On July 17, 2009, while on a bike ride, my wife and I received a call that our Pastor had “put off his tent” and transitioned to be with the Lord. We learned he laid down for a nap and awakened in the presence of Christ. Wilson Phillips had for many years been my spiritual leader but had become much more; he was always a steady and sure rock for me and for my family to run to and rely on. I never really thought about life without him. He married Tara and me and helped us through many struggles. He was with us when we lost a child, when our twins were born early, when we changed careers, at graduations, sporting events; nearly every significant event in our lives as a family, he was a light of guidance through turmoil, my friend. Even though I knew he was now with the Lord and hitting golf balls almost as far I do (he will get that joke), I had a deep sense of loss and hurt.
Our ride had taken us farther from home than we realized or wanted to be. As we rode I felt numb. After we were home, I received a call from my friend Ed, asking if we were still going to have the Men’s Breakfast, which I was supposed to lead. I had not even thought about the Breakfast. My initial response was that we should continue with it, but I was not sure. I wanted to talk to Pastor Davis to confirm my thought. Unable to reach Pastor Davis, I began to pray and reflect. I believed immediately that God put faith in my heart to go forward with the breakfast, but I had no idea what to say or do. God led me to read in Deuteronomy about the death of Moses. As I read, the Scriptures came alive, and even in my state of weirdness, faith was in my heart to have the breakfast with the words God gave me to speak. When I reached Pastor Davis, I told him what I believed we should do and what God was beginning to show me. He agreed, so the breakfast was on.
As I prepared to speak, I continued to read about Moses. The Word says that “His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished” (Deut.34:7), and that there was no prophet like Moses “whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deut.34:10). That sure did sound like Bishop. His life was abundant, and it was clear that he knew God in a deep and intimate way. These words comforted me. As I re-read and meditated on the Word, I read how the children of Israel wept for Moses. I certainly felt their pain. Then it said that “So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended” (Deut.34:8). I was not there yet, but a seed of faith entered my heart. I read on to verse 9 which said, “Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him,” and it hit me clearly how and why we must move forward. To honor Bishop, his life and work, I/we must continue. We must build upon the foundation he laid and increase. There was certainly a time of mourning and loss, but I had this seed of faith that helped me believe that it would end and had clear direction that we must continue in the direction he set on the foundation he laid and move ahead. I realized God was not surprised by these events. He had prepared Bishop, like Moses, AND he had prepared Pastor Davis, like Joshua. It was clear that we, as a church body, were to follow Pastor Davis “as the Lord had commanded Moses (Bishop)” (vs.10). This is the message I felt God wanted me to speak at the breakfast.
I turned the page and began to read Joshua. After the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Joshua to speak to Israel and lead them to cross the Jordan. The Israelites had been camped, waiting to possess their promised land for some 40 years. As soon as Moses died, God told Joshua to take them in. I am convinced that these people were very uncertain about Joshua. Even though Moses knew him well, many if not most of the people only knew him as Moses’ assistant. God, possibly anticipating this reaction, set into motion a plan to establish Joshua as their leader. Towards this end, God spoke to Joshua to lead the people into the land God had given them. He promised that no man could stand before him and that God would not leave him. Then God instructed him to be strong and very courageous so that he could do everything as Moses had commanded. Moses had given Joshua and the people clear direction and clear vision, and Joshua was to lead them as he had been taught by Moses in that direction to accomplish the vision God had given Israel through Moses. That vision was to go in and possess the land.
So they crossed the Jordan. The first challenge was the city of Jericho. It was a city surrounded by massive walls. The Bible says that the people of Jericho had heard of the Israelites and that “the terror of you (Israel) has fallen on us” (Joshua 2:9). The Israelites had been camped a few miles away from Jericho for many years. Those in Jericho had no doubt heard how Israel’s God had plagued Egypt and in one fell swoop wiped out the world’s most powerful army. No doubt the walls of Jericho had been built bigger and stronger in this anticipation. At that point in time, Israel was not really battle tested; they had no real fighting force, chariots or other significant weapons to take on Jericho. They did not even have the element of surprise. They had been camped near Jericho 40 years. To a smart person this coming battle must have looked really stupid.
But God had a purpose. He spoke to Joshua and said, “This day I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you”(Joshua 3:7). Then he gave Joshua a plan of attack to take Jericho. The plan made no sense to the natural mind. I am certain Joshua knew this, and I suspect had some reluctance in presenting this plan to the people. I suspect he shared the plan first to those he trusted so he would have their support when he was challenged by those who thought they knew better. I suspect many thought that the plan not only would not work but was crazy and would get the whole nation wiped out.
But God strengthened Joshua and exalted him in the site of all Israel. So they attacked Jericho by walking around it six days. Not much military might on display. I do not know what the people of Jericho were anticipating, but I am certain they were shocked. But wait; on the seventh day the Israelites really let them have it. The people marched around the city not just once but seven times, wow! Then their secret weapon…the priests blew trumpets, and the people shouted. Imagine the awesome military might, priests blowing trumpets and people shouting. Low and behold, the walls came tumbling down. God demolished their city. Many purposes of “Joshua’s ridiculous” plan were obvious. Dependency and trust in God were clear, but it also built faith and trust in the people for Joshua and put fear in the other nations. “So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country”(Joshua 6:27).
Ai was next. Ai was much smaller than Jericho. It was so small that Israel attacked with only 3000 men. However, Israel was defeated. At Jericho, God defeated a massively walled city, but Israel’s army could not even defeat a small foe. The problem was that there was sin in the people. God used Joshua to find and root out the sin. Then God gave Joshua a plan to defeat Ai, using the previous failure. Israel attacked like before and then began to run away like before, as if they were defeated again. However, according to the plan given by God to Joshua, when the army of Ai pursued Israel, no doubt thinking another rout was in order, another group of Israel’s army snuck in behind and took the defenseless city. Again, Joshua was exalted in the eyes of the people of God.
As I read these stories and meditated on them, I saw the parallels between Bishop and Moses and Pastor Davis and Joshua. God spoke to me that just as God had spoken to Bishop he was speaking to Pastor Davis and that all of the vision, promise and direction given by Bishop to us is to be carried on and fulfilled with Pastor Davis just as with Moses and Joshua. God gave us these stories in the Bible to reveal His character and nature and give us host of many witnesses to prove both Himself and His Spirit in others to give us faith, hope, and peace. This should also give us comfort for our loss, and strength and confidence in God and His chosen leaders.
As I read these words over again and meditated, my sense of loss was turned to purpose and hope. Not that I did not miss my father, but I saw how his vision, dream, and passion were to be carried on. For me not to join in and support “Joshua” was to ignore and defame everything Bishop taught me.
The next morning as I shared this message with the men at the breakfast, my heart was lifted and God expanded even more on what He was teaching me. I saw how God honored Moses as he spoke to Joshua, who also honored Moses as he spoke to the people and carried out the plan. God did not leave us alone. He was not surprised. We are well cared for. He has provided, ordained, and anointed for us a leader in Pastor Davis. Our job is be strong and courageous, to step into the water, obey God by accepting and embracing his leaders, and remember “every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given you, as I said to Moses (Bishop)” (Joshua 1:3).
No comments:
Post a Comment