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Hold Position or Attack


I remember the Christmas Santa brought me a small 45 record case and records.  Ahh Kenny Rogers and Alabama and Journey filled my mind.

"You got to know when to hold them.  Know when to hold them. Know when to walk away.  Know when to run."

It is funny how these songs from my childhood pop into my mind at weird times.

(Trust me, we are getting to a spiritual truth soon.)

Joshua was made the leader of the Israelite as they headed back to the promised land.  Remember, they had messed up the first time around and had to wonder the desert for 40 years until they were ready to listen.

This story is fascinating to me as Joshua didn't just take off willy nilly into the fray hoping God would clean up the pieces, as sometimes do.  He followed God.  God told him to hold position or attack.

Adam Barr in his "Exploring the Story" states, "Joshua must have experienced deja vu as he entered the Promised Land.  He had stood in the same place forty years earlier and watched as Israel had turned away from their inheritance."  

He continued, "Some key themes emerge as the people enter the land of promise.  First, it is clear that the Lord, not the strength of Israel's army, will make victory possible.  Second, their mission demands a heart of courage.  Third, trust and obedience."

Throughout the story of Joshua, the people of Israel have to stay within God's presence.  To trust and obey.  To trust enough to hold position and to trust enough to attack.  Or to obey when God said to hold position or attack. 

 To commit to serve God. No matter what.

 Do I?

 Do I have the courage to hold position?  To attack?  To follow?  Trust? Obey?  Am I truly committed to serve God and Him only in everything I do?

 To hold or let go?

"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?" Mark 8:34-36

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