The Enemy of Complacency

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Joshua 13:1-7

 

Matthew 9:37-38

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

(ESV)

 

Previous postings to this blog have emphasized the importance of history as a teacher teaching us what has succeeded and what has failed.  However, one must balance learning from history with the need to move forward in solving current issues, using lessons learned from history.  The election in the United States in November is more than a choice between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.  It is more than a choice between Republican and Democrat and who will hold power in the House of Representatives and the Senate.  The choice this election is clear and involves whether the United States will remain a constitutional republic that preserves the God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness or be transformed into a socialist type of government with a powerful and tyrannical centralized control structure.    

 

Israel is coming off a series of victories where they have removed powerful Canaanite kings and occupied land promised them by God (Joshua 10:29-12:24).  This historical record encourages as it illustrates victory over powerful opposition when Israel places their trust in God.  However, in Joshua 13:1-7, God reminds Joshua that there is still land left to occupy.  This passage is here to remind Israel not to bask and become complacent due to past successes but to continue moving forward, using these past victories as encouragement.  This account in scripture also tells us that Joshua was old and advanced in years indicating that it would not be Joshua who would lead Israel’s armies toward the conquest of the remaining land (Joshua 13:1).    However, Joshua does not name a successor leading us to consider whether this was a mistake on the part of Joshua or part of God’s plan for Israel.  Let us take a moment to study each of these possibilities.

 

1)      Joshua errored in not naming a successor – Joshua spent the forty years in the wilderness with Moses where he was groomed to become the one leading Israel into the promised land (Numbers 11:28).  Joshua would stand outside the tent of meeting as Moses would pray to God indicating his desire to be as close to God as he could get (Exodus 33:7-11).  Except for Joshua and Caleb, the generation of Israelites coming out of Egypt would not enter the Promised Land due to their refusal to have faith God would give them victory over the Canaanite kings in the land (Deuteronomy 1:19-33).  Instead, God commissioned Joshua to lead the next generation of Israelites into the Promised Land.  With land still left to conquer one could argue that Joshua errored in not naming a successor supported by the Book of Judges which illustrates a pattern of abandoning God during good times and returning to Him when times get tough.  However, it was not God’s intention that Israel places their trust in a succession of great men to lead them to victory but instead to place their faith in God to lead them. 

2)      It was not God’s intention for Joshua to name a successor – Now that Israel has occupied the Promised Land and witnessed great victory over powerful enemies with the help of God, God wants Israel to place their trust in God.  This generation not only witnessed great victories but also witnessed failure at Ai when the armies of Israel failed to consult with God first (Joshua 7).  However, these victories did not prevent Israel from vacillating between trusting God and their abilities.  To correct this vacillation God sent judges and prophets providing teaching that directed the people's focus back on God, the source of Israel’s historical victories over their enemies.  God then sent Jesus as Savior providing forgiveness of sin and establishing a path for everyone to have a personal relationship with God.  It was not God’s intention for His people to move from one great earthly leader to another but to learn to have faith in God through a renewed personal relationship with God through Christ. 

 

Joshua did not err in failing to name a successor but was getting out of the way so God could begin dealing with his people directly.  This does not negate the need for earthly leadership but establishes a role for earthly leadership that includes the protection of the God-given rights of individuals to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which for Christians includes the right to worship God, the source of life, liberty, and happiness.  This emphasizes the importance of the upcoming election in the United States of not voting for leaders promising to supply our needs through government programs but leaders promising to defend the God-given rights of individuals so God can supply their needs. 

 

The greatest need any individual has is their need for a Savior so they can have forgiveness of sins and a restored relationship with God.  Jesus Christ who knew no sin died for sinners so that they can have forgiveness from their sins and escape the death penalty of sin and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16; Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23).  If you are reading this and have never prayed for God to fill this greatest need in your life, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Congratulations on your decision to allow God to meet your greatest need, the need for forgiveness from sin, and a restored relationship with God.  However, this is not a time to become complacent for the world is full of others needing forgiveness from sin and a restored relationship with God.  This is what Jesus referred to in Matthew 9:37-38 when He spoke of a ripe harvest field needing workers.  The good news is that one does not need to be a great theologian to be a worker, just one that has experienced forgiveness from sin and a restored relationship with God. 

 

Everyone reading this blog is encouraged to vote for leaders who will protect the God-given rights of each individual to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  It is also important to keep in mind that no earthly leader is perfect and why it is important to consider the heart of a leader and whether they will lead from Godly principles.  Most importantly it is vital for God’s people to have the freedom to share the Gospel message of salvation and the making of disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) and not become complacent or cower in fear.  May God bless everyone reading this post.