A child watching him would have wondered why this soldier was so reluctant to cross a little stream? Surely he wasn’t afraid of the water, was he? No, Julius Caesar was not afraid of water. In fact there wasn’t much that famed Roman general was afraid of. Nevertheless Caesar was reluctant to cross the Rubicon, a small stream in north-eastern Italy, because, according to an ancient law, to do so with a standing army meant declaring war on Rome. What should he do? Should he retreat as he had been ordered to do by the Roman Senate, or should he forge ahead and plunge his beloved country into civil war? Caesar crossed the Rubicon and the rest, as they say, is history. In fact “crossing the Rubicon” is a phrase that now means “passing the point of no return.” For Caesar, crossing the Rubicon meant that he could no longer hope to sweet talk his way into the great city of Rome; he would have to fight his way in.
About 1,500 years before Caesar stood dithering on the banks of the Rubicon, an 80-year-old man named Joshua perched on the banks of the Jordan River, his heart pounding in his chest. Oh, he had dreamed of crossing this river for 40 years now but only as an assistant to the famed leader Moses. But alas, Moses was dead and God had fingered him, Joshua, to lead 2 million Israelites across the Jordan into the Promised Land. Was Joshua up to the challenge? Crossing the Jordan meant declaring war on the well-armed people already living in the land. And really, what chance did the Israelites, a rag-tag group of nomadic shepherds, have against fortified cities? God anticipated these doubts and took the time to encourage his chosen leader. “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9b). What the Lord said to Joshua is what he says to you who stand on the banks of loneliness and uncertainty. What factor will faith in this promise have on your fears? Let’s find out as we begin our new sermon series from the book of Joshua entitled: Faith Factor.
I can’t imagine the despair the Israelites must have felt when Moses died. He had been the only leader they had known since leaving Egypt. Moses had led them across the Red Sea. Moses had spoken to God on their behalf and had intervened when they sinned asking God to forgive them. Could they manage without him? Yes! By taking Moses from them right before the Israelites were to cross into the Promised Land, God made it known that no leader is indispensible.
I see both a warning and a comfort in this truth. I’m warned when I think that this congregation couldn’t possibly function without me – or at least not function as well. Do you ever think that about your position at work or in the family? It’s true, God may have given you special gifts to excel at what you do but don’t kid yourself, the one who gave those gifts can as easily give them to someone else. Since we are not indispensible let’s stop acting like we are. Let’s stop expecting others to do everything our way but start listening to what others have to say – and I don’t mean listening so we can refute them. I mean listening so we can incorporate their ideas in what we do. After all if we find ourselves in a position of leadership, we need to recognize that God didn’t put us there to enjoy the power for ourselves but to use it to serve others.
It’s also comforting to know that Moses was not indispensible. After his death, life went on for the Israelites. And life will go on for you too, you who have lost a spouse, a parent, or grandparents. There will be those times when you say, “Oh, if only so-and-so were here. He would know what to do.” Or “Without her I feel lost and confused. I don’t have any direction.” To you God says: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:5 b, 6a). Those words were gold for Joshua because while he may not have had the same presence of mind as Moses, Joshua did have the same presence of the divine (Matthew Henry - adapted). And really, that’s all that matters, isn’t it? You may desperately miss your spouse or parents and think that life would be so much better with them at your side. It’s OK to feel that way. That’s evidence of how much you loved them, of how precious a gift from God they were to you. But don’t despair. The Lord is at your side. He who once provided for you through that loved one will continue to provide for you in other ways.
How can we be so sure God is really with us? Moses was certain of God’s presence because the Lord spoke directly to him, and it seems as if he spoke directly to Joshua in our text. If only God would do the same with us! Although God did speak directly to Joshua in our text did you catch how he intended to continue to communicate with his chosen leader? Listen again. “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. 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” (Joshua 1:7b, 8).
God would continue to communicate to Joshua through his words recorded by Moses in the book of the Law. We have those same words. When I worked at the seminary library I sometimes handled books that were 400 years old. I got goose bumps when I heard the pages crinkle in my fingers. I couldn’t help but think of all the other fingers that had touched those same pages down through the centuries. The Bible that sits on your shelf at home may not have been printed 400 years ago but it does contain words that are over 3,000 years old. Do you get goose bumps when you read the words Moses recorded, the very same words God directed Joshua to meditate upon? If not, you’re probably not meditating on them. The Hebrew word to “meditate” means to “mumble to yourself.” God wants us to turn his Word this way and that, the way a wine connoisseur turns over a fine wine in his mouth to absorb all that it has to offer. Instead of treating God’s Word like a fine wine, however, we often zip through it as if it were fast food meant to be consumed quickly so we can get on to other, “more important” activities. But there is nothing more important than studying God’s Word because nothing else, not “Must-See TV,” not texting friends, not managing your financial investments can connect you to eternal life. So slow down when you read God’s Word. Take the time to discuss with your family what the evening devotion means. Ask: what sins does it cause me to confess? What cares does it release me from? And how does it motivate me to act in love tomorrow? Don’t think you have time for this kind of meditating? How can you not when Joshua, the leader of 2 million people, had the time. Certainly none of us here has a job as important or demanding as Joshua’s.
It was important for Joshua to meditate on God’s Word because he was to carefully obey all of it, not turning from it to the right or to the left. Are we as careful when practicing God’s Word? Or do we think that a little straying from God’s Word isn’t very dangerous? Instead of praying for our politicians we curse them. (Well, that’s what they deserve isn’t it?) We obey our parents but show them little respect. (At least it’s more than our friends do!) We serve our spouse but only when we’re in a good mood, not when we’re tired. (That’s when they ought to serve us!) If you think straying from God’s Word a little is no biggy, try driving with your steering wheel just a little out of line with the road. How long does it take before you end up in the ditch? Not long at all. So just as you constantly adjust the steering wheel to keep your car on the road, constantly adjust your life according to God’s Word. When you veer to the left and fall into selfishness, repent! And when you veer to the right and sink into self-righteousness - proud that you are such a humble servant of the Lord, turn back!
But there was no way Joshua was going to be able to obey everything God said, was there? If Moses hadn’t done it, Joshua wouldn’t be able to do it either. Still, there would be no reason for Joshua to become discouraged. The God of free and faithful love would continue to accompany him in spite of his sins. That’s our confidence too. It’s true. I don’t obey every one of God’s commands, yet in baptism God clothed me with Jesus. Jesus’ perfect life covers my sin like a fresh coat of paint covers the grimy marks on an old wall. And I’ve received more than forgiveness in baptism. I’ve received a new life. In fact you could say that those who have been baptized have crossed a river of sorts. We’ve crossed over from death to life, from this world’s way of doing things to God’s way of doing things. Don’t swim back across the river to play with the devil and the world. That will only end in sin, guilt, and God’s judgment.
I don’t know what kind of “Rubicon” you stand at in your life. Perhaps your facing a new job, a new school, or are still coming to grips with life without a trusted loved one. Whatever your emotions, similar ones were no doubt pounding through Joshua’s heart as he stood on the banks of the Jordan River. So listen again to what God said to him and what he now says to you: “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9b). Face your fears in faith and you will find peace, no, more than that. You will find courage. Joshua did. Come back next week to find out how his faith was a factor in the face of change. Amen.
