The Dependence Factor

Joshua 11:6 NLT

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel as dead men. Then you must cripple their horses and burn their chariots.”

Joshua was about to face the biggest army he had ever seen. God had already planned his victory.

So, God gives him 3 focuses:

Don’t fear.
You’ll win.
Get rid of their advanced weaponry.

You see, horses and chariots were signs of advanced capabilities in an army. An army with those weapons had a distinct advantage over one without them.

Joshua would have been afraid. God told him not to fear.

Joshua would have expected to lose the battle. God told Joshua he would win.

With a win, Joshua would have recovered the chariots and horses to use for future battles. God told him to get rid of those weapons.

Why?

Why get rid of something that would have made his army stronger?

God wanted to show Joshua that depending on God’s strength would always result in victory.

So many times, we depend on our abilities, our resources, our leadership, our systems, our money, etc.

If you stripped everything away, what would your dependence on God look like?

If God could help Joshua defeat a large army with chariots and horses, then God would be able to help him defeat any enemy through solely relying on God’s strength.

Am I saying you MUST get rid of the other things?

NO!

But, when we depend on those things more than God, we end up losing.

All that you have in your hands are tools, but the source of your victories is God.

Joshua understood this and through his dependence on God he experienced victory after victory.

Let’s do the same!

 

Made from dust

Adam was made from dust. You and I were made from dust. We will return to dust.

Have you ever asked yourself the following question: Why did God make us from dust?

Dust is essentially useless.

It’s dirty.

It’s ugly.

It’s weak.

I’ve never seen anyone admire dust.

So why did God make Adam (and us) from dust?

You have already read the reasons.

God designed it this way. You see, HE makes us useful.

HE makes us clean.

HE makes us beautiful.

HE makes us strong.

In order to be all of these things, we are required to return to Him and depend on Him.

The amazing things of our lives are not defined by who we are, but rather by what He does in us.

I’m glad to be dust. Are you?