Covenant Podcast

Waiting on God's promises can be challenging, especially in a culture that expects instant results, but His timing is always perfect. In Joshua 13-14, we see that while Israel had experienced great victories, the work of possessing the land was not yet complete, requiring patience and faithfulness. Caleb's story teaches us that waiting doesn’t mean passivity; rather, it’s an opportunity to trust God, stay faithful in the present, and be ready to step forward when He calls.

The people of Israel are going to experience the consequences of not following God, they may have been surprised, but God isn’t. God takes their setback and turns it into victory, in miraculous and incredible ways. Joshua prays for God’s intervention, and the sovereign God over creation intervenes in order to destroy the Amorites and glorify his name.

God is granting to Israel, and to us an inheritance. But, we face enemies along the way who will do whatever they can to stop us from living out our inheritance. Those enemies can sometimes be within, like Achan’s greed - or without - the Canaanite kings or the Gibeonites - so we must be vigilant to obey the words and commands of God and live in a right relationship with Him.

In chapter 5 we see that God is more concerned with the Covenant than he is our ability to conquer for him. He wants our hearts more than he needs our hands. And we will talk about how obedience isn’t convenient, but it is a sign that our hearts are in the right place. Israel renews the covenant, remembers God’s redemption, and is reminded of their reliance on God.

As Joshua begins to move into enemy territory he is trusting in the promise keeping God to be with him. Joshua is a wise leader who knows that he will have a fight on his hands. So, he develops a plan, finds an unexpected ally and finds out that the world has been watching what God has done.

We gravitate toward exceptional leaders, orators, charismatic men and women who can inspire. Our belief is often that God creates exceptional men and women, and that real leadership is about THEM. Real leadership isn’t about personal gifts but about total surrender. If we desire to see God move, we need leaders. To lead like Joshua, you must listen for God’s voice, learn to pursue His mission, let go of insecurity, and live a life of obedience.

Joshua, the leader after the leader, is being called by God to be the one to bring the people of Israel into the promised land. Although the promises may seem slow in fulfillment, if God has promised it, God will deliver on it. We too can walk forward into a new season as a church, secure that the one who promised it will see it come to pass.

Joy in the heart of a believer comes from God and spreads through us into the world around us.

The joy of Jesus Christ is meant to be something that overflows. It is meant to be a joy to the world.