He refused to leave the side of his leader. Struggling up the rugged mountain the young man had followed Moses up Mount Siani and waited for him for 40 days (Ex. 24:13). Joshua displayed a perfect example showing faith with works is alive. Moses and God spoke face to face as friends and when Moses returned to camp, “his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.” (Ex. 34:11 [NKJV]). Joshua put God first in all he did. For 40 years he served the man of God, Moses. He was faithful, powerful and full of zeal under the tutelage of Moses. Like Joshua, we must put God first in all we do.
Moses died at the age of 120 and God appointed his loyal and faithful servant Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land. We may only think of the book of Joshua as the story of the conquest of Canaan by Israel but we should see the magnificent example of Joshua putting God first in all things. How would we feel if God spoke directly to us and said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you:” Courage takes faith. Joshua was so perfect at putting God first that his leadership and legacy outlived him into the next generation of Israel. “Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.” (Josh. 24:31).
When we wake in the morning what is first on our mind? Do we fret over what we have to do through the rest of the day. Do we feel overwhelmed by our daily lives to the point that we try to do everything ourselves and then fail? Are our actions for or against the law of God? Do we create our own miseries by putting ourselves and our needs first before God? Solution: put God first.
When we read through the Bible, we see one consistent and all-important message: God first. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God…” God is the “Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last”. (Rev. 22:13). From the beginning to end of history, God First.
Jesus, the Word of God made into flesh spoke to the people of Israel from a mountain top. In the middle of the greatest sermon in history He gave us an example of how to pray. Matthew 6:9-13 starts with and ends with putting God the Father first in everything. “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9). Jesus starts the model prayer putting God first! For His conclusion Jesus goes back to the Father, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”. (Matt. 6:13). God the Father, the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Jesus put God first.
Are we feeling overwhelmed as if we cannot do what needs to be done? We should do what Joshua and Jesus did, put God first by starting every morning with prayer and Bible study. When the Pharisees asked Jesus which is the great commandment, He directly told them, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love you neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-39). Jesus showed us we MUST put God first in our lives. When we put God first, all things will eventually work out for the good. With God on our side, how can we lose? Joshua, by his actions showed us “faith with works is alive” the opposite of “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26). How faithful are we? Are we willing to sit on the side of a mountain for 40 days and wait for Moses with Joshua?
When we rise each morning, let us all go to our quiet place and first pray and then study the word of God before we take on the worries of this world. Put God first each and every waking moment of our lives. Be like Joshua.
