Refiner’s Fire and Fuller’s Soap

If They Were Us Series

Joshua

Joshua is an immediate sweet-heart to us all. It is easier to fill a whole book with his strengths than his weaknesses. (You may miss them altogether!)

He comes to our attention as a leader suddenly, without revolt and without a hint of dishonour.

But let’s flash back and zoom in, shall we?

We first see Joshua in Exodus 17 where he is seen as a valiant young soldier in Israel who participates in the famous battle where through the power of God, the Israelites won as Moses held his hands in the air. We see him yet again in a rather exemplified fashion where only he and Caleb stood amongst the 12 spies sent into Canaan (Numbers 13) to assess the land before occupation. The other 10 had spoken ill of the land and boldly led the Israelites into doubt and rebellion. But Joshua begged them to stay hopeful in God that He would make good His promise of them living in the Promised Land.

The next time we see him, he is the successor of Moses who starts his tenure hot with the God-led parting of the Jordan river and victory over Jericho.

It’s almost as if he popped in and out of our sight and then, boom!

On closer inspection, however, he was being groomed all along.

The ‘Small’

I have been reading the Bible slowly just so that I don’t miss the beat of it and in my reading I have noticed a striking pattern. That God seemingly always prepares mighty men in rather small corners.

It’s almost like body building where at the very beginning of a serious workout, you need to start your body up on warm-up exercises. Easy workouts that prepare your muscles for the real heavy lifting. Without these, you may be successful in achieving your goals for the day but you will most likely not come back the next day! (DOMS!)

Whenever God is raising a man/woman who will change a generation, He will subject him/her to a refining process. (A true follower of Christ knows just how painful this process truly is.)

The refining process is rarely public, if the person in question is obedient and willing to be refined by God. It is deeply private involving Divine training through seemingly meagre dealings and circumstances.

A Test of wits

Joshua found himself in militant engagements. He found himself fighting a whole lot on behalf of his nation and when he was not fighting, he was busy following behind Moses who took him up as a modern day PA (Personal Assistant) of sorts. In every circumstance, he was under the covering of someone. Even as a spy, he was still answerable to Moses.

His character was moulded with every battle preparation. His obedience was shaped by every climb up mount Sinai with his leader Moses. He would sit and watch his predecessor bow before God and commune face to face with the Creator of heaven and earth. He would see Moses weep for his nation. He saw first hand what it took to lead a nation. Yet it was not his turn, not yet. He was never the highlight. Despite his military skills. Despite his valiance.

Infact, when the Israelites started grumbling when they received the report of the 10 spies, Joshua did not raise his voice to Moses. There was never a “Come on, tell them! You of all people know!”

He stood by his values while respecting his successor, even if he did not know that yet.

God knew

But God knew. God saw. God singled Joshua out each time, even when no one noticed.

Every battle. Every climb up the mountain. Every scouting.

It all led to Joshua’s preparation for leadership.

He knew every procedure Moses endured as the leader of Israel and so he was not foreign to any practice when it was his time to lead. He was readied by war and worship.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses…

When God seeks to raise an agent of change in a generation, He first levels him with the seemingly ordinary and the small.

How are you handling the ‘small’ task before you today?