God’s plan in the life of Joshua

Joshua 13:1 “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.”

            We see Joshua was a young man when he started to do his ministry with Moses. In the above passage we can understand that Joshua was old yet the things he still had to accomplish were great. The Lord did not want Joshua to rest when he had grown old. The Lord reminds Joshua on the pending things to be completed although he is aware that Joshua is stricken in years. Even in our lives, the Lord is well aware of our weaknesses and he will strengthen us. Our weaknesses will not stop the Lord from accomplishing his plans on our lives. We see Joshua submitted himself into the hands of the Lord almighty and he did not consider his inability. Let us meditate on how God’s plan was fulfilled in the life of Joshua.

Grace

Joshua 13:6 ‘All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.’

            In the above passage the Lord clearly instructs Joshua with an assignment. He clearly tells Joshua to divide by casting lots to the people of Israel. As we read in the passage ‘I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.’ The Lord fulfills everything by himself and he only instructs Joshua to cast lots. All the major tasks were handled by the Lord God. He gives Joshua certain responsibilities and also the grace to complete them. Although Joshua was getting old, his weakness did not deprive him from fulfilling the Lord’s command. Even in our lives, he will guide us like a father by instructing us and assigns only the simplest tasks. As recorded in II Corinthians 12:9 ‘And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ The Lord will give us grace to fulfill the purpose of the Lord. The strength of the Lord is made perfect in weakness. If the Lord gives us a task or if he instructs us to do something, it will be a permanent one. The Lord will give us strength to fulfill the task of family, the task of Job, the task of ministry and all other responsibilities. Just as the Lord gave his grace to Joshua to cast lots and divide, we the children of God should also pray to get such knowledge and grace to perform our duties.

Plan

Joshua 13:7 ‘Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,’

            Here we see the Lord gives a plan to Joshua to fulfil his responsibilities. Normally, when we divide a property in the family, it is always risky. It is important that we have a proper plan ahead of us to execute certain things. In the life of Joshua, the Lord almighty clearly pitches what and how it needs to be done. He gave the divine wisdom to Joshua and helped him to fulfill the plan of the Lord. The Lord gives him a plan to peacefully divide the nations between the tribes i.e 9.5 and 2.5 tribes. The entire division and settlement was according to the plan of the Lord. We the children of the Lord should be the ones that fulfill the plans and the purpose of the Lord. Let us not think to somehow finish a task but we should ask the Lord God on the appropriate ways to fulfill certain tasks. Even in our lives, when we intend to do great things, the Lord will give us his plans to fulfill them. In Exodus 25:40 ‘And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.’ In this passage we see the Lord gives a blue print plan to Moses on how to construct the tabernacle. The Lord was so meticulous on the entire plan of tabernacle. We should submit our plans to the Lord God and we should act according to his guidance.

            In Hebrews 8:5 ‘Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.’ In this passage we understand the Lord gives a caution and a commandment to Moses. The Lord is very particular in accommodating his plans in our lives. We the children of Lord should live a life in such a way that it turns out to be a copy and shadow of heavenly things. As we read in Matthew 6:10 ‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.’ May we all submit our lives into the hands of the Lord almighty and let his plans be fulfilled in our lives.

Perfection

Joshua 14:5 ‘As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.’

Joshua 14:15 ‘…And the land had rest from war.’

            We see the plan was started when Joshua was old and weak. The entire plans and instructions of the Lord were fulfilled and it resulted in a perfection. It was not an end but a perfect completion. We read in Exodus 40:33-34 ‘..So Moses finished the work.Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.’ Here we see Moses followed the same pattern and guidance of the Lord and finished his work. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. When we act according to the plan of the Lord, we will witness the glory of the Lord. In Philippians 1:6 ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:’ The Lord who began a good work is faithful enough to lead us. He will be with us and guide us like the Alpha Lord (Revelation 22:13) who began is also the Omega Lord who will be with us and lead us until completion. Amen.