Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our powerful God. Aren't you glad
God is so powerful? All-powerful, in fact. Powerful enough to create the world
and to raise the dead. Powerful enough to conquer sin and Satan.
There are certainly things that are too difficult for us. The
challenges of missions are immense. How do you plant a church in another
culture? You have to raise the funds to get you and your family to the field
and to provide for your living expenses. In a land where there are no
Christians, you have to find Christians to make up that church. With the
resources of the small group of believers who have no money, you have to
acquire a piece of land on which to meet - and then build a building adequate
for worship. Then you have to disciple baby Christians, train a pastor, and
establish leadership in a culture where Biblically-qualified leaders seem
non-existent and where Satan and sin fight against everything you are doing. Then
you have to teach those people to duplicate this same kind of work without your
help. And it seems to require Superwoman strength even to attempt to keep up
with the constantly full schedule. Well, those are some of the challenges.
I was interested to read recently the story of some people
who faced impossible challenges. As Israel settled into her new land, the
tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh did not have a possession extensive enough for
all their people. The people came to Joshua with their dilemma. "Why hast
thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great
people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?" (Joshua 17:14).
Joshua acknowledged their need and gave a solution: "If
thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for
thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim
be too narrow for thee" (17:15). Joshua didn't say they were wrong. He
didn't tell them to be satisfied with what they had. He gave them guidance for
solving their problem.
For the children of Joseph, however, the solution wasn't a
good one. It wasn't even possible. They replied first of all, "The hill is
not enough for us" (v. 16). From later verses, it seems the hill Joshua
suggested didn't seem like a good possession because it was forest; it was
covered with trees, not a residential area, not a city designed for habitation.
It wouldn't work.
Besides that, "All the Canaanites that dwell in the
land of the valley have chariots of iron" (v. 16). The enemies were too
strong. The Israelites could not take possession of this territory when the
enemies were so formidable. It was impossible.
Once again, Joshua never denied the challenges they
presented. In v. 18, he acknowledged that the land was indeed a forest. And the
Canaanites were strong, and they did have iron chariots. Nevertheless, this was
the solution of God for them. "But the mountain shall be thine." As
to the problems - yes, it was a forest and not currently inhabitable. Solution:
"Thou shalt cut it down." Yes, the surrounding land was inhabited by
fierce foes that would not welcome the invasion. Solution: "Thou shalt
drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be
strong."
Joshua listened to the protests and excuses, and he said,
"Be that as it may, this is what you will do." He agreed with every
complication the people told him, but those complications did not matter when
this is what God had determined they should do. Even though those challenges
existed, the people were to press forward anyway.
Why didn't it matter that their task was impossible? Because
they were serving the God of the impossible. Both Moses and Joshua had told the
people repeatedly that God would give them the land and that He would fight for
them. Consider this later assurance from Joshua: "For the LORD hath driven
out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been
able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand:
for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised
you" (23:9-10).
When the battle is the Lord's, the difficulty of the task
doesn't matter. When the battle is the Lord's, the strength of the enemy is
inconsequential. What do you face that is too hard for God? False religion?
Witchcraft? Poverty? Liberalism? Oppressive governments? Adulterous cultures?
Rampant crime and drug use? Family responsibilities? Physical limitations? List
whatever aspect you want, and it is not too hard for God. There are no excuses,
no complications, no protests, and no impossibilities that can thwart God's
plans. Execution of the task may require combat and hard work on your part, as
it did for Israel, but it is God who fights for you. It is God who enables you
to do what you could never accomplish on your own.
What you do today matters for eternity, and it is the eternal
and powerful God who enables and blesses your labors. So just keep cutting down
those trees. Keep fighting against those enemies in iron chariots. God can
clear the way for you, and He can defeat the enemies. The presence of God in
the equation makes all the difference.
"With men this is impossible; but with God all things
are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
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