Joshua 1:1-2; 6-9

The scripture reading tells about a time when the children of Israel were off to a new start.  Moses had led them for the previous 40 years; but now he was dead.  In fact, all of the older generation had died off in the wilderness.  Joshua and Caleb were the only old guys left.

For 40 long years, the marching orders for Moses had been: "Take another lap around Mt. Sinai."  There was a reason for that, but at last, Joshua received new marching orders.  The book of Joshua starts with a bang: "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise and go …"   Joshua 1:2.   Now that is a way to start something new!  The Message Version puts it like this: "Moses my servant is dead - so get going!"

We can learn a lot from those marching orders.  And the first lesson is that THE PAST IS BEHIND YOU.

1. The past is behind you
Joshua and the people faced a paradigm shift of enormous proportions.
• They were about to quit being nomads and become landowners.
• They would soon leave their tents and move into homes.
• They would quit eating manna and start enjoying harvested crops that others had planted. 
• They would go off defense and start playing offense.  For 40 years they had avoided trouble by walking around it.  Now it was time to face trouble head-on as Warriors.

It was time to leave their "slave days" behind and enjoy days of freedom in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Moses was dead, but God’s purpose was very much alive.  This was no time to stand around grieving - or reminiscing about the good old days - or thinking about all the regrets and the "what if's" of the past 40 years.  It was not time to think about the past at all.  It was now time to move forward.  The saying on John Wesley's grave helps us carry home the point:  "God buries His workmen, but His work goes on."

As we enter 2010, thoughts of the past may be holding some back.   It's easy to get bogged down in regrets over things we can't change.   Some may have taken some wrong steps last year.   Others may have suffered some painful losses.   Some may have been let down and/or experienced a big disappointment.   It's time to listen to Joshua’s marching orders:  "The past is dead.  Now, arise and go into the New Year."

Years ago, a thunderstorm swept through southern Kentucky and blew over an old Pear Tree on a farm where the Claypool family had lived for six generations.  Old Grandpa John Claypool grieved the loss of the tree he had climbed as a boy.  For all his life, he had enjoyed eating the pears off that old tree.
A neighbor came by and said, "John, I’m really sorry to see that fine old Pear Tree blown down."

John Claypool replied, "I’m sorry too.  It’s a real part of my past."

"What are you going to do now?" the neighbor asked.

Grandpa Claypool paused for a moment and then said, "I’m going to pick the fruit and burn what is left."

There's a lot of wisdom in those words.  The past can have its uses.  We should enjoy what is of use from the past, and then burn the rest.  We may need to grieve over the past; we can even rejoice in the past; but there is no point in longing for the past because it is gone and cannot be recovered or re-lived.

Many pastors and church leaders have observed that some people are prone to glance back with a tearful eye at their "glorious past."   They get so caught up in reminiscing or trying to re-create the past that they give little thought to their future.   It is wonderful to recall the many blessings God has bestowed on us, but that doesn’t do much for the future except that it may increase our trust in God for the unknown.

Surely God had great plans for them, but no one would let go of the past long enough to move ahead. Any church that gives up on the future in order to try to hang on to the past is doomed to failure.  Eventually, that church will fizzle out and die.  Every local church needs to heed the marching orders of Joshua: The past is dead.  Now let’s get going into God’s plans for our church in 2010.

The second lesson we can learn from Joshua’s Marching Orders is that THE LORD IS WITH US.

2. The Lord is with you
Look at Joshua 1: 9 "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Strong and courageous is a tall order unless you really believe the last part of the verse:  "for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."   Joshua and Caleb were two men who demonstrated their faith in that promise.  Forty years earlier, they had been part of a posse of 14 who went behind enemy lines to spy out the Promised Land.  The other 10 came back terrified.  "That land is full of giants", they whined.  Compared to them, we look like teeny-tiny grasshoppers!

Only Joshua and Caleb showed strength and courage.  They said, "Let’s go get 'em!  The Lord is with us!"  But that "minority report" got lost in all the doom and gloom of the "nay-sayers".

Looking in Joshua chapter 2, we see how ironic it was that the children of Israel doubted God’s power.  Once again, spies were sent in to scout out the Promised Land.  While they were in Jericho, they hid in the home of a woman named Rahab.  Look at what she told them. "I know that the LORD has given this land to you. A great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.  We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."  Joshua 2:9-11

Because of unbelief, the Israelites wasted 40 years wandering in the wilderness … while all the time, the Canaanites were trembling in fear.  Even the heathens knew the LORD who parted the Red Sea had all the power of heaven above and earth below.

When we look ahead into the New Year, we may see some fierce giants blocking our path.  Some will face new challenges in 2010.  Some will feel God calling them to a new ministry that makes them nervous to try something they haven't done before.  All of us are likely to face new marching orders because 2010 is a New Year.  Whatever the obstacles that stand in our way this year, remember Joshua’s marching orders: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

The third lesson we can learn from Joshua’s marching orders is sometimes hard to grasp, but it can be the best news yet.  The lesson is that MIRACLES WILL FOLLOW YOU.

3. Miracles will follow you
There was a definite change that came when the leadership mantle passed from Moses to Joshua. During the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel saw God’s miracles every day.  Their God guided them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  He opened the waters of the Red Sea then and brought the water rushing back when the Egyptians pursued them.  Daily, they ate manna that God provided.  When they wanted more variety, God sent quail by the ton.  When they were thirsty, God gave them water from a rock.  For 40 years their clothes and shoes never wore out.

These miracles were God's way of showing them that they could trust Him. The miracles went before them at every turn.  Under the leadership of Moses, they didn't have to step out in faith because they could see God's presence daily with their own eyes.

But, when Joshua came along, the marching orders changed; the guiding cloud and pillar of fire were gone.  There was no more manna appearing with the morning dew.  There were suddenly new job openings for Cobblers and Seamstresses because clothes were beginning to wear out.

Joshua stood facing the Jordan River.   And once again, God opened those waters so they could cross. But from that point on the marching orders were:  "You obey Me, then Miracles will follow."  Look at the first battle Joshua fought.  You've all heard of it: "Joshua fought the Battle of Jericho, and the walls came a 'tumbl'in down!"  God won that battle for them with an amazing miracle.  But the miracle came after they obeyed.

For seven days, they marched silently around that city. Then on the seventh day, they marched around seven times - still silently.   All this was an act of faith, in obedience to God's command.  And they must have wondered why.  It was not like any battle strategy known to man.

At the end of that seventh time around, the people obeyed the final instructions.  When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed: so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.  Joshua 6:20

God can certainly perform miracles any time He chooses, but more often than not, His miracles will come after we step out in active faith.

I heard about a man who wanted to demonstrate his faith in the miracle-working power of God.  He came forward one Sunday in church and declared that from that day forward he would depend on God and God alone to supply all his needs.  He quit his high-ranking job in a big company.  Soon he was forced to move out of his expensive home into a small house in a poor neighborhood.  Time went by and he ran low on food.

The first night he prayed for God to send him food.  The next morning he walked outside expecting to find food, but nothing was there.  He figured he hadn't prayed fervently enough, so he dedicated the second day to praying for God to send food.  The next morning came and still no food.

Again, he prayed all day long, "God, You can do anything.  I know you can send me food."  And again he walked outside in the morning - no food.
By this time he was getting desperate.  He cried out in prayer, "God, send a miracle or I will die of hunger!"   When he had prayed all he could pray, he fell back on his bed exhausted.

In the silence, he heard a small Voice calling his name.

"I’m here, Lord," he cried in relief.  "Are you finally answering my prayer?"

"I’ve been answering your prayers," the Voice replied.  "You’ve just been looking in the wrong direction."

"What do you mean, Lord?" he asked in confusion.

"Walk outside," commanded the Voice.

He walked outside and looked down at the dirty porch, but still saw no food. 

"There’s nothing here, Lord."

"You’re looking in the wrong direction."

He looked up at the sky but saw only clouds.  "I still don’t see food, Lord."

"Look straight ahead," said the Voice.

He looked straight ahead - and there was a sign, pasted on the building across the street: LABORERS WANTED!  LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED.

For anyone wanting to know their marching orders, all they need to do is look straight ahead.  If they see a job that needs to be done, they should do it.
• If someone needs prayer, then pray.
• If they need money, then give.
• If the trash can’s full, then empty it.
• If the kitchen needs to be cleaned then clean it.
• If the kids need some attention then give it.
• If there is a need with the church building that you can meet, then meet it.
• If a class needs a teacher, then teach it.
• If something's broken, then fix it.

When a need becomes known and a person has the ability, they should get busy filling that need and miracles will follow. That is how we show our faith in God.  And that is when God will bless us in supernatural ways.

The World says, "Show me and I will believe."
But God says, "Believe me, and I will show you."

His miracles will always follow - when we step out in Faith.

In 2010, make Joshua's marching orders the marching orders at your church.
Sure, we have enjoyed plenty of great days in the past and, yes, we have also experienced some negatives, but, like Joshua, our marching orders are:  "Get going. The past is behind you!."

Sure, we may have some obstacles in our way.  There may even be big giants out there, and we may feel like grasshoppers in comparison to our problems.  But . . . we can be strong and courageous because we know our God is with us.

We can have full confidence that if we march forward - if we fight the battles God calls us to, and if we meet the needs that He puts in front of us . . . then miracles will follow after us.

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HELPFUL LINKS FOR LEADERS: 

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The Christian Civic League of Maine was formed in 1897 to name and confront sin.  Today, The Maine Family Policy Council continues to minister in a similar tradition.  The only solution is both the most costly and least expensive which is the righteousness of Jesus Christ - the Gospel.