Joshua

When I read the story of Joshua, I wonder what helped shape him into one of the most courageous men in the Bible.  Before Joshua went with twelve other spies to scout out the land that God had promised Israel, Moses changed his name from Hoshea , which means salvation,  to Yehoshua (Joshua), which means God’s salvation, or God saves.  I think believing that “God saves” is the foundation of Joshua’s great courage.

Joshua first experienced God’s salvation when he was freed from slavery out of Egypt.  Joshua went on to witness the terror of the Egyptian army closing-in on him and his people and then the miracle of the Red Sea parting and being saved from destruction as they crossed on dry land.

Then, when Joshua and the spies returned from their scouting trip, an angry mob was about to stone him and Caleb for their truthful account and for claiming that the land was theirs with God on their side.  God’s glory flooded the meeting tent, and once again, God saved him.

God continued to save Joshua and the people of Israel and used Joshua as a mighty military leader and as the new leader of Israel after Moses’s death.  When Joshua took his last breath after a full and courageous life, God saved him eternally. 

God’s salvation wasn’t just a strong belief for Joshua, it was a way of life.  Living wasn’t about surviving - it was about being free to live courageously.  How do we gain the freedom to live courageously?  Knowing and believing that God’s power alone saves us and saves others gives us the freedom to live courageously.

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9.  God named His very own son the Hebrew name “Joshua” – translated into Greek, “Jesus” who is our strong and courageous leader. 

I’ve always liked the name Josh.  So much so, that we named our fourth child Joshua Allan Brown.  Josh was very sick after he was born and had some life-threatening moments in the hospital.  Desperation set in when I started to realize that I couldn’t save Josh.  An even worse nightmare hit us when doctors said that they didn’t think they could save him either.  The doctors’ discouragement didn’t leave much doubt when Josh started to turn a corner and get better --- God saved him.  God saved him then, God saves him now, and God will save him forever.  Not me.  I am free to live and let my children live courageously.  Thank you, God!

- Jill Brown

Exodus

I am always amazed about God’s majesty and power. But the most aggravating thing about God to me is that he seems to move so SLOW. Many people want to serve God but most only want to do so in an advisory capacity. I think all of us have wanted to give God advice on how to do things, particularly when it comes to our own lives. We always tell ourselves that God is pursuing us, [and he is] but what we keep forgetting is that God wants so desperately for us to pursue him [Heb. 11:6].

As God took care of the Israelites, God takes care of me. He gives me just what I need but not necessarily what I want. The Israelites and I both think they spent way too much time in slavery, but not God. Both the Israelites and I wonder why God did ten plagues when one mighty plague would have got them out sooner. Why did God allow Pharaoh’s sorcerers to hang around and do several of the early plagues themselves rather than just blow them out of the water with one mighty work?

But God the Provider does just enough for us. He gives us our daily bread or manna; he knows what we need, when we need it. More than we do. The Israelites got to see all of the plagues AND the greatest miracle of all time in the crossing of the red sea. OK it may or may not really be the best miracle but it’s the miracle I personally would like to see. The people of Israel saw it all and were apparently so unimpressed that within a month or two they were making a golden calf to worship. But are we any better than they were?

I suppose all God has ever done is impressive for believers and not for unbelievers. God always allows room for doubt. If you choose to not believe him, he will let you do so.

When I look at the miracles God has done in my life, such as my marriage and family, moving to Midland, my friends, my jobs, church, eldership and the people he placed in my life, all of it can be explained away. But I know it was him. The rest of the Old Testament reminds us that the people of Israel kept forgetting God and what he did for them. Let us NOT BE LIKE THEM.

- Tim McGraw

Moses' Calling

For me, the story of Moses is one of the most dramatic and powerful in the Old Testament.  Not because Moses was such a hero - in fact, the way I read it Moses was a scared, angry murderer on the run. It’s one of my favorite stories because God used Moses anyway.  When He first let Moses know what he had in mind for him, Moses basically told God "I’m sorry but I’m not the man for the job, please send someone else." It is stated that God was angry.

This is the fun part for me:  God could have destroyed him on the spot. He could have found someone else. He could have reminded him how he has provided for and protected him from his earliest days of floating the river until now. He could have even comforted and encouraged him by telling him how great he is going to be. God doesn’t do any of these. He instead tells Moses who He himself is.  He lets him know it’s not about Moses’ character, talents or power at all. It is all about His. He is the “I AM”. He created Moses. He knew about his speech impediment.  He knew about his fear.  He knew he didn’t have a Masters of Theology degree.  Still, He chose Moses to lead His people.  He provided the tools he would need.  He even allowed his brother, Aaron, to walk alongside him to be the mouthpiece and fill in the gap.

Studying Moses’ story makes my heart pound, and not just because of the dramatic burning bush, the Ten Commandments, the trauma of plagues, or the astonishing crossing of the Red Sea. It's because this is one of many examples that God doesn’t just allow, but chooses less than perfect, scared people with a past for His kingdom work.  That says to me that I fit right in and that God has put me here for a reason. 

- Cheryl Proctor

Joseph

I think the book of Genesis contains some of the most interesting reading in all of the Bible. It includes the stories of creation, the tower of Babel, the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis includes people like Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Did you know that 24 of the 50 chapters of Genesis are dedicated to telling the story of the life of Joseph? Joseph had an adventurous life. He was thrown in a well and sold as a slave by his brothers. He was shipped to a foreign land at a young age. He was accused of sexual assault and thrown in prison. He was recognized for interpreting dreams. He became one of the most powerful men in the world, practically running the country of Egypt. And after many years of separation, he was reunited and reconciled to his family.

Did you know that Joseph is the first Bible character NOT in the direct lineage of Jesus? Most of the men and women we read about in Genesis are direct ancestors of Jesus. We know that from the scriptures that say, “So and so begat so and so; and so and so begat so and so.” Jesus is a direct descendant of Judah, Joseph’s brother. So this raises some questions:  Why was so much emphasis put on the story of Joseph? It’s a great story, but why was Joseph made the hero and not Judah? God could have shown Judah favor, but the focus and favor went to Joseph. What point was God trying to make?

About 20 years ago, my wife and I did something that didn’t fully make sense at the time, but we felt led by God to do. We invited a troubled teenager into our house to live with us. Jazmin was a senior in high school in her home town. She moved to a different town with us in the middle of her senior year. Technically, she was living with her dad. He worked the night shift. Instead of staying at home alone, she rotated staying at our house and at a friend’s house. We were actually surprised that she took us up on the offer to move with us, but she knew her life was heading in the wrong direction – bad friends, bad activities and bad living conditions.

Jazmin finished high school that spring becoming the first one in her family to graduate from high school. She went on to college and got a nursing degree. Today she works as a nurse in the cardiology unit of a hospital. She is happily married with three delightful children. Her life has turned out beautifully. She was given the opportunity to change the trajectory of her life and she took it. She only lived under our roof for a matter of months, but it was enough to save her life.

I have lived a wonderful life. I have had many, many great experiences and I have been given opportunities to make a difference in many people’s lives. But I believe one of the most significant things I have accomplished in my life has been providing a temporary home for Jazmin. As a result, she has broken the cycle of family dysfunction and generational poverty. Her kids and the generations to follow will be blessed by the life she has chosen. And it is deeply satisfying to know I played a part in it.

Now Joseph accomplished many great things in his lifetime. He saved the lives of countless people from starvation and he saved the country of Egypt from financial ruin. However, the greatest, most significant thing Joseph accomplished in his life was saving his family. Because of that, Judah lived; and because of that, Jesus was born; and because of that, the world was saved. 

- Barry Thomas