We have been talking about Drilling Down in God’s word. Drilling Down actually helps us see our self more clearly as well as our creator’s perspective on His work.
Our physical ability to understand, however, is limited by our natural nature. We are created within the realm of natural things like universes and subatomic matter while God is “super” natural. He is a Spirit, not confined to the limits of our boundaries. As creator, He is both inside and outside the realm of His creation. Our capacity to enter into His realm is only by His permission and authority.
Abraham, Moses and Elijah are common examples of faith. Joshua also was called by God to do extra-ordinary tasks. As Moses’ helper, he witnessed Moses’s faith and was trained by it. He observed Moses’ struggles and God’s nurturing in the process of caring for God’s people.
Moses over shadowed Joshua in the cloud of witnesses listed in Hebrews 11 but for us he is an example of being taught by both Moses and God. He was in a similar place as we since he moved from being taught by man to being taught by the Holy Spirit. Like Joshua each of us is called into work glorifying our Lord and savior who gave Himself for us.
Joshua is about to take over 2 million people across the Jordan River to possess the promised land. Listen to God’s words to Joshua:
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.” – Joshua 1: 5-6
These words to Joshua contain the new covenant given to us. But notice the responsibility, “you shall cause this people to inherit the land”!
“But wait a minute, God, I thought You were going to do it?” “Yes, I am going to do it … through YOU”, God might reply.
God has chosen to do His work through us. It becomes a lost opportunity if our doubt and unbelief makes us unavailable. God will do through someone else what He had given to us. God, forgive our unbelief!
Faith is crucial. It is our “contribution” to God’s eternal plan. The Greek word for faith (πιστοs) shares the same root with the Greek verb “to believe” (πιστευω). However, scriptural context shades the two words differently. To believe, you need merely to agree or consent to the veracity of an idea. Webster’s definition permits this level of belief for faith but scriptural context is more demanding. Faith requires us to act upon God’s promises. Our action produces proof of our faith.
God gives Joshua specific instruction about how to cross the Jordan River which Joshua, in turn, instructs the people. God does not leave us in isolation to complete our tasks.
“Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth, is passing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” – Joshua 3:11-13
The Lord gave Joshua clear instructions on where and what to do. The ark of the covenant was to be out in front of people by 2,000 cubits just as it was when Moses led the people through the desert. Our Lord God had not changed, just His man in front.
Consider what was in the ark going before the people. There was the tablets of the law given to Moses, there was Aaron’s rod that budded and there was manna from heaven.
Consider what God has given us in our journey, there is the scripture, God’s written word to man (tablets), there is regeneration, God’s gift of life created by new birth (Aaron’s rod), there is the Holy Spirit who has sealed us in God and mentors us in Jesus Himself (manna).
Take a look at what happened when Joshua and the people did as the Lord instructed, Joshua 3:7-17.
“Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.” -Joshua 3:17
The proof of God’s work in lives of His people was dramatic and unquestionable. We have a history of these natural interventions recorded and witnessed by a cloud of witnesses both in scripture and confirmed in secular history.
James tells us faith must produce works or else it is not faith. Faith is not merely believing in these facts or the God who caused them. Satan also believes and trembles. Faith produces a behavior in our life producing proofs and evidences of our belief. The classical Biblical definition for faith is Hebrews 11:1:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. –ESV
or
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -KJ
A confession from our lips is not the evidence we need. Our will must bind together our mind and heart compelling behavior pleasing to God because of our compassion to know Him. We must Drill Down into His word … and into our own selves. Drilling Down is penetrating our soul with His Truth.
Our Holy Father has called us into His holy realm. It reaches beyond human capacity to know, yet, His love and knowledge draws us into holiness making the unseen visible. Our holy place is beyond our capacity to conceive while it is also the place we are called to walk. This is what it means to be “in Christ”.
Faith produces a knowledge of God that penetrates the barriers of reason while at the same time providing proof of its stark reality.