Some time ago I was reading the book of Joshua as part of my quiet time. This is a phenomenal book in the Bible. After forty years in the wilderness the Israelites were finally able to enter the promised land, led by Joshua. While we might feel sorry when we read the ending of Deuteronomy that Moses was unable to enter Canaan, Joshua took us to the era of triumph for the Israelites. The Lord’s promises are finally being realised! Under the leadership of Joshua the Israelites started to gain a foothold in the cities of Canaan. This process was not smooth and still fraught with challenges. God’s promises to the Israelites required them to keep faith in God and follow God’s lead to fight for victory. While the enemy appeared stronger with the ability to fight harder compared to the Israelites, prior to the war God reiterated his promises and reminded the Israelites not to be fearful and that God will be with them and will help them defeat the enemy and bring them to victory. Therefore, the inheritance promised by God is not like a free lunch, but still requires His people to pay the price and fight bravely. We perhaps like to experience victory or hope that we will automatically obtain the blessings from God however the history recorded in the book of Joshua reminds us that even though God had promised blessings, the Israelites had to work hard to get them, and they would experience failures and setbacks during the process.
Today by the grace of God we become his children and believe we will receive God’s blessings. But we are not saying as God’s children we don’t have to contribute to obtain success. In order that our friends and family be saved and receive the Gospel we also need to pray for them or be patient and show forbearance as God’s witness. We might care more about the outcome however God’s focus is on the process in working with us God allows us to experience his faithfulness and power and leads us to change our hearts to steadfastly revere and glorify Him.
前段時間，在我的靈修計劃裡正讀到約書亞記。這是聖經裡一部偉大的著作，經過曠野40年的蹉跎，以色列人終於可以在約書亞的帶領之下進入應許之地。在讀申命記接近尾聲的時候，我們或許還在為摩西不能進入迦南地而滿懷遺憾之情，約書亞記一下子把我們帶入了以色列人揚眉吐氣的時代。神的應許終於要實現了！在約書亞的帶領下，以色列人開始奪取迦南地各個城邦。有趣的是，我們可以在約書亞記中發現，要承受應許之地，並非一蹴而就，也不是一帆風順的。神應許給以色列人的產業，仍然要他們憑著信心，跟隨神的帶領，經過一番爭戰才能夠得到。有些敵人看起來很強大，他們的身材和戰鬥能力遠遠超過以色列人，神在戰鬥之前重申他的應許，提醒以色列人不要懼怕，並在戰鬥之中和以色列人同在，將敵人交在以色列人的手中，以色列人就擊殺他們，取得勝利。所以，即便是神所應許的產業，也不是天上掉下來的大餡餅，而是仍然需要他的子民們付出代價，勇敢爭戰。我們或許更喜歡那個勝利的結果，也或許會期待神的祝福自動降臨。然而，約書亞記所記載的歷史告訴我們，即便是神已經應許的祝福，以色列人也要經過一番努力以後才得到，期間也會經歷失敗和挫折。
今天，我們因著耶穌基督的救恩成為神的兒女，相信神有很多的祝福要賜給我們。但是，這並不是說基督徒不需要付出代價就可以獲得成功。我們希望我們的朋友家人能夠聽聞福音而信主，為了他們得著救恩，基督徒們要付上禱告的代價，或者是以忍耐和愛向他們積極地作見證。我們可能看重結果，神卻更注重過程，這正彰顯了神的美意，在過程中，神與我們一起同工，讓我們經歷他的信實和大能，以至我們立定心意，要敬畏和侍奉耶和華。
