Jordan River Rule #3 – Step Up to the Moment.
• A defining moment is, “...a point at which the character of a person, group, is revealed or identified.” Collins Dictionary
• A defining moment is, “... the time that shows very clearly what something [or someone] is really about.” Webster
• Defining moments are moments we find out who we are and what we are made of. (We find this out about others too.)
• Defining moments reveal courage/faith, or fears/failings.
• The best defining moments happen when we step up our obedience to God.
• The worst defining moments are when we shrink from duty, and make excuses, and go our own way.
Joshua 1:10-18 is a defining moment for Israel!
1. Leaders Must Step up to the Moment
Joshua 1:10 (NASB), Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are going to cross this Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.’”
• The leaders must step up and inspire courage.
• They cannot be grasshoppers.
• They cannot be like those 10 spies who caused the people to panic,fear and revolt (Numbers 14)
• One preacher said, “There’s no grapes for grasshoppers!”
• John Wayne, “Courage is being scared to death – but saddling up anyway.”
2. Families (tribes) Must Step up to the Moment
Joshua 1:12, But to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said... 13 ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest, and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross ahead of your brothers in battle formation, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, 15 until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He is giving you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may return to your own land...
9 ½ Tribes West:
Naphtali
Asher
Zebulun
Issachar
Manasseh (1/2 tribe)
Ephraim
Dan
Benjamin
Judah
Simeon
2 ½ Tribes East:
Ruben
Gad
Menasseh (1/2 tribe)
• These 2 ½ tribes had negotiated for this good grazing land with Moses – on one condition.
• They could have the land east of Jordan, only if they would fight alongside the 9 1/2 tribes until they take possession of the land west side of Jordan.
• Moses says in Numbers 32:23, “If you don’t fight for the other tribes ...your sin will find you out.”
• This is a warning against tribalism.
• Tribalism is when a person is loyal/submissive to their own group/identity alone. There is no reality and no authority outside your own group/tribe. There is only hostility towards other tribes/authority. Tribalism is when you want rest for your group, and unrest for everyone else.
• Tribalism steps up for your group/tribe and steps on everyone else to get there.
• This is not the case with Israel. The 12 tribes will not live on the same side of the river, but they will all fight for each other and find rest for one another.
• If one tribe fails to enter their rest, all the tribes will fail to enter their rest.
• There is a good lesson in church body life here: 1 Corinthians 12 says if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the body rejoices.
3. Everyone Must Step up to the Moment
Joshua 1:16, They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
• This is one of the rare occasions in the Bible, where everyone in Israel is on the same page.
• The response from the people represents all 12 tribes (and the Levites) being of one mind.
• They are completely dedicated, consecrated, and prepared to cross the Jordan together.
• Notice the warning in v18 -- Rebels will be put to death by the people. The rebel is the one who specifically rejects God’s direct commands.
• Achan (in Joshua 7), rebelled and the people put him to death.
• Samuel said, “Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness (arrogance) as bad as worshiping idols.” NLT
• Everyone in Israel was stepping up the to the moment.
• They were all determined to do, and only do, God’s will.
• They were all equally determined punish any rebel hiding out in their own camp.
**Israel’s greatest preparation for crossing the Jordan River, was not packing up their camp or sharpening their swords, it was in their total consecration to the Lord!**
Frances Ridely Havergal (1836-1879) wrote this classic hymn of Christian consecration:
• Take my life and let it be
• consecrated, Lord, to thee.
• Take my moments and my days,
• let them flow in ceaseless praise.
• Take my hands, and let them move
• at the impulse of thy love.
• Take my feet, and let them be,
• swift and beautiful for thee.
CONCLUSION
Entrepreneur Tim Ferriss said, “The beauty of a defining moment is that it usually forces us to face our fears head on and take action.”
• What’s your defining moment?
• What obedience is God calling you to?
• What step of faith does God want you to take?
• What sin does God want you to repent of and forsake?
• What forgiveness does God want you to receive or give to another?
• What promise from God do you need to believe/receive?
“Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.” - Hebrews 4:1
