By Pastor Bob DeKlavon
Often, I have thought of the basketball player who replaced Michael Jordan.
Can you imagine—trying to take the spot of the player many consider to be the greatest?
This weekend, a documentary is being shown with the title: “the last dance.”
It will highlight the last season the championship Chicago Bulls were together as a team.
Basketball life went on in Chicago and with Jordan, but it just wasn’t the same.
Here is where I make the analogy when it comes to the spiritual realm.
Consider these words:
“Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like ________, whom the LORD knew face to face.”
Can you imagine being the person replacing ‘that prophet?!’
Such was the task given to Joshua who was going to take the place of Moses.
For 40 years, Moses has led Israel.
Moses parted the Red Sea and he made water come from rocks and he is quoted as the man:
“{known for} all the mighty power and for all the great terror performed in the sight of all Israel.”
For Joshua then—this is good news, and this is bad news.
The good news is that he will become the leader of Israel.
The bad news is he must replace the greatest—he must take the place of Moses.
I am mindful of this, first as a pastor, but then as a child of God representing Jesus on earth.
Who are ‘we’ to represent Almighty God as His ambassadors on earth?
Who am I to tell people how to feel and what to do during a worldwide pandemic?
Who are we to offer permanent solutions to what we know to be temporary issues?
But—I remember the authority Jesus gave His children as those who others may see as ‘unworthy.’
You and I have very little to offer to others once we go off the script of the Bible.
But when we come to the pages of Scripture—we know what “worthiness” Jesus gave to us.
Along with this--think how often God encouraged Joshua who would take the place of Moses.
Deuteronomy 31:7—Moses to Joshua:
“Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with the people into the land the LORD will give them.”
Joshua 1:7—the Lord to Joshua:
“Only be strong and very courageous…so that you may have success wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9—the Lord again:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not tremble or be dismayed,
For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua knew the LORD and he was chosen by the LORD and he was going to touch people for the LORD.
Put your name in that last sentence—you know and have been chosen and are going to touch people.
There will be times of hesitation and even fear and perhaps bewilderment—but think about this:
The player who replaced Jordan couldn’t ‘channel’ Jordan’s skills or abilities—he was on his own.
You and I can be strong and courageous—because the Lord is with us wherever we go.