ECLIPSING THE FAMILIAR
HEROES: THE SECRET—Part 1
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Hero—noun—a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for brave deeds and noble qualities.
The Bible has many heroes but perhaps none better than Joshua. Joshua had played a key role in the exodus from Egypt. Introduced as the field general of Israel’s army, he was the only person allowed to accompany Moses partway up the mountain when Moses received the law. Joshua and Caleb were the only two among the 12 spies to bring back an encouraging report after being sent into the promised land the first time. Other references show him to have been Moses’ constant shadow. His basic training was living with Moses—experiencing firsthand what it meant to lead God’s people.
Today we begin a series of messages on the life of one of history’s best military leaders. A man who took a group of former slaves and sons of slaves and shaped them into an effective fighting force.
Joshua was a hero, but he started out as a slave. Today we’ll focus our attention on the process that God used to mold this slave into a hero. And here’s the secret of Joshua’s story…as is the secret with all heroes…the heroics begin inside before we ever see it displayed outside.
God brought Joshua out of Egypt but he also had to get Egypt out of Joshua. It wasn’t an easy task. Egypt had been the Hebrews’ home for 400+ years. In the end only two people eclipsed the allure of the familiar patterns of Egypt ….Joshua and Caleb.
Today we’ll look at four experiences through which God triggers an eclipse in Joshua’s soul. That eclipse changed Joshua internally from the familiar approach to life that he inherited from his life in Egypt to a totally different approach to life--singlehearted devotion to God that would carry him into the promise land.
God’s call to Joshua and his fellow Hebrews was not just to leave Egypt, but leave behind everything that Egypt stood for. All the familiar approaches to life, worship, morality even the measure of time had to be eradicated. 400 years of slavery had left a mark on the Hebrew soul. Until they were completely convinced of the truth that God alone was the one, true, all-powerful Creator who could bring order and harmony to their world, the familiar story of Egypt and Egypt’s gods would always retain its hold on the Hebrew’s hearts.
So God had to totally reshape their identity. They had to reject Egypt’s gods, Egypt’s view of chaos and order, Egypt’s moral standards, its glorification of human achievement and accompanying devaluation of human life, its focus on death. All of these familiar stories had to be eclipsed by God’s story!
What was it like for these Hebrew slaves while they were in Egypt. Many times in the bible narrative we read that the people of Israel entertained the idea that they wanted to go back to Egypt. We think to ourselves, “These people are nuts! Why would they want to go back into slavery?!” What was so alluring about their lives in Egypt that would cause them to disdain their freedom and liberty.
Ray Vanderlaan says it better than I could—take a look at this video
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Sadly, even though God abundantly provided for the Hebrews while they lived in Goshen, they became enamored with Egypt—its story, its worldview, and its gods. As they experienced worldly comfort and success they became unfaithful to God and His story, and allowed Egypt’s story to become a part of them. In a sense, they became slaves to Egypt before they became slaves in Egypt.
Hundreds of years earlier God had called Abraham out of a pagan culture, and now his descendants were so wrapped up in what Egypt offered that they no longer remembered him.
God had used terrible plagues to get Pharoah to release His people from slavery. In those plagues he directly challenged Egypt’s gods and Pharoah’s ability to maintain order and harmony. This got the Hebrew’s attention. God further demonstrated his power with the parting of the Red Sea. Despite these miraculous interventions the familiar patterns of thinking and behaving were deep in the Hebrew hearts.
God had to eclipse this familiar lifestyle and pattern of thinking for Joshua and all the ex slaves.
Only a few days after the Red Sea crossing the Hebrews began complaining. God instructed Moses to strike a rock and God miraculously provided water. On the heels of that experience the Amalekites came up to make war against them.
This is the point where Joshua is introduced to us. We meet him as the leader of the Hebrew fighting men who would defend God’s people with the sword.
POWER COMES FROM GOD
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. [9] Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." Exodus 17:8-9 (NIV)
So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Exodus 17:13
Power doesn’t come from Pharoah’s ability to placate the Egyptian gods. They had a sorta “god of the month” club.
INTIMACY WITH GOD LEADS TO GUIDANCE FROM GOD
The next time we see Joshua
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up [10] and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. [11] But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
[12] The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction."
[13] Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. Exodus 24:9-13 (NIV)
Tell the story of the golden calf.
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Exodus 33:11 (NIV)
Forty years in the desert had been the crucible that created the intimate relationship that Moses and God shared. Joshua was learning that God could and would guide him. God not only exists, but he prompts and guides his people as they walk through life.
IT’S NOT ABOUT ME, IT’S ABOUT GOD
God had another internal lesson for Joshua. Joshua couldn’t be the hero God wanted him to be if he had Egypt’s view of leadership. In Egypt, Pharoah was the unquestioned leader. He was proud and arrogant. He used his leadership to build monuments to himself. There would need to be an eclipse of that kind of thinking in Joshua’s heart.
A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." [28] Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!"
[29] But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!" Numbers 11:27-29 (NIV)
GOD IGNORES GALLUP
Tell the critical story of Numbers 13 and 14. Joshua is selected as a scout to reconnoiter the Promised Land. He and eleven others (one from each Hebrew tribe) were sent across the Jordan river to collect information.
When the recon team returns events begin to spiral out of control quickly as the Hebrews long for the familiar security of slavery in Egypt. Ten of the twelve spies recommend turning back rather than fighting for their freedom in the Promised Land. They report that a military campaign would be fruitless and end in disaster.
Numbers 14:6-9 (NIV)
Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes [7] and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. [8] If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. [9] Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
GOD GIVES AUTHORITY TO THOSE WHO RESPECT AUTHORITY
In Egypt, it was all about the survival of the fittest. The strong ruled the weak. The strong seized power and guarded it ruthlessly. God had another idea.
So the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. [19] Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. [20] Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.
Numbers 27:18-20 (NIV)
Joshua submitted to Moses. Submission begins at the point of disagreement. Joshua respected the authority that God granted Moses. Then God could trust Joshua with authority as well.
Jesus submitted to the will of His Father.
Have you ever submitted your life to God?
