sheep. Joshua Lee brought a journey team with 19 members. He is responsible for taking care of them for six weeks.  His leadership quality is evident through this.  Leaders sometimes experience a situation when they have neither strength nor wisdom to lead those who refuse to follow. But leaders must lead. 
Look at verse 6: “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.” God commanded Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” To “Be strong” means to “be capable and powerful”. Leaders must not be easily discouraged or frustrated.  Leaders do not give up too quickly. Joshua was now a leader.  He must be capable in facing challenges. To “Be courageous” is to face dangers, risks and hardships with fortitude and resolution.

Then, how can we be strong and courageous?  God says, “Never will I leave you.” “Never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). These days I enjoy traveling with my wife.  Because of her love and commitment, I feel safe and comfortable with her. However, it is much greater sense of security to know that God is with us. During times of intense struggle, even one good friend makes a huge difference. God is with us. “Be strong and courageous”. We can become strong and courageous because God is with us. Even when we feel so weak, we are strong because God gives us strength. Even when we are so fearful, we are courageous because God enables us to face all.

Second, “Be careful to obey all the law” (7). Verse 7 is about the second aspect of success and prosperity that God blesses.  It is about obeying all of God’s law.  It is about integrating all aspects of our lives. It is about the integrity of our soul and personal practices in balance.  The second mark of real success and prosperity is in integration of all important parts—therefore it deals with having integrity as a person. 

Look at verse 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”. God’s law (i.e., God’s word) covers all aspects of our lives. The Ten Commandments are God’s moral laws. Then, many other supporting laws govern our relationships with God and with our neighbors. God’s word affects our mission. God’s word guides us about our work. God instructed Joshua to obey all the law. God’s law governs all aspects of our lives.  Study the word of God that governs all aspects of your life. 

It is easy to succeed in some parts of our lives.  It is not easy to be successful and prosperous in all aspects of our lives. Joshua is, in a sense, an ideal picture of an outstanding leader. Joshua is the model of leadership.  He had good relationship with his mentor Moses.  He was a brave general. He was wise in his administration. Most of all, his family was with him in serving the Lord. He fulfilled God’s mission of conquering the land. Joshua fought the good fight. He integrated many aspects of the requirements of leadership.  He fought the good fight to integrate God’s commands into real life in the world.  He applied God’s law in real life situations.  Such integration and balance in real life made him a man of integrity.  This was possible because of his obedience to all of God’s law.

Third, “Meditate on it day and night”(8-18). The third important component of success and prosperity is intent. Our intent should be to keep our faith. This does not mean that we keep the immature faith of our teenage years for life. Rather, we intend to keep the original purpose of our life—to live for God’s glory and for his name’s sake.

Look at verse 8: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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.” God told Joshua to be careful to obey all the law Moses gave to Joshua and his people. The law refers to the Ten Commandments and all the moral laws of God. God told him not to depart from God’s law either to the right or to the left.  The law of God was the Bible that Joshua had.

Joshua kept his faith.  His original intent to serve God only was kept.  His faith grew.  He became a man of insight.  He was a man of deep wisdom.  He grew but his intent did not change.  His original intent to love God and serve him only stayed the same.

Joshua was commanded to meditate on the word of God with great diligence. God said, “Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Here, God promised him not one dimensional success, but comprehensive success. Joshua followed God’s counsel. He studied the Bible and obeyed God faithfully. Then Joshua was prosperous and successful. Joshua was a godly man. He had respect and honor from his people. He fulfilled God’s command to conquer the Canaan land successfully. Real success comes from God. God helped Joshua to secure godly success—military victory, personal integrity, and leaving a spiritual legacy.

Joshua’s first critical test of leadership was to cross the Jordan and prepare for many battles ahead. Joshua ordered the officers of the people (i.e., the leaders of the people) to go through the camp and instruct the people to get ready to cross the Jordan. Joshua also challenged the two and a half tribes who had already decided to settle across the Jordan River to fight to the end with the other tribes.  When Joshua obeyed God, all his people were willing to follow him absolutely.

To Joshua, conquering the land was not his own individual effort.  He had to fight together with his people. At the Latin American Conference, I saw many courageous leaders. They go into all the world—Cuba, Columbia, Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, wherever it is. They go alone.  I have seen many strong and courageous people. I have seen really strong and courageous people among those who obey God. We also have a mission to obey.  It is to pray for college campuses and world mission.  We are here to pray for this mission for life. How do we do that?  Obey God in all.  Study all the words of God.  Practice God’s word in every manner possible.  God gives us integrity—we can put together all aspects of lives—not as separated fragments but connected as a whole.  In doing so, God gives us success and prosperity in all we do.

During the past 37 years I have seen many people.  Many started well, but not many finish well.  Many began with wonderful intentions, but not everyone keeps their original intent.  At the same time, I see many people who keep their original intent to serve God, stay humble, care for the weak and serve his people.  They did so when they were young.  They do so now when they are no longer young.  They intend to do so when they become old.  They are committed to live that way even in the moment they die.

Apostle Paul, at the end of his life, summarized his life by saying, “I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith” (2 Ti 4:7).  This is what biblical success and prosperity is about.  Fighting the good fight in this life—this is about influence. Be strong and very courageous.   Work hard, fight the good fight for God’s glory.  I have finished the race—this is about integrity.  I have kept the faith—this is about intent. Real success and prosperity that God blesses are this: influence, integrity and intent. 

I have seen missionaries struggle terribly in Latin America. In those countries, many are engaging in small businesses. Are they doing well? Yes, they are doing well. Their business prospers. God gives them successes in what they do. It is not because they are smart, but because they are faithful. Timothy Rhee, in Guadalajara, is a very humble man.  But he is a very strong and courageous man.  God has made him influential in his ministry and business.

Real success and prosperity is about integrity.  Obey God.  Do not merely study the word of God, but obey all.  I see many women in mission who are strong and diligent. They manage their houses, serve their ministries and care for the weak.  Many women have images of the noble women mentioned in Proverbs 31.  All aspects of their lives are in balance.

Real success and prosperity is about intent. Joshua kept his original intent.  In his farewell address, he said, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”(Josh 24: 15). He saw the real possibility that the people of Israel would disobey God and follow the paths of ungodly nations. As a retired general, he was no longer in the position of influencing them.  Even so, he was clear about his intent to serve the Lord with his family. 

At this time, we may look back on our lives and ask, “Is my life successful and prosperous”. Regardless of how we feel about this question, we must be strong and courageous.  Be determined to obey God’s law.  Keep the original intent of loving God and serving him only.  May God, in his great mercy and grace, make all of you successful and prosperous.  May God be with you.  May God bless you. 
                 

 August 12, 2007. Toledo UBF.