I’ve been a student of the Bible for many years. The stories and lessons that are told within it’s pages have been a great blessing in developing the man I am and am going to be.
I am especially fascinated of the account of two great leaders: Moses, who led the people out of the land of Egypt. And Joshua, who succeeded Moses in leading the children of Israel to the Promised Land.
Each man had his strengths and each man had his weaknesses but both were powerful leaders in leading God’s people through the wilderness. One, however, got bogged down in the wilderness and couldn’t move forward and the other led the people out of the wilderness.
It seems that the people under Moses’ leadership had a culture of complaining and were very problem centered. Even though God did many miracles on their part - they never seemed to see the blessings that were before them. There was no sense of the “wonder of God.”
Moses massaged the people’s problem and cauddled them, and as a result, they never seemed to get the victory and had to remain in the wilderness with their wilderness mentality. They ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.
Even though they left the bondages of Egypt they were still in bondage to themselves and never entered the Promised Land.
But Joshua was a different breed. He didn’t see the problems but saw the potential.
“After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.” Joshua 1:1-2 NLT
V.11 tells us that with just 3 days noticed he crossed over to The Promised Land.
I see many people who are always about the problem rather than being about the power of God. Their way of thinking and their way of talking is very negative and downtrodden. When we are like that we forget who is on our side and the power that is available to us.
“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
1 John 4:4 NLT
“And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NLT
The Children Of Israel under Moses’ leadership only saw the problem. They couldn’t see the power of God that was with them. Miracles were happening right and left and yet they still complained.
Joshua on the other hand saw something completely different. He saw how powerful God was and God’s desire for His people. Even when the 10 spies came back with a negative report and scared the people - he saw what God could do in spite of the obstacles that lay before him.
I have admit, I have often been problem-centered rather than God-centered. I have looked at the obstacles and the looming battles ahead and have lost out on many victories that God had in store with me. I have been blessed in so many ways but I know that there could have been so much more if I had a different attitude and faith in God.
Having said that, I am daily moving forward, learning, trusting, and leaning into God. I like what 2 Corinthians teaches us…
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 NLT
The question remains, “Are you problem centered or are you power centered?” I choose to be power centered.
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