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Aug 05, 2022 18:30pm

Rallying the Troops

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In the movie Braveheart, William Wallace gathers the men to prepare for battle for their freedom and their land. Looking at the army, they didn’t seem like much. Many of them were just everyday people, tradesmen, not born and bred to be soldiers, but they had something deep that urged them forward: a desperate desire. A desire for freedom and a home.

As our study opens this morning, we see Joshua rallying the troops. He has been given clear instructions from God to move the people across the Jordan and take the land that is theirs. No matter what they face, they are to trust in the Lord.

“Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land. Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them; Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising. And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.” (Joshua 1:10-18)

In 3 days, it will be time. Prepare yourself to move. Be ready for the battle ahead. This group didn’t look like much of an army. Remember, their ancestors were slaves to the Egyptians. For years, they had been beaten down and oppressed. This group has never had a home, as they were made to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. They are just everyday people, not soldiers, but they have a desperate desire for freedom and a home. They obey the call and prepare to go.

Jesus had told the disciples the day was coming and to be prepared. He had taught them and guided them to be ready for the day. As the Roman soldiers pulled Jesus’ body from the cross, the men felt defeated. How could their King be dead? What would they do now?

But in 3 days, it would be time.

The stone was rolled away from the tomb, and Jesus wasn’t there. As the Angel declared, He had risen, just as He said He would. And then, Jesus Himself rallied his troops.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

The disciples were to prepare for battle. A battle for the souls of men. This army of men didn’t look like much. They were just ordinary people, tradesmen, not soldiers. But they had something deep that urged them forward: a desire for freedom from sin and a home in heaven.

And today, because of the battle they fought, we have the Bible before us, from which the Lord gives us the same charge. You may think you are a nobody, just an everyday, average person, not a soldier, but that’s exactly how the Lord works. It’s time.

Go.

Prepare for battle.

He has called you out to share the gospel. Are you ready?

Let’s Go!