Bible Soap

Scripture

Joshua 3:5 - Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”

Observation

The verse in context: Joshua has taken command of the people of Israel, succeeding Moses in this post, just as they are poised to cross the Jordan river into the promised land. He’s clearly not feeling too ready for this, as both God and the members of 3 of the Israelite tribes tell him to ‘be strong and courageous’ throughout chapter 1. Chapter 2 tells the story of the spies going into Jericho and Rahab’s kindness to them, and when they bring back their report, something changes for Joshua. He is no longer worried or afraid, perhaps because he now knows that what God has done for his people in the past 40 years has got around, and the people of Jericho are afraid themselves. So before God has told him that anything amazing is going to happen, he makes this very bold statement from verse 5, declaring his total trust and faith in his God.

Application

This is not rocket science. How can we build our faith, and step into the shoes that God has laid in front of us? Well one way, which Joshua practiced here, is to hear about what God has done for you and other people, and what he has been doing in the background while things looked bleak for you. I’m guessing Joshua didn’t greatly enjoy the 40 years of wandering the desert, especially as he was someone who trusted God to give them the land the first time they were ready to go in! But what he didn’t know was that during those 40 years, God was preparing the way for them to step fairly easily into the promised land, and for Joshua to be able to be the bold and courageous military leader that Israel needed. So it’s good for us to build our faith by reading about what God did for his people in the Bible, but also what he’s doing for his people around the world today. And maybe something he’s doing for others will inspire us to become the people he has always designed us to be.

Prayer

Praise you God, for not being inactive even when we feel like things are bleak. Thank you that you made each one of us with a purpose to fulfil in this life. And please, Father, help us to achieve that goal, and build our faith in you, living in expectation of you doing amazing things in our lives. Amen.