The assistant who changed the world

Over the next two weeks, I want to invite you to take a journey with me. I love the great outdoors. I kayak, ski, hike, and bike all the time. I’ve crossed mountains, lakes, meadows, and creeks but never a river. Rivers can be dangerous, even treacherous.

Can you imagine the Jordan River? I’ve seen it. I was even baptized in a calm section of it. But the river must have felt like a giant, barbed-wire wall to the Israelites. God wanted them to cross over for 40 years, but fear and a bad report had stopped them.

What has stopped you from crossing over? Is it fear, addictions, trauma, the past, failure, friends, or family? I used to be crippled by insecurity and poor self-esteem. Eventually, I sedated myself with alcohol and drug abuse. After I found Christ, I spent a lot of time in the book of Joshua. I needed faith and courage to believe for a better life.

The first verse of Joshua really spoke to me and helped me face my insecurity: “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ‘Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.’” (Joshua 1:1-2, NKJV)

Let’s take a moment to unwrap the treasures from this verse:

1. It starts off on a bad note: “After Moses, the Lord’s servant, died...” Bummer! Have you suffered a loss?
2. Moses is called the servant of the Lord. Those seem like pretty big shoes to fill. If I were Joshua, I would’ve felt a little intimidated.
3. “The Lord spoke to Joshua” is another very intimidating statement. I’m not sure if you or I would have the confidence to tell an entire nation, “Hey guys, God spoke to me to lead you into the Promised Land. Oh, by the way, we have to cross over the Jordan River.”
4. The verse describes Joshua as “Moses’ assistant.” Yikes! Thanks for the great endorsement, God.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m just a secretary” or “I’m just a janitor”? Remember that it’s God who selected you. Today is a good day to start the process of crossing over. But first, you’ve got to believe you are qualified because you are a miracle.

Your friend, Paul Marc Goulet