Joshua has really been on my mind a lot these past few weeks. I know we’re studying Joshua and all but I didn’t think about anyone else nearly as much as I have Joshua. I really like him. But I think it is the picture I see of how the Christian life works that has followed me. In the book of Joshua, we see Israel fighting battle after battle to conquer the Promised Land. But for each one there is a recurring theme: the Lord God fought for Israel.
The first time in Joshua’s career that we see this fact is in his first battle with the Amalekites. So long as Moses held the rod up, interceding for them, victory belonged to Israel. When Moses tired, Israel faltered. At Jericho, with the most ridiculous battle plan imaginable (by human standards), Joshua led Israel to a resounding victory with the Lord as his banner. Then at Ai, they were defeated—because God did not fight with them. Each and every victory really belonged to God but He chose to use Joshua and the Israelites as His instruments.
We know that God does not need us to prove the glory of His name. Just look at the Exodus. Israel didn’t have to lift a finger in battle but mighty Egypt was defeated. Yet in the Promised Land, God chose to work through Joshua to fight the battles. With God, none could stand against him; without God, Joshua was defeated soundly. And Joshua knew that, as evidenced by his statements in Joshua 23:3.
For me, I think of it in relationship to our battle with sin and to become more like Christ. God chooses to have me work to grow holy but ultimately it is He who works in me even the will to do what He calls me to do (thinking of Phil 2:12-13). I can strive for holiness all I want on my own and I’ll get as far as Israel at the first battle of Ai. But if I follow God’s crazy battle plans, He will win the battle on my behalf. God is perfectly capable of doing anything on His own. I am not. But I am still called to put on my armor and go to battle so that He can fight for me.
A theme of the Program has been “It’s all about Him.” And so it is. Even my sanctification is not merely for my benefit but for the glory of God. Nor is sanctification my doing. Rather, it is God who does the work. I am not allowed to sit and wait for me to become like God though. No, I must strive after holiness in order to bring glory to the God who enables me to be like Him.
One of the clearest pictures I see of this combination of my striving and God’s acting is in the first battle of Joshua against the Amalekites in the wilderness. Joshua led the army of Israel in battle and I’ve no doubt but that they fought hard but it was only when Moses was able to hold the “rod of God” over his head in supplication that Israel was victorious. All their fighting was in vain without God’s intervention.
Likewise, I can strive all I want for holiness, doing all the “right” things, Bible study, prayer, service, etc., but unless I let go of my own efforts and follow God’s lead, unless He works in me, all my “doings” will give me only self-righteousness. On the other hand, unless I actively seek God and do endeavor to please Him, He is unlikely to work His holiness out in me. I will not say that He cannot—for God can do anything—but based on His character and His Word, it would see that He will not. But if I’m truly a child of God and I’m not seeking after Him, I’d better be ready for a 2x4 to the head or a kick in the seat because God won’t let me sit around and waste the life He’s given me.
Yet for all the fact that I am commanded to strive for holiness, there remains the fact that my righteousness is not my own. “It is finished,” Christ said on the cross. There, His death was sufficient to pay for my sin and provide for my sanctification. Foolish and deceived as I often am, God looks on me with pleasure because of His Son. He smiles at me. He takes joy in me though I so little deserve it.
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