By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
FRIDAY
THEME: RECOUNTING GOD’S INVINCIBILITY
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 23:8-11
“[8]but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. [9]For the Lord has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. [10]One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you. [11]Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.”
REFLECTIONS
Parting messages are generally powerful, compelling, insightful, thought-provoking, and wise. As he came to the end of the responsibility God assigned him from his youth, Joshua became aware that age was no more on his side. But before leaving the scene, he endeavored to present to the people and remind them of God’s faithfulness throughout their journey. Joshua attempted to achieve two critical objectives: i) narrate and record afresh God’s leading, provisions, miracles, faithfulness, and invincibility; ii) to convince the people of the opportunity they have to have God as their Father and that obedience to His will will grant them good life, prosperity, and invincibility – that no nation could stand before them and survive.
Joshua 23:2-3,6,8-11 – “[2]And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: “I am old, advanced in age. [3]You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you. [6]Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, [8]but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. [9]For the Lord has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. [10]One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you. [11]Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.”
Wisdom speaks and does not forget God’s goodness. Our achievements are by the grace of God. God is our success and victory; we should never conceal or underrate that. God fought for Israel, and they were to remember. To remain in God’s favor and not lose any of His blessings, Joshua admonished, “. . . be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,”. Do you need the courage to keep and do the will of God in the Bible? Yes, it calls for commitment, dedication, and unsullied determination. Keeping His word may make you different, moral, and righteous in a crooked and perverse environment. It takes courage to keep and defy all the odds by saying, “Thus says the Lord.” So the retiring leader reiterates that the redeemed people have the Scriptures to guide, counsel, instruct, correct, teach, and shine as light on their path. No one will lose the heavenly graces if we keep to the word of God.
In verse 8, Joshua commended the people for holding fast to the Lord. However, he encouraged them to hold fast to God in no uncertain terms because their future, continued success, peace, and survival depend on not letting God go, even for a moment. Verses 9 and 10 emphasize God’s invincibility and the impact on His people. God defeated Israel’s enemies, and they fell before Israel because He caused His people to be invincible. Holding on to God, Joshua observed, “. . . no one has been able to stand against you to this day.” God fights for His people – He grants them endurance, perseverance, extra energy, strength, skills, abilities, wisdom, and angelic support to discomfit and embarrass the enemy. He did it then, He does it today, and He will do it tomorrow. Hold fast to God, beloved, and God will fight for you. You need not fight by yourself. Your future is hinged on “take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.” Amen!
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 600 – “Hold Fast Till I Come”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His unfailing love for you; thank Him for His promise to fight for you; pray to hold fast to Him no matter the circumstances;
– Pray for the people of God to hold fast to God, consciously and meticulously keep the word of God, and love Him with their heart, mind, soul, and strength;
– Pray for those who face adversity to see the ray of hope in God; pray for victims of suppression, violence, wars, economic exclusion, and flickering faith;
– Pray for the nation and its citizens to hold fast to God; pray for the sick, the grieving, the lonely, the widow/widower, and prisoners to hold on to God.
