Rebel or Servant?

They answered Joshua, "everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. And The Lord your God be with you, as it was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him,will be put to death. Above all be strong and courageous! Joshua 1:16-18

Joshua has just been made leader and is a little concerned as to how things will go. He have his first order, saying to the Gadites, Rubenites and Manassehites that alrhough they had their land on the wilderness side of the Jordan they were to cross over and help their brethren fight for their lands, before settling.

I could well imagine Joshua's relief when he received this response. The Jordan was in flood, Moses had just died and now he had the task of leading and fulfilling the promise made to the tribes of Israel.

Isn't it interesting that they also encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous.

What a team! The story is so different from the characters who Moses had to lead. They would respond with: "who gave you charge over us?" Rebellion was a part of their character. Bondage had taught them to be rebels. It had not taught them to be servants. They may have been slaves but they did not have a heart to serve. These men had a heart to serve as they were born free.

What was the difference? The wilderness with The Lord. Time in the wilderness seeing the hand of The Lord, being taught by Him, hearing His principles, being bound by the confines of the desert was the difference.

Are you complaining about the wilderness? Have you been transformed from a rebel to a servant yet? If not you may have to stay in the wilderness until that happens. Amen!

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