Compare and Contrast
Remember that old exercise compare and contrast from school? I think God is playing this game with the Israelites. The first few chapters of the book of Joshua in the Bible are full of comparing and contrasting events with Moses and Joshua.
Consider these events:
- God commands the people through His leader (Exodus 19 & Joshua 1)
- Spies are sent out & return with an impactful report (Numbers 13-14 & Joshua 2)
- A massive body of water is split in 2 (Exodus 14 & Joshua 3)
- God displays His power through war (Exodus 17 & Joshua 6)
Joshua 2 is one of those comparing events – spies sent to scout out the land. If you have a moment, read that chapter. It’s pretty interesting. Here are 3 things to consider from this passage (along with a question to ask God about):
1. Learn from your mistakes (Joshua 2:1).
Joshua was one of the 12 scouts who was sent out to spy the Promised Land 40 years earlier. He remembers how things went the first go-round (not so well).
In verse one Joshua does something a little different than Moses. Joshua sends 2 spies out in secret. Moses in Numbers 13 sent out the 12 spies publicly. Joshua saw the results of that decision. Because everyone knew they were going, everyone knew their thoughts and feelings about conquering the Promised Land.
Joshua sends his spies out in secret.
Whether the mistake is ours or someone else’s, we can learn from it. It’s an opportunity to grow.
What have you learned from a recent mistake? How will you handle it differently in the past?
2. Step out in courage (Joshua 2:11)
Joshua 1 is all about challenging the people of God to live full of courage. God wants His people to move in faith. He wants them (and us) to do hard things – with courage.
Contrast that with the feelings of the Canaanites (people of Jericho). They are full of fear. They have heard stories about the Israelites for the past 40 years! They know about God freeing them from Egyptian slavery. They know about God parting the Red Sea. They know about God defeating competing armies for them.
The Canaanites have anything but courage.
So many of the challenges we face in life are simply about stepping out in faith with courage. We are called to trust in the strength and ability of the living God! Our foe, Satan, knows the odds are against him. He knows the ability and power of God, and he knows if he can blind us to this truth, he can keep us from our calling.
What step do you need to take in courage?
3. God is diverse.
Depending on who and what you listen to, God & the Bible get a bad rap about the treatment of women. Some people interpret the Bible to mean it sees women as less than men.
Don’t believe the hype. God respects no person or title. God will use any man or woman who is willing to be used by Him.
Rahab is a woman…who is a prostitute. This does not make for the prototypical hero. According to the Israelite law, Rahab should be stoned not saved, but God is willing to use whoever He wants whenever He wants.
God wants to use you for His glory. It doesn’t matter what you did 20 years ago or yesterday. God is ready to use all willing people to bring glory to His name.
How does God want to express His diversity through you?
Compare and Contrast pt 2
Finally, consider your life. Compare and contrast who you were 5, 10, 20, 40 years ago. What has changed? Are you moving in the direction you want to go?
There is still time. There is always time. You can start or continue to become the person God wants you to be.
PS – here is a classic scene from the 80’s Chevy Chase movie Spies Like Us:
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