Becoming the Servant of the Lord

The year was 1933. The United States, indeed, the entire world, was in the throes of the Great Depression. Often, it is difficult to pinpoint a date when something like an economic recession begins, but this time it was not. 

In October of 1929, Black Thursday witnessed one of the largest stock market declines at the opening bell ever seen, with an 11% drop. Everyone was hopeful the market might stabilize after stocks closed at a much more palatable 6% decline that day. The nightmare, however, was just beginning. The following Monday, Black Monday, the market fell another 12%. The next day, another 12% was lost. Now, my academic background is in economics and finance, and I’ve realized that economists are not the most creative bunch. So, naturally, that next day was called Black Tuesday. In the 1980s, there was another Monday when the market crashed. Want to guess what it was called? That’s right. Black Monday. The moral of the story is: don’t ask an economist to do your creative writing assignment. 

By the time it was all said and done, the market had shed 85% of its value. Global GDP had fallen by 15%, but in the U.S., it fell by over 30%. At the peak of the Depression, unemployment soared to 25%. Recovery would not happen until 1939 - that’s 10 years later! 

This was the state of the world when Franklin Delano Roosevelt took office in 1933. In the years to come, Hitler would begin his invasion of other European nations and start the systematic, and I would argue, demonic, murder of those he and his followers did not deem worthy of living. Further, Japan would begin its imperial expansion and, on December 7, 1941, attack Pearl Harbor. This event brought The U.S. into the largest conflict the world has ever seen. 

FDR would become the only President to serve more than two terms. For over 12 years, he held the nation’s highest office through some of its most challenging yet formative events. However, this pales in comparison to the time that Moses led the Israelites. 

For forty years, Moses led his people through the desert. If you were an Israelite child living in Egypt, you would have heard how Moses confronted Pharoah. You would have witnessed the plagues and known it was Moses who stood in front of this tyrannical king. You would have seen the Passover lamb slaughtered and blood painted on the doorposts of your house because Moses told your family they must do it to save the oldest son in your household. Maybe that firstborn son was you. You would have left quickly in the middle of the night after Pharoah finally relented. Moses was at the forefront. You would have seen Moses wade into the sea and split the waters. Moses was the man who talked with God in the tent and met Him on the mountain, coming back glowing with radiance. You would have gotten married and had children. Moses was leading the people. Your children would have grown up and gotten married themselves. Moses was still leading the people. In all likelihood, you had grandchildren, and Moses was still there, leading the people!

As with all leaders, FDR had his supporters and his detractors. Yet, when he died, the nation and the world were shocked to their core. And that is the point to be made here; when a country loses an extremely influential leader, especially during a time of significant change and tribulation, the people are going to feel that loss. Winston Churchill later recalled hearing of the President’s death being like getting struck by a physical blow. His impact was so significant that even today, when asked to rank presidents' influence on the nation, FDR consistently ranks in the top three. The other two are Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

As much as this nation went through under FDR, the nation of Israel went through much more under Moses. He was the one who led them out of slavery. He was the one who gave them the commandments of God. The loss of this man would have rocked the Israelites’ world in a way that you and I likely cannot understand. We read in Deuteronomy:

¹⁰ And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, ¹¹ none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, ¹² and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.(Deut 34:10-12)

To this day, Moses is preeminent among all the prophets for the people of Israel. He is considered greater than Elijah or Isaiah and more elevated than Jeremiah or Ezekiel.

And it is at this moment in history that we pick up the book of Joshua following the death of this great man. But notice how Moses is identified. He is not the leader of Israel. He is not the worker of miracles. He is not the prophet. He is simply called the servant of the LORD. In Hebrew, the term is עבד יהוה (ebed Yahweh). This is only the second time this phrase has been used in the Bible up to this point. The first is in the chapter preceding this one, the last chapter of Deuteronomy, when Moses dies. The Hebrew term rendered here as “servant” actually means something a bit more intense than this English word suggests. This word is often translated as slave. In fact, this is the exact same word used to refer to the Israelites in Egyptian captivity. 

³ Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery (עבדים), for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. (Ex 13:3)

But the interesting thing here is that while slavery or servitude to Pharoah is obviously seen as a negative situation, when Moses is called the servant, or the slave, of the LORD, it is a title of honor. Nobody wants to be the servant of a despotic tyrant. But to be the servant of the most High God is the utmost honor. We see this repeatedly throughout scripture. Let me list some for you.

·       Paul called himself a slave (Rom 1:1. Gal 1:10, Phil 1:1, Tit 1:1)

·       James, the brother of Jesus, called himself a slave (Jas 1:1)

·       Peter identified as a slave (2 Pet 1:1)

·       Jude, another brother of Jesus, likewise called himself a slave (Jud 1:1)

We see consistently through scripture that “servant of the LORD” is the most incredible thing that someone can be called. However, because of our nation’s history, the words servitude and slavery can have very loaded meanings. The idea of repression and oppressive suffering is not what the Bible has in mind when calling somebody God’s servant. Keith said something compelling last week that is directly applicable here. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself. So, let’s put that into practice. Turn with me to Philippians 2:5-11

Here, we see who Jesus really is; he is, by his very nature, one with God. He is the glorious one, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. At His name, every knee will bow. His name is above every other name. And one day, every tongue will confess that He is Lord! He is the uncreated and eternal one. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Word made flesh. He is the first and the last. And yet, what did he become? He became a servant! And we’re called to be the same. Check this out. Turn to Matthew 20:25 with me.

            Now, here’s the rub. Our culture rejects the idea that being a servant of any kind can be a good thing. It is a part of our cultural reality that we seek after possessions, experiences, and our own pleasure. Who is most important? I am. Our success is often measured in how big our house is, how many toys we have, the vacations we get to take, the schools our kids go to, or any number of things. The idea that the most fulfilling thing, the best thing, that we can possibly be is a servant is foreign to us. In fact, our culture is so much a part of who we are that we often don’t realize we actually have made ourselves slaves. Not to God, but to our own pleasures.

            Remember our series in Ephesians? Many of you are thinking, “We spent almost 40 weeks in it, how could I possibly forget?!” But look back on what Paul says.

            Brothers and sisters, this is the language of slavery and servitude. And not the kind of servitude that Moses participated in. This is oppressive. This is the language of chains. 

And it may be easy here to think, “But our culture isn’t really all that bad.” But look back at the passage again! 

·       We were following the course of this world. What is the course of this world? Is it not to buy as much stuff as you can? Get the newest car, engross ourselves in entertainment, and obtain the most pleasure we can? All of this to make ourselves feel like we are fulfilled. But, let’s be honest. Does it really? All the evidence says no. 

·       We were living in the passions of our flesh. Watch TV for an hour and tell me that seeking out the passions of the flesh is not the defining feature of our time.

·       We were carrying out the desires of our body.

·       We were carrying out the desires of our mind. Isn’t this what the world tells us to do? Be true to who? God? No, seek your own desires. 

·       What was our nature? Our nature was being a child of wrath. 

And listen, I’m not casting stones here. This was my story. This is my story. I’m preaching to myself as well as to you. Do you remember what happened with the Israelites after they went through the sea? They wanted to go back to slavery! They wanted to run back into the arms of Pharoah! Their true King was going before them in a pillar of fire and cloud, and they wanted to run back to the tyrant! 

Brothers and sisters, we suffer from the same spiritual amnesia! Remember the fire we got to sit by? Remember how good the meat was? Oh, and that bread! Never mind that we were in slavery, that food was so pleasurable to eat. This sounds stupid until we take a moment to contemplate how this is like us. We feel the constant pull back to slavery. Why? Because of the instant gratification. It feels good. It may not be meat in a pot for us. It probably is something more like what we view on the internet, whittling away our time on YouTube, or trying to make our own name great through any means we can. And again, this was me. I still feel the pull to define myself by my accomplishments rather than the King I am supposed to serve. I still find myself thinking about how happy I would be if only I had that bigger house or that car that is more fun to drive. But none of these things mean anything; none of them can possibly bring true happiness. 

            Now, the Bible does not teach that money is inherently bad or that having affluence is bad. However, it clearly and consistently teaches that when we prioritize our stuff and our money over God, there is a big problem. When our bank account or our stuff becomes our god, we are at risk of becoming like slaves in Egypt again. Look at what Jesus says to us in Matthew 6.

And then he says.

There is that pesky term again: serve. Here is the core of this. We need to, I need to, you need to stop and analyze our own lives. What are we serving? What do we put as primary in our lives? Are we laying up treasures that won’t follow us into eternity and will rot away? If someone you didn’t know looked at your bank account and where your money goes, would they know you are a Christ follower? If your conversations were transcribed, would a reader know you serve God Most High? If your activities were put on a calendar, would someone be able to tell that you are a servant of the LORD? Or would we rather be found to be a servant of something or someone else? 

And this is why it is so important to read the Bible for what it is. It is not a collection of stories that have been cobbled together. It is a book that contains the entire narrative arc of salvation. This story is my story. And it is yours too. I recently came across this quote in a book called The Epic of Eden and it speaks right to the heart of this truth.

In this part of the story, we find Moses, the servant of the LORD, has died. Joshua, his assistant, is now being addressed by God. 

Despite all he had done and how fervently he followed God, Moses was not without fault. He disobeyed a direct order from God and was, therefore, not allowed to enter the land of promise. Being a servant of God does not mean that we will not stumble sometimes. When we do, we run to God and ask for forgiveness. He is faithful to forgive; there may still be consequences to our actions as there were for Moses, but He is faithful to forgive. But we don’t stop there; we pray that His grace would strengthen us. We seek the help of others. We meditate on God’s word; more on that in a moment. However, we do not boast or exaggerate ourselves; this was the sin of the Pharisees. If you come across somebody teaching that they do not sin, that they never have an occasional lustful thought, that they are perfect… run. That is nowhere to be found in the Bible. We pursue holiness and sanctification, but it is a process. We should not be afraid to confess sin and continue, as the people of God, to pursue holiness. But we cannot do that if we deceive ourselves. Look at what the apostle John wrote in 1 John.

Moses was not perfect, Joshua was not perfect, David was not perfect, and Paul and John were not perfect. But praise be to God, Jesus is. He was enough for our forefathers, and He is enough for me. I am not sufficient, but His grace is more than sufficient.

This is the reality of the leadership position that Joshua was stepping into. He was to fill the shoes of the greatest prophet Israel would ever know. He was not a perfect man, but he was a man who would, for all of history following, be known as the first to be called the servant of the LORD. He led his people faithfully for 40 years. Since their rescue from Egypt, Moses was all they ever knew. But the work of God was not done. It was time for the next generation to take their place. And we see this throughout the history of the Church. Paul, John, and the other apostles died, but the work of God goes on. Aquilla and his wife Priscilla were faithful servants, leading people to Jesus in the early church. Church fathers like Justin Martyr and Augustine have been buried, but still, the work continues. John Calvin and Martin Luther have passed, yet the Church works on. Men like Tim Keller and Billy Graham finally met their Savior face to face, yet we toil on. 

The people of Israel mourned for 30 days after Moses died. But after that time of mourning, there was work to be done. Fortunately, God had been preparing Joshua, and Joshua had been preparing himself for this moment. 

Joshua was the military commander who led the Israelites into their first battle. While others would have seen this as a position of authority, Joshua would have learned from that experience to trust in the might of God. You see, while Joshua was leading the army, Moses went up on a hill. While Moses’ hands were raised, Israel would do well in the battle, but when his arms were down, Israel would start losing the ground they gained. So, Aaron and Hur actually had to sit Moses down and hold up his arms. The lesson? It was not Joshua’s military prowess that made him successful; it was the God who went before him.

It was Joshua who would follow Moses up the mountain when he met with God and received the commandments. On their way back down, when Israel was worshiping the golden calf they made, Joshua heard the commotion and thought a battle was raging. Moses gently corrected his young assistant and said it was rather singing as the people had turned from God to worship something they had created. Joshua learned how easy it is to turn away from God. Another time, Moses corrected Joshua more harshly when Joshua heard two other people who were not Moses prophesying. Joshua wanted them to stop, but Moses said he wished all the people would have the Spirit of God rest on them. Joshua learned that God’s promises and His Spirit are for everyone, not just the elite few. 

But it wasn’t just mentorship and taking on new responsibilities that shaped Joshua. Spending time with God had the most impact on him. Turn with me to Exodus 33.

Joshua went with Moses to the tent, where he met with God. He would have seen the pillar of cloud come down after Moses entered the tent. He would have heard God speak to Moses, his servant, as a friend. But after Moses departed, Joshua would remain. Notice how the people would stand at the doors of their tents, but Joshua would be at the tent? It must have been a fearful thing to see, a pillar of cloud descending and knowing it was the presence of God. Yet, Joshua seemed drawn to the tent when all the others stood back. 

It is worth pointing out that Joshua’s name is significant to this story. His name, in Hebrew, is pronounced Yeh-ho-shu-ah. And if you’re thinking, “That name sounds familiar.” It’s because Joshua and Jesus shared a name. Jesus, Yeh-shu-ah, is a shortened form of Yeh-ho-shu-ah. But this wasn’t always Joshua’s name. Moses gave him this name before he was sent with the other 11 spies to explore the Promised Land and give a report on it. Before this, Joshua’s name was Hoshea. 

This name, Hoshea, means “salvation.” The name Yeh-ho-shu-ah adds just one syllable to that name. But oh, what a syllable it is. This new name means “God is salvation.” Yah is a shortened form of Yahweh, the covenantal name of God. As another example, the word hallelujah is actually two words, hallelu, which is a command that means “you all praise.” But who are we praising? We are praising Yah, Yahweh, our LORD.  I think Moses gave Hoshea a new name that day before he left to spy out the land because he wanted his assistant to remember that it wasn’t by his own power and might that he would gain the salvation he was looking for. Salvation belongs to God. And Joshua seems to have taken this new name to heart. He and Caleb were the only two spies who said, “Yes! Let’s go! God has given this land over to us.” The other spies, of course, said that the people were too mighty, the walls were too high, and the cities were too large. They weren’t looking to God for their salvation but were viewing things in human terms. 

The people believed and followed the ten instead of the two, which led Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Two years after departing from Egypt, the spies went into Canaan. That should have been the end of it. But that generation's disobedience meant they would not be allowed to enter the land; only Joshua and Caleb would, for their faith and trust in God. That is why it says “now, therefore.” That entire generation had passed away without entering the land, and Moses had also because of his disobedience. 

² “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. (Joshua 1:2-3)

As Joshua and the people are about to embark, God reminds Joshua that He is the one giving them the land. They did not earn it; it is a gift. But to get that gift, they have to take possession of it. Joshua and the people must get up and cross the river. But, notice how it says “this Jordan.” Why not just “the Jordan?” Jump with me really quickly to Joshua 3:15:

^3:15b Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest.

This wasn’t just the Jordan. This was the Jordan during the spring harvest; we know this also because the Israelites celebrated Passover right after crossing. This was the time of the spring runoff. The river was high and dangerous. This was the Jordan they were crossing. The one filled with danger. 

Does anybody here remember playing the game Oregon Trail? What was the most likely way you met your demise in that game besides randomly dying of dysentery? Exactly! The most dangerous part was crossing a river. 

And remember, this is the river that runs through the lowest valley in the world. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on Earth and the Jordan is the river that feeds it. Remember our series we just heard on Psalm 23? Well, Joshua and the people are just about to enter into a deep and dark valley. This was not an easy task. A steep valley that descends lower than any other was before Israel. A raging river that is ready to swallow a person followed after that. And, on the opposite side of the river were walled cities with trained warriors waiting for you. These are not what one would call small obstacles. But it is God who goes before them, and Joshua and the people have seen God working miracles for 40 years. And God promises that He will be with Joshua, just as He was with Moses.

Now, this is interesting, isn’t it? God just told Joshua that He was giving the land to the Israelites, yet here, it clearly says that Joshua will cause the people to inherit the land. This is not a mistranslation. This is a very specific type of Hebrew verb. We see it as two verbs in English. Joshua “will cause” is the first verb, and the people “will inherit” is the second verb we see in our language. However, in Hebrew, it is all one verb, and it is unmistakable. And this is where it is important to not oversimplify the Bible. Remember when I said that the people must take possession of their gift? They had to rise up and cross the Jordan. There is work to be done. The story of the Bible is God operating and His people cooperating with Him under His leadership and His divine guidance. 

Now, this is where this all gets extremely interesting and very, very deep. When I was first introduced to it, it blew my mind. Remember when I said that the Bible's story is our story? That is because the Bible uses what are called types to point to significant theological concepts. These types can be people, groups of people, nations, places, or even entire stories to point to a much bigger part of the story of salvation that the Bible is about. 

·       Moses is a type of Messiah – He delivers God’s people out of slavery

·       Pharoah is a type of oppressor – He is a human who is like the prince of the power of the air, that’s Satan, that we see in Ephesians

·       Egypt is a type representing a spiritual state – When we were in bondage and held captive by sin. Remember, the Bible clearly says that we were slaves of sin before we were saved through the atonement of Jesus.

·       The promised land is also a spiritual state – It is a representation of God's rest

To see how this idea of types can play out in the biblical narrative, turn with me to Hebrews 3:16.

Do you see how the writer of Hebrews in the New Testament uses the historical story of Joshua to show a much higher spiritual reality? If you want better proof of God’s sovereignty and evidence of His eternal plan than this, I am at a bit of a loss. God orchestrated the history of Israel to point directly to our desperate need for Jesus. 

What, then, does Joshua represent? You’ve probably already guessed it. Joshua is another type pointing to the promised Messiah. How was Israel going to enter the promised land? Joshua was going to lead them over; he was going to cause them to inherit the land. This land had been promised to their ancestors since Abraham. How are we to enter into the eternal rest we so desperately seek? We enter through Jesus. Let’s jump a bit in that Hebrews passage to see this play out until its end.

Just as Joshua caused the people to obtain their inheritance, Jesus has created a way that we could be saved. Yeh-ho-shu-ah points us directly to Yeh-shu-ah, Jesus, the only way, the only truth, the only life. Just as God foretold that He would bring Abraham’s family into the promised land, He also foretold of a Savior through whom God’s people would be brought back to Him. Jesus is the suffering servant. Moses was a servant of the Lord but Jesus is the servant of the LORD. 

This passage in Hebrews and the passage in Joshua share one other common trait. They both point to God’s word as central. In Hebrews the word of God is said to be living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. In Joshua, we read.

 ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 

Joshua and the people are about to enter into battle. Does God command them to go and practice their military formations or train with their swords? No. He commands Joshua not to take up a sword and practice but to take up the sword, the word of God, and meditate on it. Military training will not lead to success in this war. Spending time in God’s word will. To meditate in Hebrew literally means to mutter something. The words of God should be on our lips. And how often does the text say we should do this? That’s right, day and night. What in the word of God should we be careful to do? Exactly. All of it. 

It is not in Joshua’s own might that he derives strength and courage. It is through God’s promises, God’s word, and God’s strength. 

God’s final words to Joshua in this passage are:

If God is with you, who can be against you? Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed. Be strong and courageous.

Abraham was a nomad, wandering far from home and serving a God his ancestors did not worship. Yet God promised that his ancestors would inherit the land he walked. Be strong and do not be frightened. 

Joseph was sold into slavery, forcefully taken to Egypt, and then wrongly imprisoned. Yet he became second only to Pharoah and saved that nation, the surrounding area, and his own family from starvation. Brothers and sisters, be strong and very courageous. 

Moses was placed in a basket in the Nile. He should have died. Yet he grew into the man who would bring his people, who were in Egypt for over 400 years and had been forced into slavery, out into freedom. Men and women of God, do not be dismayed and do not be frightened. 

Joshua, though he was born a slave in Egypt, ultimately led God’s people into the land of promise. Only be strong and very courageous. 

This is the story of the Bible. This is the story of God’s salvation. At the beginning of this book, Joshua is known as the assistant of Moses. However, by the end of his life, he, like his mentor, was called עבד יהוה, the servant of the Lord. We see it in the last chapter in Joshua. 

I don’t know where you are in your walk with the LORD. Maybe you are stuck in Egypt, awaiting your release from captivity. All I can say to you is call on Jesus, He will answer. If you have questions, we have a room full of disciples who want to help you. You are not alone.

Maybe you are wandering through the desert, God is with you but you haven’t entered His rest. You’re still trying to earn your own salvation and prove your worth. You can’t. The grace of Jesus is enough. He has already accomplished everything. Follow Him down the dark valley and across the raging river that has been stopped. He is enough for you. 

Maybe you are Joshua under the mentorship of Moses. Spend your time wisely and learn well, the time for you to lead will come and you should be prepared. Too often in our world people want to become influencers before they have anything to teach. Learn from those who have gone before and hang back, like Joshua did, and bask in the radiance of God.

Maybe you are the Joshua at the beginning of this passage we studied, taking over the reigns of leadership. Your work is not done. Strive on until you go home or Jesus returns. The highest calling we have is to be known as God’s servant and what we learn from Moses and Joshua is that title isn’t bestowed on a saint until they go home.

Maybe you are Moses, the mentor of the next generation. Don’t just finish your race. Help others walk the path you have. Others look up to you and will follow. Paul once told others to follow him as he followed Jesus. Help guide us along the path.

And no matter where you are in this journey. Dive into the word of God. Meditate on it. Don’t turn either to the right or to the left. Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed. If you belong to the LORD, He is with you wherever you go.