Living on the Edge

O. T. #446  "Living on the Edge"
January 23, 2015
Joshua 3-Part 1
And Joshua rose early in the morning and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.  Joshua 3:1

LET IT GLOW

When the waters of doubt are ragging, flooding my thoughts, what am I doing? Which way do I go?Am I worrying til the hives break out? Yep. Do I cry out in the darkness, scared of the future? Oh, yes. Am I looking back behind me, fearing, focusing on my failures? For sure. I find myself standing there, living life on the edge. Which way will I go? Do I step forward by faith, asking Jesus to calm these troubled waters in my life? Walking on water like Peter? Or do I turn away and run down the road of despair, alone? Israel was there on the river's edge, with the wilderness behind them, and giants before them. What will they do? 

The two spies returned back to camp after three days in the mountains, crossed over Jordan, and went directly to Joshua. They told Joshua all that had happened to them on their mission. Their impossible mission trusted in the God of possibilities. What is recorded in the last verse of the previous chapter is: Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

No discussion is recorded here. The guys didn't talk it over. No planning, no questioning, no strategizing; no army organized, nothing else is recorded. Evidently all had a good night's sleep.

What does Joshua do the next morning?
First, he rose early in the morning. (verse 1a)
Did you realize that God did things early in the morning? We read it in the lives of several people in the Bible:

• Abraham rose up with his son Isaac to go to Mt. Moriah for the offering of Isaac. (Gen. 22:3)
• Moses stood before Pharaoh saying, "Let my people go..." (Ex.8:20)
• Young David left for the battlefield to defeat the Philistine giant Goliath. (1 Sam. 17:20)
• The women went to the tomb of Jesus and found Him risen from the dead. (Mark 16:2,9) (Falwell)

What did Joshua do next? Maybe he woke everyone up so they could go; could have blown a trumpet; might have started singing praises to God; perhaps he yelled at the priests. We aren't told how he did it. That wasn't important or we would have been told.

Do we rise early in the morning to meet with our God? Are we in a routine of a quiet time with Jesus? How long do we set aside for reading His Word, listening to Him speak to us, singing His praises in personal worship before we meet the day, our family, the outside world? Chapter 1:8 tells us to meditate on His Word day and night.
Didn't Jesus rise up early to spend time with His Father?

LET IT GROW

Next, Joshua moved the children of Israel to camp on the edge of the Jordan River. They lodged there three days.

Are you living on the edge? Does life have you weighed down? Have your dreams collected dust? Have your wheels been spinning? Living in a humdrum existence? On the brink of woe?

Charles R. Swindoll, in his Bible study book called, Living On The Ragged Edge, shares insight with us:

Many people are dissatisfied, frustrated, even bored with their lives. Some of these individuals choose to live out their days without making any serious attempt to alter them. Others try numerous ways to interject adventure and excitement into their humdrum existence. But few, if any, go as far to find lasting satisfaction in life as King Solomon did. Everything lost luster its luster in his life; he questioned his existence. He taught us that life cannot be meaningful and purposeful if it is lived apart from God. Not even the enjoyment brought by leisurely vacations, extravagant possessions, sexual escapades, delicious food, and professional entertainment bring lasting satisfaction.

At the end of his book of Ecclesiastes,Solomon concludes the meaning of life:
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Eccl. 12:13)

So many people write books toward this, looking for the meaning in and purpose of their life.
The Lord Jesus holds the answers. He gave them to us through His Bible. That is where we find joy in living an extravagant life.
What will we do at the edge? Will we run back by sight or step forward by faith?


LET IT GO

Spend time with God early in the mornings.

When life puts me on the edge, trust God.

Seek Him to give me purpose in my life.

Love and obey God, finding peace and joy everlasting.