Daily Encouragement

February 28, 2010 - Lessons From A Great Leader

Before he died, Moses composed a song to teach his people the greatness of God and His care for His people as well as warning them the consequences of departing from the living God. In his last ditch effort, he tried to guide them to obey the laws of the LORD and to teach their children to do so. His teaching method through music was for our example.

Then God commanded him to go up to Mt. Nebo to view the Promised Land. There he died without going into Canaan. He was 120 years old without failing in eye sight and vigor. (Deuteronomy 34:7) The reason God said to Moses was this, "because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel." (v. 51 NKJV)

From this judgment, we can learn that God's honor is to be respected at all time in front of the people of God. We can never let our own temper get in the way of obeying God at all cost even to the last detail. (He struck the rock twice rather than just spoke to the rock in order for water to come out as God had commanded.)

Though Moses could not go into Canaan at that time, but God was still merciful to His servant leader. At the mountain where Jesus transfigured before the three disciples, Peter, James and John, Moses was there talking with Jesus. Moses did finally enter into the Promised Land which he longed for so much because of Jesus! (Matthew 17:1-4)

March 1, 2010 - The Secret Of A Successful Leader

Meditation on Joshua 1

Joshua was a great general and a very successful leader who led the Israelites to occupy the Promised Land by defeating many powerful enemies some living in fortifies cities with high and thick walls.

The first thing the leader needs is a word and confirmation from God. (v. 2-5)

The second thing the leader is to be strong and courageous. (v. 6, 7, 9, 18)

The third thing the leader should do is to obey the laws of God and meditation upon God's word both day and night. (v. 7-8)

The fourth element for success is that the leader must have his people prepared in whatever they plan to do. (v. 10)

The fifth principle is that he must have the full support of his people. (v. 12-18)

Are you the kind of a leader in what you do for the Lord?

March 2, 2010 - Victory Depends On Absolute Obedience

Meditation on Joshua 6

God gave specific instruction to Joshua on how to destroy the city of Jericho. It must have been quite a scene to see the seven priests blowing the seven trumpets marching before the ark as they went around the city for seven days with armed columns of soldiers in the front as well as in the rear. On the seventh day they marched around the city seven times. All these times, they were forbidden to even talk until Joshua gave them the signal to shout. Then the wall came tumbling down.

Conservative Archeologists tell us that there were two walls at Jericho; one on the top of the mountain and one at the hill side. Possibly the brick walls on top came down and rolled over the bottom wall along the slope. So the Israelites soldiers just went straight up into the whole city and destroyed everything as the Bible described in detail. The archeologists discovered that there were many remains of jars with burnt corns and food supplies. It was an unusual situation because usually conquering party would take away all the food supplies of the defeated city. This showed that the biblical narrative is correct. The Israelites burnt the whole city with all things in it. They only took the metal products which dedicated to God. Moreover, it was discovered that the north side of the bottom wall had some part that was not totally destroyed. Possibly that was where Rahab and all her household lived. Her protection of the spies preserved their lives. She was a lower class citizen who lived outside of the main city on the slope. Her house was attached to the lower wall where she had a window to let down the spies with a robe.

God provided a great victory for His people who obeyed Him and protected those who trusted in Him. Praise the Lord!

March 3, 2010 - Keeping Your Word

Meditation on Joshua 10

It is difficult to find someone who keeps his or her word consistently nowadays. We easily lie or make excuses for not keeping our word and expect others would understand our circumstance. Those who are considered mature are those who know how to say words that can mean several things without taking the responsibility if their words are not true. Should Christians follow this trend? No. It is important for us to mean what we say and say what we mean. We hold God's promise to be true always. That means that God is faithful. God also requires us to be faithful.

The Gibeonites had tricked the people of God into making an alliance with them so they would not be destroyed by the Israelites. Now the Gebonites are under attack by five kings and their great armies. Should Joshua rescue them because of their alliance? Yes he did. The soldiers of Israelites came suddenly upon those attackers. God was with them and provided an unbelievable hail storm to fall upon these Canaanites.

In this most unusual battle in the history of mankind, God even listened to Joshua's prayer to stop the sun and the moon till the people had revenge upon their enemies. (v. 12-13) Certainly this was a miracle of God. In a book called, "The Long Day of Joshua" in our church library described how this could happen in a scientific manner. You may borrow it for your curiosity.

But my whole point is that this could not have happen if Joshua and his people did not keep their word. God works with those who have integrity and faithfulness in their character. Do you keep your word?

March 4, 2010 - No Free Lunch

Meditation on Joshua 17

Joshua and the High Priest cast lot to divide the occupied land for the nine and half tribes who entered Canaan. Even though Joshua had led them to possess major portion of the territory, pockets of the land were still lived by some Canaanites.

When the tribe of Joseph got their allotment, they complained that they did not have enough land because their tribe was big and they had lots of people. They said that the land they got was hilly with lot of trees. While the flat land they had was occupied by enemies who possessed iron chariots. Joshua agreed with them that they were indeed a bigger tribe who deserved more land. Therefore, they needed to do tree cutting so that they could utilize more land. Since they were a bigger tribe, they should be strong enough to drive out those enemies who had iron chariots.

The lesson for us is that we must work harder if we want more possession. There is no free lunch even in God's vineyard.

March 5, 2010 - The Lot For The Leader

Meditation on Joshua 19

All the tribes except the Levites had obtained their allotments by the casting of the lot. It was fair. The Levites did not get any inheritance except cities and pasture lands to live in because that was God's will for them. Whatever the people of God offered to the LORD would be shared by them. That's their livelihood. The LORD was their inheritance.

The last to receive inheritance was Joshua, the commander and leader of the nation. He received what the LORD had commanded for him. It was a hill country among the land of his own tribe. He had to repair it and build it up before he settled in it. (v. 49-51)

What an example it is for our political and religious leaders today. A leader is to be willing to receive his share only after the followers have got theirs. He should get his fair amount according to God's principle. He too had to spend his own time and energy to build up his own home without getting free benefits. It should be clean and moderate in his income and possession. Today we have seen too many so called politicians who claimed to be helping the people he served yet had received so many benefits undisclosed. How sad!

May God help us not to be greedy.

March 6, 2010 - Your Decision To God Must Be Confirmed

Meditation on Joshua 24

Before Joshua retired from the congregation of Israelites, he assembled all the tribes and their leaders to present themselves before God.

There he reviewed the history of the call of Abraham and their deliverance from Egypt. He reminded them of the mighty acts of God to protect them from all the enemies and lead them into the Promised Land. He told them that what they possessed then was only the providence of God and not by their own sword and bow.

Then he asked them to decide whether they really would serve the LORD or the gods of their ancestor or the gods of their neighbors. (v. 13)

He himself of course will serve the LORD with his own family together. But he warned them that God was a holy and jealous and would not forgive their rebellion and sins. He would punish the unfaithful. (v. 19)

The congregation affirmed that they would serve the LORD! Then Joshua made a covenant with the people and provided testimony and witnesses to their vow. He again recorded the law and commandments of the LORD for them.

A decision for God is solemn and must be followed up and recorded. The person who makes the decision before God must be held responsible for his or her decision. The church and fellowship must serve as witnesses. Then God will bless us as he did for Joshua and his congregation.