Crack the Shell, Chew the Kernel - Part 3
Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2 similarly charge the Christian on the what, when, and why of meditating.
The what: meditate on God’s Word
The when: both day and night; always keep it a part of your thoughts and words.
The why: to put God’s word into practice & to be prosperous
The What
There’s a transition of power at the beginning of the book of Joshua. Moses has died after leading the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness for forty years. So. Much. Happened. All under the leadership of Moses. The people knew Moses. Now there’s this younger fellow who has been in the shadows of Moses. God has tasked him to lead the Israelites after Moses’ stronghold. What a transition this must have been!
Can you imagine the doubt and fears and murmurs coming from the followers? He’s not capable…can he actually lead us…he’s…you fill in the blanks.
Can you imagine the insecurities that Joshua must have had as a person made in God’s image yet full of sin and neediness? I am incompetent…what if I fail…I cannot lead like Moses…I…you fill in the blanks.
So what exactly did God instruct Joshua to do? One of the first tasks God gave Joshua was to meditate on God’s word. The priority given to this task alone shows us today how important 1) God’s word is and 2) meditating on it is. God didn’t tell him to first ensure all his retirement and finances were in order; He didn’t tell him to ensure his shields and swords were sharp and strong; He didn’t tell him to ensure he and his family were safe in a particular home with particular possessions. He told him to meditate on God’s law.
Joshua, even as leader of an entire people, also needed and required a Leader. He, too, required submission to Someone. In his commentary, Matthew Henry writes that, “Joshua must himself be under command; no man’s dignity or dominion sets him above the law of God. He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God.” God is thus telling Joshua (and you and me today): remember, you are finite and needy; I am not; you are small, I am big; you are created, I am Creator; I am the Lord Your God; submit all your ways unto Me!
Here’s the charge for you, today. You are a leader in some form or fashion whether you recognize and acknowledge it or not. You are a leader. Take these words from Joshua 1:9 to heart – meditate on God’s word. Create time and space in your household to meditate on God’s word with your entire household. With it being such a critical component of Joshua’s leadership, meditating on God’s word ought to be a critical component of your leadership. Embrace your leadership role(s) in your household and cause you and your household to commune with the Lord on a regular basis, together.
Written by Warren M. Grimm