JOSHUA – A MAN FOR HIS TIME

JOSHUA – A MAN FOR HIS TIME
by Angela Simon

Reading: Numbers Chapter 27 verses 15-23

As I was praying about what to do for “Contact”, one character came in to my mind; Joshua!
His name means Jehovah-Saviour, and what an appropriate name, as he captained the children
of Israel, leading them in to the “Promised Land’. But why was he chosen for this task? Well it
wasn’t on a whim of God. In fact, we need to look back at his history of his relationship with God,
resulting in his transformation and growth, if we are to understand why he was chosen for this
task.
Firstly, Joshua had a good teacher: Moses. Joshua spent time with him, listened and learned
from him, and observed Moses’ relationship with God. In the book of Exodus 24v13, it speaks of
Joshua being Moses’ ‘aide’ (NIV), and it reads: “and Moses rose up and his aide Joshua, and
Moses went up unto the mount”, where God spoke to Moses face to face. This experience must
have spurred Joshua on, to learn more of God.

It shows us the need for teachers and good mentors in our churches, and the need for quality
time with them. When I was a young Christian, in our home church, I was fortunate to have this
mentoring and teaching, which gave me a love for the word of God. Now more than ever there is
a need for this contact, in whatever shape or form it takes, in such difficult times.

Another important point is that Joshua had friends who were spiritually on the same wavelength
as him. Caleb was his friend, and they both brought back a good report, when Moses sent
twelve spies (one from each of the tribes of Israel), into the land of Canaan, to spy out the
land. The other ten spies brought back a negative report, but Joshua and Caleb tried to
encourage the people of Israel to believe the good report (even though the Israelites threatened
to kill them).We really, really need brothers and sisters in Jesus, where we can share and talk honestly about our faith, and the times we are going through, in a safe space.

Moving on from this, although Joshua was in the right place with God, he had to experience the
40 years of wilderness wanderings, as a result of the unbelief of the people. This must have
been so difficult for Joshua, and he must have been so disappointed and frustrated by
this. However, this time must have been needful for Joshua, as he searched for God, and clung
to Him in those difficult and dry years. He had known moments of spiritual joy on the mount, but
now he needed to know his God in a very real and personal way, down in the valley.
It is good to know, that he was no different to us in experiencing the ups and downs of life. It
seems for us at the moment, that we are going through a kind of wilderness experience. We
wander from lockdown to lockdown, maybe feeling that we are going around in circles. But we
can learn much from Joshua, and in Exodus 33 v11, it speaks of Joshua spending time with God, in the tabernacle (depicting God’s presence). “The Lord spoke unto Moses face to face, as you speak to a friend. Moses went again in to the camp, but Joshua the Son of Nun, a young man remained in the tabernacle”

Joshua spent quality time with God there, and you and I are no different. At this time more than
ever, we need to spend good quality time with the Lord; after all we may find that this could be
one of the most important periods in our Christian faith.

I finish with a promise that was given to Joshua, when God spoke to him before leading the
Israelites into the land of promise:
“Be strong and courageous; don’t be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go” (Joshua 1v9).
As for us? Jesus is our Saviour; our captain. He is our advocate and guide; who knows us
through and through, who loves us and will never leave us or forsake us. Praise His name. Amen