So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. Exodus 17:9-13 (English Standard Version)
Moses had his staff, Joshua his sword. Moses fulfilled his purpose, whether or not he physically entered Canaan, Joshua too. The focus here is not on the tool.
The first crux of the matter is ‘What exactly have you been called to do?’ Moses had a crop of people with the lowest self-esteem to take from Egypt to Canaan but first, he had to twist Pharaoh’s arm to release them. Joshua had several tribes of heathen nations to drive out of their lands so that Israel could enter into the promised rest.
The second principal thought is; ‘Where are you coming from?’ Moses had a forty year Prince-ship experience and another forty year desert-shepherd experience. Joshua had the spirit of a warrior, for when we first meet him in verse 9 of Exodus chapter 17, he is summoned by Moses to choose men for a battle against Amalek. It is obvious he was a warrior. He may not have had any prior extensive soldier-experience because I do not know if Israel slaves were allowed to join Egypt in wars, and hitherto, Israel had had no need to fight. But once a battle stares Israel in the face, the first name on Moses’ lips is Joshua. You get the point.
The third core concern is; ‘What do you have already?’ Before God called Moses out, he already had his staff; before God called Joshua out he already had his sword. As a matter of fact, God asked Moses “What is that in your hand?” Moses already knew how to handle and use his rod efficiently. God did not call Moses and then looked for a rod for him. God called him and took over his rod. After the burning bush experience, the Bible speaks of Moses’ rod as ‘the rod of God’ (Exodus 4:2,20). When Moses commanded Joshua to organize the battle against Amalek, Joshua did not go out at that point to look for a sword, Joshua already knew how to wield and control his sword. Joshua was a captain already otherwise Moses would not have had so much faith in him.
What exactly am I driving at? The focus is not on the tool. The focus is on your assignment. The task determines the tool, not the other way round. Their pasts experiences sharpened their dexterity at their tools; preparing them for their purposes in God.
Moses could never have led the people with a sword; Joshua could never have fought all those battles with a staff. So why would Joshua be envious of Moses’ rod- as powerful as it was? Why would Moses ever covet Joshua’s sword, as mighty as it was? Their tasks were different and they both clearly understood that.
In the famous battle against Amalek, while Moses lifted up his rod, Joshua fought with his sword. Working together, the battle was won. Hallelujah!
Look at your hands now. Could it be that the reason you have achieved very little or nothing in the kingdom of God is because you are a David trying to fight Goliath in Saul’s armory?
What is that in your hands? Selah.
- Sista Mercie
＃Purpose ＃LiveToday
댓글