Covenant 10/11/2020

Please be seated.

Let's be honest. There are times.

When things are so difficult in our lives, we're not sure that God is mighty to save.

It happens to almost everyone at one time or another and it certainly was happen to God's people when they were in captivity in Egypt.

Generation after generation, they looked for God to send somebody who would deliver them from bondage.

It's not surprising then. the family directly descended from Joseph through the the tribe of Ephraim would name their son according to their hopes and their dreams and their prayers. And so are y'all Hebrew man was born and his his father. The whose name was nun named him Hosea. About those of you who are familiar with Hebrew and that's pretty much all of you, right? OSHA memes deliver because generation after generation. That's what God's people were crying out for Deliver Us from bondage. We need a deliver. And every generation I'm sure those there was some young men who were named that in hopes that they would be the deliverer.

Will finally God did send some one through whom God would deliver his people and that was Moses. And we got to talk a little bit about Moses just to get a running start as they talk about the next in our series on the forerunners of our faith. because if you remember from Rick series on Moses when Moses was a young man. He wanted to be a deliverer. He went out a saw the Hebrew slaves and he recognized that they were his people.

The scripture tell us that he didn't want to be recognized as a prince of Egypt. He wanted to be the deliverer of his people at about the time he was determined to do that because he had a royal home. He had wealthy had status. He was going to free the slaves until the various slave turned against him and revealed. That they knew him to be a murderer because he had taken the life of an Egyptian overseer. And you remember that this deliver who was so confident that he could do what no one had done in Generations. He fled. He fled. the area Sinai and there he spent the next 40 years.

herding sheep I always tell people hurting sheep has a great background for anyone who wants to be a leader of God's people.

For one thing he had to learn that he was not in charge of the Sheep. and that he himself did not have the power he thought there he learned to rely on God. Inside when God called him from the burning bush and sent him to Egypt. He went there understanding that he was not the miraculous deliver of God's people. God was a deliverer of God people.

And he met a young man named hoshea, and we know nothing about the circumstances of their meeting other than this push a it was a very young man who was drawn to Moses. And probably talk in the Moses about how he himself was ready to help Moses be the deliverer I've Hosea. I just my imagination we're not told that but we are told what Moses did. Moses renamed him. Joshua Hosea means deliverer Joshua means God will deliver

I may not seem like a huge difference, but it was a life-changing change of name. They gave a name for Joshua or in the Hebrew Yeshua, which may sound familiar to you because that's the Hebrew for Jesus. That he began to live according to the name Moses gave him recognizing that as much as he wanted to be a part of the Deliverance of his people. He could not deliver them Moses could not deliver them, but God would deliver them. And so it is this Joshua that we are going to talk about this weekend for a couple more weeks afterwards. And today we're just going to focus on how he lived according to the name that Moses had given him the strength was not his the wisdom is not his but his calling was to be a servant of the most high God. I think it's interesting that there's no mention of that change of name we go all the way through Exodus Leviticus and all the way into the numbers before it's mentioned casually. I don't think the only reason it was mentioned is that when we're getting a listing of the spies who were sent in to Jared into the area Jericho to the promised land to spy out. The land. One of them was Hosea the son of nun because that was his birth name. I didn't parenthetically the writers of scripture include but Moses renamed him Joshua. And Joshua long by Moses because Moses was the one who kept speaking of the power and sovereignty of the god of Israel. The people who were in bondage in Egypt certainly still worship the god of Israel, but they are surrounded by idolatrous gods gods that for the power and might of feral look like they might actually have some reality to them. It was Moses who taught through his work for God in Egypt? But the gods of Egypt were nothing. They were figments a simple imagination. But the god of Israel the one true and living God could bring about the miraculous. And so as the people of God were finally released from their bondage and they started their Journey Into the Wilderness Joshua decided to stick close to Moses. Moses was very pleased with the young man. He mentored him. Wherever you see Moses and that narrative using Joshua. As we take a look we find that Joshua is living according to that name. He shadowed Moses everywhere. He went. Everybody that when they got out into the Wilderness, they were immediately assaulted by some of the tribes living in that area between Egypt and the promised land. They were scarcely past the miraculous Deliverance of the Red Sea when they were assaulted by amalekites. Now, I know you remember how God defeated the amalekite because Rick preached on it recently. and make sure you were listening as long as he held his hands up you listened and when his hands Belton teasing Would you remember that as long as Moses had his hands raised living above his head? His army. push forward Emily grew weary in his arms began the Comedown the amalekites began to win the battle.

What you might not remember, is that the young man leading this Army of the Hebrew slaves with Joshua. And I think your Josh went out and he looks up on the hill and when Moses hands are up he's winning in the minute and he might have thought I'm a great captain of the army here. I've got some real military Savvy until the hands went down and then here come the amalekites with restored Vigor Joshua learn at that point reinforcing the fact that even in the might and skill of his sword. He could not deliver the people of God, but God was going to deliver them and God in the did deliver them from the amalekites. Joshua said to have overcome the amalekites with the sword. We look at the bigger picture. He defeated them because of the power of God who was in the liver of his people. Joshua learn that he could labor fearlessly inside of an overwhelming enemy because God was his strength. God was his deliver. There's a mighty God.

Will he continue to Shadow Moses? It looks like came. the base of Mount Sinai and do you know that story very well because that is where God inscribed the Ten Commandments. But if we get to that point where Moses getting ready to go up and meet face-to-face with God.

The elders and Moses and Joshua went near the foot of the mountain and at that point the elders remain behind the rest of the people of God started to withdraw why? beer you remember that on that mountain of God God's presence descended on Mount Sinai as its powerful energize Cloud their appeals of Thunder flashes of lightning this overwhelming sense of power and mystery is the cloud-covered the mountain and the people withdrew a bit in fear the power the Living God. The Moses went forward and so did Joshua. Joshua went just as far as Moses would allow him. And then finally Moses said I must go just me wait here. And that's exactly what Joshua did. And the reason that is significant is the Joshua discovered that no matter how frightening the presence of God. Maybe it was Superior to finally the presence of man. He had the urgency about drawing as close to God as possible. Even if you wanted to stick as close to Moses as possible because he had comes in reality that his name with Matt. But God is the deliverer. Was a constant reminder that that was the guy that he sought. I don't know if I would have lived up to that I think. Your member in The Wizard of Oz when they finally get into the The Throne Room of Emerald City. And then suddenly this smoke and and face and thunder and lightning emerges of those of Oz the Great and Powerful and what did the characters do at that point? well Bert Lahr who played the Cowardly Lion did a splendid job of turning tail literally and fleeing for the door. They were absolutely then come to find the power of The Wizard of Oz but they were so frightened they ran away from it. That's what God's people tended to do when they came out of the presence of the Living God and his power. Joshua did not not because he was not frightened by the Holiness of power and presence of God. But because he knew that that was his strength. That was his hope that was their Deliverance.

And Moses have been spokesman for that God. So Joshua been as close as he could and lingered as long as he could while the people withdrew we know what they would the route to do. They finally got tired waiting for Moses who seem to be up there forever on the mountain. And they turn to back their idolatry. Joshua will not move all of the time. How long was Moses on the mountain by the way any takers? 40 days Or to be King James in biblical days and 40 nights. All that time Joshua remain waiting waiting never giving up because he knew that God was his liver of his people.

Joshua decided that he would draw near to God even when others back away that's phenomenal when you consider how many Israelites there were estimates vary from 500,000 to 2 to 3 million.

But Joshua refused to withdraw. Because he wanted to be in the presence of the Living God. Later, we find after they leave the area Sinai and they are encamped. They set up what is referred to as the tent of meeting. Andre caught on that I think just last week. The tent of meeting was a place where Moses when go to seek the presence of God. It was outside the camp and you remember when Moses would arise and go out to the tent of meeting. All people stand at the entrance of their tents their homes. And they would praise God as Moses went toward the tent of meeting. They finally come around understanding that Moses have been called by God that Moses was able to communicate with God, but they did not rush after him. Not right away. Who went with him? Joshua Joshua went with him to serve Moses a way he could but also to be there the tent of meeting in the Press of the Living God that we're not told that God spoke to Joshua as he does to a friend, but we are told that Moses and God conversed at to Friendswood Converse. And from there Moses would address the needs of the people at the end of the day when Moses finally have been serving in that capacity having fellowship with God seeking the wisdom of God for his people. He would go back to his tent. interesting We are told that when he went back to his tent this is Exodus 33 the Lord used to speak to Moses face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend speak to his friend. The wind most returned again into the camp is assistant Joshua the son of nun that young man would not depart from the tent.

That's kind of a head scratcher. Commentary writers always try to come up with what they think is the answer to why he didn't leave the tent why he stayed behind some said it was to protect the tent of meeting because it was the dwelling place of God. But that's not a good reason because we know that it was just a tent when Moses went to the 10th the presence of God descended in glory and you could see the presence of God in the elimination of the when Moses left that sense of the presence of God, the visible presents left. The tent was not like the temple or the Tabernacle. It was not a sign supply place. It was just a meeting place has calling it the tent of meeting. What's the well maybe he just needed to protect it from anybody else going in and seeking God. They would never probation anybody seeking God. I can come up with only one reason that Joshua stay there. It was for the same reason that David love to be in the temple is the same reason that Jesus stayed behind in the temple. He wanted to be about his father's business Jesus then. David said he wanted to be in the presence of God, even if it was just a lingering presence. He wanted to be in the place that most closely reminded him of the living presence of God and Josh. Being followed Moses to that tenth day after day. when Moses left Joshua lingered it lingered just in the the waning Ambience of the presence of God. Because he understood that God was his deliver. I think it's interesting that Joshua Yeshua had exactly the same thinking as our issue Jesus. Who didn't even go with his parents on schedule to join the Caravan to go back from the celebration at the temple? a Jesus stained and talk with the elders Emma's parents found him. If I did that my parents would have beaten me severely, but but I was not send looks like Jesus but Jesus gave what if I had said it would have been a smart answer when he gave it was simply a true statement. He said did you not know that I would be about my father's business.

Jesus Yeshua the Savior Our Redeemer our deliverer Wanted to be in the very place where the worship and Adoration of God took place to learn the scriptures. To learn and to speak of them and to be as much of the presence of the father as possible and I believe that's why Joshua stay in the tent of meeting.

Because of his desire to dwell in the presence of God as his greatest joy. When do we fast forward a bit?

We find that Moses as you note sent spies into the Promised Land. You get a report on the nature of the land. Define if it was indeed the land that God promised a land flowing with milk and honey, and I so many pastors have somewhere in their office a little wood sculpture of two Israelites carrying the clump of grapes on a pole. You probably seen those. I don't have one of those but that's okay. I'll take her word for it because the Bible tells me about it. They brought back samples of the produce. And all 12 Spies came back and 10 of them said we can't do this. I'm sorry. I know that Moses has brought us this far so that we can go into this Promised Land. But we are like grasshoppers in the size of these people there giants. They're huge. They're the guys that grew these grapes if you think these brakes are big. You should have you should see the Canaanites in the land. And they were practically cowering in fear happy to be back with their lives because they seem so weak and insignificant in the presence of the Canaanites. Kumon Deptford Caleb and Joshua I want to Joshua and Caleb have to say. basically, they said if God wants us to take the land we can. Where in the Book of Numbers here? numbers 14 all 10 spies and convince the people is with undoable but a number is 14 the universe 6. We read this Joshua son of nun and Caleb son of jephunneh who were among those who had explored the Land Tour their clothes and said the entire Israelite assembly the land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land a land flowing with milk and honey and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord and do not be afraid of the people of the land because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. That's interesting. Cuz their protection is gone. Why because Joshua was raised at a very polytheistic culture in Egypt and was aware. What seems to be the power of those other God now understands that the gods of the Canaanite are nothing. They are pure Fabrications their idolatry Smith. And they have no strength. He says their protection is gone everything that they think is their strength is not their because we are the people of the one true and living God God promise that God commanded us if we don't go in we were rebelling it is God. So who's with me?

And won't what other voice Caleb said. Amen. Let's go do it. and all of the other Millions all those who were in the sound of that report. With Gru yesterday withdrawn the power of God at Sinai. They wouldn't Drew. From their leaders and said we can't do it we won't do it. We will not basic they will say that we will not accept the gift that God says he's getting us because we don't trust him enough to empower us to do his will.

Joshua Trust of the promise of God He trusted God in faith. rather than by sight

you really did live up to his name. What is it that we trust in? What do we trust and for strength guidance wisdom confidence? So the Nightly News or grew up when it was Nightly News Now 24/7 news we trust in. In the news to tell us what is true and right? Lord have mercy if we do that. Do we trust and our national and local leaders? Sometimes that's not wise. Who do we trust them? Rick was doing in his prayer this morning was talking about how everything that we once thought was focused on the faith of God. Seems to be crumbling in America. Who do we trust? When will pandemic hits and we have different voices saying lockdown? No open up socially, this is no where I'm at.

And when we get the same report every day and yet we live in fear, I live in isolation. Where do we put our trust? Where do we put our trust with everything in our lives seems to be falling apart.

and the voice within us says Got a La Table or not willing. And we started to spare.

Well, you might say Joshua had an edge on us because he was given a new name. He was given a name that reminded him that God is our deliverer. They lived up to it. But my name is Bob.

Can't even fight in the Bible. My name is Robert with a bright and Shining Fame. Don't hold your breath.

He was given a new name.

But we forget. But we also have been given a new name. Or we who once grilled and darkness have come through faith in Jesus Christ. And even before the coming of Christ God's people we're giving a new descriptive name. We love this verse when we're having a National Day of Prayer. It's always the the key version from 1st Chronicles If my people Who are called by my name even before Christ came the people who put their trust in God we're called by his name. They were followers of jaquae. The true Living God it by people are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their Wicked Ways. Then I will hear from Heaven. I will forgive their sins and I will heal their land they are not responsible for doing all of those things. They're only responsible for living up to the name with the bear as followers of the one true Living God. That's Old Testament. It gets even more specific in the New Testament. The Gospel of John opens up by telling us that Jesus Christ. Is the Eternal Son of God he is the Living Word who has been with the father from the beginning before the beginning of time as we know it. And John's gospel tells us to all who received him. That is Jesus Christ to those who believe in his name. He gave the right to become even know how to fill in the blank on that. children of God So regardless of your specific name your title is Son of God child of God adopted into the family of God and ask children of God goes on to say we are born not of natural descent node of human decision or the husband will but born of God. Reborn not Justa. Where did the scribes being adopted by God? They were also described as being born on God. That's double connection if you ask me. And then we go further the where the actual main which we are called in the world today. I mean look at 1st Peter chapter 4 verse 16 reminds us if you suffer as a Christian one of the few times that name appears in the scriptures do not be ashamed but praise God that you bear that name.

I think it's interesting that he is telling us about the great honor of bearing the name of Christ while telling us that we may suffer.

Basically, the scriptures tell us that things may not always go the way we want them to go. Life can be painful. It can be unpredictable. It can actually be agonizing with the things that people go through throughout history and our own our own time. And we're reminded to look to who God is and Who We Are. Joshua is just a prototype that reminds us what it mean to be one who trust and believe that God will deliver his people. In Christ, we know that he is the one who had Deliver us from death itself. We still die physically. But it's not the end. It is the transformation from the Brokenness of this world in the Brokenness of our sinful nature into the Perfection that God has in store for us. I'm in study has been on 1st Thessalonians. We talked about that just last week. But no matter how broken we are in this world. And in the end we will be given new bodies new lives glorified bodies. Send proof. Why because we bear the name of Christ we have received him as our deliverer. For God delivers his people. He is good to his word the name of Joshua and the story of Joshua and how his name launched him to being one of the heroes of the faith in the earliest days of faith. We should consider. What are bearing the name of Christ should mean to us? If we truly believe that God is our deliverer and Christ is the Incarnate God. He is one with the father that he is eternal Flawless. Holy and reliable that he is the king of kings and the Lord of lords. And all things will be set right in the fullness of time that we like Joshua can operate day-by-day laboring fearlessly not because we're so strong or so smart or not hired. Anybody here not tired recently? I am tired of carrying a mask with me. It's worth preaching just so I can take my mask off.

I'm tired. And my family were tired of grief. I'm tired of doing funerals. Linda can tell you she and I've been at the same family funeral 2 weeks running.

We get tired of the trials of this world. But we are able to continue laboring fearlessly not because we have strength not because we are up to the task. But because we serve Christ who is our prank. Sometimes I read that scripture that says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I'm thinking who slipped that in. I'm not sure that I always believed that unferth reading. But generally speaking. When my strength fails is Frank is still there.

By Joshua, we were reminded if we bear the name of our deliver or that we can draw near to God even when others back away and that's why the Great Courses of our generation. Is it those who bear the name of Christ to Easley back away from standing fearlessly and boldly for the claims of Christ? We don't want to be offencive. We don't want to be disliked. We want to fit into a crowd. But sometimes it probably went to fit in two is a crowd that does not know God.

We bear the name of Christ. Let me draw near to him even when others back away. We desire to dwell in the presence of God as our greatest joy. Now the fullness of that is not recognized in this life. it is recognized in the presence of Christ by Paul would say I want to go to be with Christ, but I also want to be here with you to help things. Help things in the church they have but realistically for me to live is Christ to die is gain but to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We're looking at ways this man to have a Death Wish now is a task here. But his longing is to see God face-to-face to dwell with Christ forever at the greatest. Joy, it was David greatest joy.

David in the Psalms frequently talks about how he loves to dwell in the house of the Lord. He want to look upon the beauty of the Lord God is everything to him and they turned around and do something simple, but hard to still drawn back to God back to let me go to the beatific Vision the beauty the Splendor the Holiness of God. We need to focus on when this world was blink. Finally because we bear the name of God. We can trust the promises of God. Can anyone tell me of a promise that God broke?

I think that's the most silence. I do not see a hand. Because we know that at one level. But then we begin become fearful. our strength eludes us our knowledge of the truth must not There's we fearlessly labor because Christ is our strength. We draw near to him and others flee we desire. His presence is our greatest. Joy, we must also trust the promises of God by faith not by sight. I thought easy isn't. How many of you keep seeing things by sight the dismay? Hopelessness sometimes fear sometimes discussed that I just want throw up your hands and say what can I do? The word of God simply brings us back and says Jesus Christ Our deliverer does not make a promise that he does not keep he is faithful and holy to the end and even in those dark moments when we demand an answer of him, and he does not get it. We can still walk by faith. Knowing that while we're not satisfied with the lack of answers now. Someday, we'll know how many full Evans we are now known by him. Joshua God will Deliver Us Let us live up to that name at the name of Christ, which we bear. I'm in the stand is sing together Immortal invisible God only wise.