God’s Elect

Jer. 1:¹⁰ (VOICE) “This very day I appointed you to speak with My authority over nations and kingdoms. Your word—My word—will have the power to uproot and stamp out; it will destroy and upend. And then your word—My word—will rebuild and plant anew”

Moses was the man that went to the mountain top and saw God face to face and when he came down people could not even look at him. Moses was the man that got the Ten Commandments directly from God. Moses was the person that lifted up his rod and the Red Sea parted. Moses was the one that brought frogs upon Egypt and many other plagues. Moses was the one that set the Israelites free from the Egyptians. Egypt was like the world power at that time and Moses was the man who singlehandedly confronted that power and led God’s people out of captivity.

It was this same Moses that smote a rock and water gushed out. This Moses was the one that put a branch into the bitter waters at Marah and it became sweet. It was the shoes of this very Moses that God was calling Joshua to fill. And guess what? God did not leave Joshua without the same assurance He gave to Moses, “I will be with you!” God, the self-existing mighty God, the One who is God all by Himself, is with you personally. If that is all we soak in from today’s devotional, we would be fine. We would live with such confidence, able to take on anything and everything, not because we can, but because God is with us.

When Scripture refers to Joshua as Moses’ assistant, the Bible does not mean Joshua was the next in line for leadership. In the order of things, after Moses was Aaron, then the leaders of the tribes, and then the elders. Assistant means servant, Moses’ helper. He was the one that would carry Moses briefcase and open doors for him in today’s world. But God skipped all of them and chose Joshua. Wow! God does not appoint by position.

Understanding this helps us better appreciate the position Joshua was in and why God kept saying to him, “…be courageous!” Do you think the Master in Matthew 25 did not have people better equipped to manage his finances in that house? But he chose to entrust things to his servants. Take note, only the servants that stepped up got the master’s reward. You are God’s elect and it is time to Step up.

Prayer [song]: Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for You. Amen!