Transcription
Imagine being in the middle of a war with no weapon, without firing a single bullet, and still becoming a national hero. Like Desmond Doss, the one from the movie Hacksaw Ridge.
Exactly. Desmond Doss was a young Adventist who decided to serve as a combat medic during World War II without touching a gun. Many teased him. They humiliated him. They called him coward. But he didn't give in. He kept the Sabbath, used no gun, and still went to the front lines.
In the bloody battle of Okinawa in April 1945, he saved more than 75 wounded soldiers one by one against the enemy's shots, dragging them with his bare hands while praying, "Lord, help me to save one more." He even saved those who once were making fun of him, and they eventually honored him. Desmond Doss received the Medal of Honor from the American Congress without firing a single bullet.
Where did his success come from? His success came not from strength, but rather from obedience and faith. This quarter, we will study a book that also speaks of battles, conquests, and victories. One with no human weapons, but the weapons of faith.
The book of Joshua starts with God's words telling a man, "Be strong and of good courage." "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." Joshua did so, and that was his recipe for success. Sabbath School like presents the series lessons of faith from Joshua. Lesson one, Recipe for Success.
Have you ever wondered what success is? For many, success is achieving money, fame, power, followers on social media, a house with a pool, or buying the latest iPhone without selling a kidney. But in the light of the Bible, success is conquering all God's promises for your life and the conquest of the promised land especially. And listen carefully, all of us must decide to go into the battle of conquering those promises in the name of the Lord. So this week's question is, how does the book of Joshua give us the Bible recipe to achieve true success?
First the key to success in the first verse that means at the very beginning of the book of Joshua the names of two of the greatest men of Bible history are mentioned. The first is the great Moses and then Joshua son of Nun is mentioned. Exactly, but if you look closely the name of the real protagonist appears twice between these two names. It came to pass after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of Non, Moses' assistant.
Do you notice that verse shows the transition between two great leaders? Moses dies and Joshua is called to take his place. Can you imagine how it feels like to be called to replace such a great and successful man as Moses? It might be quite frightening. It's like being the CEO of Tesla to replace Elon Musk or wearing Messi's number 10 jersey after his retirement. There will surely be comparisons. In fact, all through chapter 1, Moses is mentioned 11 times while Joshua is only mentioned four times. Moses is identified as a servant of the Lord while Joshua is called Moses assistant.
Ah, but the Lord doesn't tell him. Do as best as you can. God called him and gave him the key to success. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Listen carefully. Although the book is named Joshua, the true protagonist is God. And the key to success is God.
God himself sets clear the three steps of the conquest project in chapter 1, cross into Canaan. Take possession of Canaan. Divide the land among the Israelites tribes. How to achieve each one of those steps by believing in God's promises. Every place that the soul of your foot will tread upon, I have given you from the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, shall be your territory. For to this people, you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Do you notice a promise for every step? Do you know that verse three uses a verb form that is not taught in classrooms? The prophetic perfect I have given you. You have not yet crossed. You have not yet taken possession. You have not yet divided. But I have already given it to you, says the Lord. Do you understand the key?
Second, the character of the success. Do you think that Desmond wasn't afraid while running through the bullets to rescue those 75 wounded soldiers? I believe he was. But he wasn't overcome by fear.
Listen carefully. Courage is not the absence of fear. It's moving in spite of it because you believe that God is with you. God told Joshua in verse 6, be strong and of good courage. And in verse 7, only be strong and very courageous. And in verse 9, have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. That have I not of verse 9. Doesn't it sound like a father who after saying something twice to his son would point his finger at him saying look am I not telling you? Yes.
The book of Joshua is a book of conquests they had to conquer fortified walls lands with powerful armies. But the very first thing that Joshua had to acquire was the character of a true leader. That be strong and of good courage that God repeats three times is not one of those motivational phrases that are everywhere on social media. It's not a come on, you can cross and conquer. It is rather a be strong and very courageous to believe and obey God in spite of do not be afraid nor be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Do you notice the character of success isn't achieved through external conquest but through internal victories. Joshua wasn't supposed to play superhero. He simply had to believe that God would not leave him alone. The same applies to us today. You and I are called to fight against the Canaanites. But we also have a tough fight. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. And what armor is it? the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, internal victories that develop the character of a true leader.
And third, the path to success, the key to success is already clear to us, God, and the character for success, courage to believe. But there is one thing missing. How to walk on this path.
God clearly told Joshua, "Only be strong and very courageous that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left that you may prosper wherever you go." Do you notice? Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left. Do not take shortcuts. Do not come up with your own way. Follow the divine GPS, God's word. If the GPS tells you to go right, go right. Trust it. If you turn left thinking you know better and you come to a collision or a dead end or a parade of sloths, don't say you have not been warned.
Then God concludes with verse 8, one of the most powerful of the entire Old Testament. 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. You will have good success is the Hebrew verb sakal that can be also translated as to prosper or be successful. But be careful. God did not tell Joshua that the path will be easy. He promises that if he follows his word, then his path will be prosperous and he will have good success not because there are no obstacles but because he will be walking on God's path.
Today the path to success is still the same. Follow the arrows of the Bible, the GPS of faith, and you will be successful in all things. Desmond Mundos didn't win the Medal of Honor fighting with gun or human strength. He won it following Joshua's recipe. He understood that God is the key to success. That the courage to believe is the character of success and that the Bible shows the way to success.
How about you? Are you facing a challenge that seems too big for you? Remember, you don't need to be strong. You need to be with a strong one. You don't need to have all the answers. You need to follow the right map. The world is in need of more modern Joshua's willing to conquer God's promises with faithfulness, courage, and humility. People like Paul who can say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." That is true success.
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