“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the chidren of Israel.” Joshua 1:2
There came a day in the life of Joshua, the son of Nun, when all changed. It was somewhat like the day when Elijah was taken to heaven, leaving Elisha his successor, standing there at the sight where a chariot from heaven had separated the two. Both Joshua and Elisha were faced with a new reality, that being that their predescessors, great men of God, were no more to be seen, their personal presence and power no longer to be depended upon. Both Joshua and Elisha had been called of God, and equipped by God for their task, their mission. The great reality that imposed itself upon them now was that, in a real sense, they were alone with God, before God, and must rely and remain submitted to God, alone. Christ had all of a sudden become their Captain, Lord, Life, Power, and Strength, their Guide, Keeper, and Sustainer in life. No more would the physical presence of Moses and Elijah share any place in the faith of these men. They were now shut up to God, and responsible to Him alone. The task before each of them was enormous, and impossible. It differed between them with regard to circumstances of their times, but the basic, fundamental principle that would guide them both along paths that they not travelled before, was the same…FAITH in the faithfulness of God, as revealed in HIs word, and confirmed by His Spirit. How then did Joshua and Elisha react and respond to such a day?
For Joshua, it was first and foremost, a day of recognition, and embracing the reality. It was a day when the Lord would personally instruct him with regard to his mission, the Lord’s promises concerning the certainty of victory in a hostile land, and the personal requirements of Joshua concerning what he must BE if he would succeed in his calling. The overall theme of God’s dealings with him “that day” concerns what Joshua must trust and obey God to be: Strong, courageous, refusing fear and dismay, or dissappointment. It was a call to the commitment to meditate in the word of God “day and night,” in order that he should remain in communion with God. After all was clear in his mind with regard to his mission, the means by which that mission would certainly be realized, Joshua “puts his hand to the plow,” not to look back. He takes in hand his authority given to him by God, and as commander of the people, “commands the officers of the people” to pass through the camp of the Isralites to tell them that in three days, they will proceed to possess the land. The time had come, not only for Joshua to be wholly shut up to God for all, but also, the people. They would no longer have Moses to guide them. They will need to trust God implicitly, obeying Joshua, God’s choice to lead them.
The day that Elijah was taken to heaven, the day when Elisha would see him no more, would be one of decision. Elijah had told Elisha that if he would see him when he was taken to heaven, he would be given a “double portion” of the Spirit of Elijah. This was true, and occured. Only the mantle, or cloak, of Elijah was left when he was taken away, but that cloak was a symbol of his authority. Elisha would take up that cloak, and like Elijah, would strike the waters of the Jordan, asking: “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” The result would be that the Jordan would divide, and Elisha would pass as did Elijah.
For both Joshua and Elisha, they were confirmed to be the successors of great men. However, both men were now called to put their whole trust in God alone. The entirety and success of their mission depended upon this.
Dear Father, Be Thou our expectation. In Jesus’ name, Amen .