목양연가(牧羊戀歌)

Joshua 1:1-9  “God-Trusting Faith”

We don’t know our future well, so we are always fearful, but especially in times like these with days that bring a bad and hard economy.  What do we do in times like this?  Joshua was fearful in today’s text.  Moses, the leader who led the people of Israel from Egypt thus far, died.  Therefore Joshua was in a difficult situation in which he could not even see one step ahead.  In his difficulty God spoke (Joshua 1:6), “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”  In other words God does not want His people to collapse in disappointment and discouragement.  He wants His people to be strong.  Therefore today we will receive a sermon titled “God-Trusting Faith.”  May God’s grace be with you.

First, a person who has God-trusting faith has a courageous heart in front of trouble.  Let’s read verse 5 together, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”  Yes, that is right.  Men are fearful when they are facing a difficult situation.  Joshua was in today’s text.  Canaan was in sight; however the Jordan River had to be crossed.  At this time the Jordan River was overflowing all its banks during the whole time of harvest because of the water added to it from the snow melting from Mt. Hermon.  And on top of this the people were complaining and resentful because they listened to the negative voices of others. 

It was really frustrating.  In this circumstance Joshua prayed and God answered and showed Himself to Joshua and gave him strength and encouragement.  In other words in time of despair, we must not be discouraged but depend on and trust in God.  Our strength to overcome the world comes by believing that God is with us and being courageous and being strong.  An old Korean saying goes like this, “Even when we are in the tiger’s mouth, if we have clear thoughts our lives will be spared.”  This has the same meaning here.  If we lose our courageous heart in difficulty we can not do anything, however with a courageous heart which is with God, there is no problem.  When Almighty God, in which all things are possible, is with us and helps us, what concern do we have?  What is there that you can not do?  There is nothing!  Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  And in Psalm 37:5 it says, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”  I pray that we all become faithful individuals who take our worries to the Lord and trust Him, especially in this time of difficulty with a low economy.

Secondly, God is with those who trust Him.  Let’s read verse 9 together, “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  “For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  Yes He is.  When Joshua crossed the Jordan River, God stopped the water.  God destroyed Jericho’s fortress with out one touch of man’s hand.  When God defeated Ai (Joshua 8), the neighbor nations were fearful since God was with Joshua (Gibeonites) and they made a treaty (Joshua 9), then the five kings of the Amorites were killed (Joshua 10) as well as their people.  “Wherever you go,” yes!  As the Lord promised the land wherever Joshua stepped with his feet, God gave it to him and was with him.  It is the same with us today.  God, Who was with Moses, and Who was with Joshua is the same God, Who is with all the saints that believe and trust Him today.  Look!  Paul and Silas were imprisoned for the gospel and so was Peter, but the door of the jails were opened because God was with them and they did not get hurt.  I believe a faithful person who trusts God, even in the midst of trouble, will be freed from it because Jesus is with him.

Thirdly, a saint who trusts God and is obedient to His word will be blessed since all things work together for good.  Let’s read verse 8 together, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”  In this, there is the secret that your way will be prosperous and you will have good success.  What is it?  That is not to have God’s word depart from your mouth and meditate on it day and night and observe to do it.  For example, as I say this, someone may say, “Pastor, how can a person follow the word of God?”  It is not that hard.  The way to follow the word of God is not to let it depart from our mouths and meditate on it day and night which is sufficient and what our church does with memory verses. 

We can not memorize and meditate on the whole Bible.  But we can memorize one verse at a time as we think, memorize, and recite it by mouth.  Even one verse of God’s word that you put in your heart and memorize, it becomes powerful.  Next, to follow and act upon it is also simple.  It only requires that you be in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is God’s word and the word became flesh.  If Jesus is in your heart, your life of faith can be right.  Jesus completed the law by love and makes it complete.  So when we are in Jesus we are in the law which is complete.  Is this difficult to understand?  Let me explain it in an easy way.  For example, there is a game being played on a ball field.  There are two teams playing, a blue team and a white team.  The white team had a great victory.  If I was on the white team I am a winner.  Even though I am not a great player I am a winner because our white team won the game and I am on that team.  I hope you understand this.  Our Jesus Christ overcame the world and won the victory over the power of death and completed the law.  Believing Jesus Christ is final.  How is the way for people that believe?  Their way will be prosperous and they will have success in all things. 

Then there are some people who ask saying, “Pastor what about the trouble I have today?”  You should not worry about it.  Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  The trial I face today, God will change it into something good.  For example, there are two places everyone in the world wants to go, Disneyland in L.A. and Disney World in Florida, which were built by Walt Disney.  He was born very poor in Kansas City.  He barely made it to high school and could not study further even with his great artistic skill.  He wanted to get a job with a newspaper company but was rejected.  Walt Disney, who had no way to meet his needs, was allowed to live in the basement of the church he attended.  There were so many mice in the basement and he was lonely and hungry so he just watched the mouse’s activities.  At that time God gave him wisdom to draw a mouse as a cartoon character.  This became his main character who he called Mickey Mouse.  He turned the whole world because of this mouse he drew and became a wealthy person.  Look!  If he had not had this difficult trial, would he have lived with the mice in the church basement?  He wouldn’t have had that experience, would he? 

Beloved saints!  Don’t we all have a difficult and fearful trial which is hard to cross like the Jordan River?  Trust God.  Be strong and be courageous and trust God in order that you will experience God’s miracle in your life.  Trust in the Lord then I believe God will help you.  I pray that you hear the voice of our Lord saying “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life.” (Joshua 1:5)

 
By: Rev. Samuel Choi