What Part of No Don’t You Understand? Part 3
- elynnewig
- Mar 11
- 7 min read
Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Every day with Jesus I love him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me. And, he’s the one I’m living for. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.
Let’s continue to look at the idea of God saying NO to his people. Just in case you still do not understand God’s “NO,” I believe it will help to consider another one of God’s servants… There is God’s message to Joshua:
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:1-5 NIV)
I call your attention to the first five verses of Joshua 1 to demonstrate just what God was calling Joshua to do and what the reward would be for doing God’s will. Because Moses was now dead, God called Joshua to step into a leadership position. God instructed Joshua about the people he would lead and the place he would lead them to. God even gave Joshua a word about just how vast the territory would be. God promised Joshua that no one would be able to stand against them. But most importantly, God said HE would never leave them or forsake them. It’s almost unfathomable how much favor God showered on Joshua and these people.
And then God, in plain language, gives Joshua a heads-up on a couple of traits that will be beneficial as he takes on this leadership role. This is the first time in this passage that God mentions this. God says, “Be strong and courageous.” And how gracious God is for telling Joshua why: “because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” (Joshua 1:6) Our all-knowing God, Ruler of heaven and earth, told Joshua that it would be his strength and courage that would be instrumental as he leads the people wherever they needed to go; be it on the actual move from land to inherited land or spiritual warfare to spiritual peace, Joshua would need courage and strength. By the way, the same goes for us…
It is important to note that God gave Joshua more insight. God says, just as I was with Moses, I will be with you. God goes a step further, saying that no one will be able to stand against you. All Joshua had to do was lead, be strong, and be courageous.
Ponder this: Joshua will be the leader. If God is going with Joshua wherever he goes… If no man will be able to stand against Joshua… Why does Joshua need to be strong and courageous? I mean, God’s got his back, right? Joshua can just glide along on easy street, right?
Here is my reasoning. Just because God is there to protect Joshua and the people, and just because no one will be able to stand against them, does not mean that they won't try. Now think about that for a moment, and let’s continue with this message.
Why were the people of Moses at this point where this call for strength and courage would be necessary? After all, through Moses, God had promised to be and was with the Israelites who had been rescued from Egypt. But they disobeyed and lost sight of the prize. So now Joshua will need to lead these people into their inheritance.
Praise footnote: Isn’t it amazing that the Israelites’ inheritance hadn’t been taken away forever?
Joshua was to lead the descendants of those naughty Israelites. The ones whom God had exiled and made to wander around for 40 years. The generation Joshua was to lead was out because their ancestors didn’t understand when God said no. So, God is allowing those led by Joshua the opportunity to get it right and show they understood.
Let’s look at verses 7 and 8, where God gives Joshua, for the second time, a word about strength and courage and adds more.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Of course, you are aware that it’s not easy to be strong and courageous all the time. It takes strength to keep His word in your heart and on your tongue. With all the temptations in the world??! This is not easy, but God told Joshua to be strong and very courageous anyway. Now, do not miss the fact that God added a word before courageous. Joshua is told that they will need to be very courageous. God knows human nature and knows our limits. So, God further described his call to be courageous and said the people needed to be very courageous. Another intimation that this was not going to be easy.
So, what can we do all these years later? Meditate on it, his commands. Do this day and night. Night and day. Meditate on that word. Keep it in mind. It’s going to take something to achieve this thing. So, get your mind right.
Now, you might ask how God says no. Let me remind you that God said no when he told the people not to forget to do these things. You know about the ten Commandments. God said No to anyone who does not follow them. All of them. God said no to those who would be weak and have no courage. He said no if you have not courage and strength and love for your fellow man…!! You will not succeed.
What part of no don’t you understand?
God starts off telling His people to be strong and courageous because He knows what lies ahead. He knows they will need these attributes… these characteristics… to continue as His people. God knows what’s next is not for the weak-minded. God says no, don’t bring your feeble heart on this journey. What part of no don’t you understand?
After he says be strong and courageous, he says keep my commandments. Oh, God knew. He knew. So, God said no (there’s that word “No” again) no, this life I charge you to forge is not a request. It’s a command. Obey my commandments. All of them. Oh, God knew that folk would forsake, spit upon, curse, cheat, lie, steal, covet and kill. Nevertheless, God says no to doing it your way. No to following the status quo of weakness and deception. God said no and He meant no.
Then he added a question that is really a must do: Verse 9 of Joshua says:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
That is the crux of this thing. Third time’s the charm. Obey! Be strong! Be courageous! Why? Do this because God is there with you.
Today? Yes. It applies today. Be strong and courageous. Follow God’s commandments. And remember HE will be with you wherever you go. God said no don’t forget me. I will always be with you.
Well, folks, why are you acting as if you forgot? Why in the world are you carrying on like you don’t know. They, we, me, you act like God didn’t say no.
OH, BUT HE DID SAY NO!! He said no you cannot mistreat one another and say you are doing it in His name. He said no you will not use my house as a den of thieves. He said no you cannot do these things, if you are strong and courageous, follow my commands and remember me. He said no social media; you cannot purposefully prey on children. God said no humanity you will not keep being racist. He said no you will not keep thinking it’s okay to shoot up schools and deport without scruples.
Oh my, my, my but so, here we are.
By the time Jesus was sharing His message, he told us that he would be with always even until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)
So, this is where I come into the story. If you remember nothing else about me, remember that I, Mary Magdalene, was the one Jesus appeared to after His resurrection.
But do you know what, when Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, for a moment I forgot to be strong and courageous. That day, it was so hard even to consider his commandments. I hurt so bad that I forgot Jesus said he would always be there. And, so in my anguish, I cried out, they have stolen my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. My heart hurt, and oh I was at my wits end.
But you know something. When Jesus has you. When he really has you to your core, you can’t go too far, because Jesus will make himself known to you in an instant.
“Mary?” all HE had to call my name. And, my yearning soul was open and ready to believe and to go on with Him once more. My strength and courage returned. My desire to do His will was stronger than ever. He had not left me!
What part of no don’t you understand? Follow His commands. You be strong and courageous. But in this age of topsy-turvy turmoil, believe in your heart, feel it in your soul. Shout it to the world. Let them know the strength of His presence fortifies you. Tell yourself and tell the world, this relationship with Jesus is not a one-night stand. It’s all day. It’s every day. To put it plain and simple: No, you can’t do it without Him. No, you will not be strong and courageous in the Lord without Him in your heart and soul. But most importantly!!! NO, HE WILL NOT… I SAID NO HE WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER, NEVER LEAVE YOU. SO, DON’T YOU LEAVE HIM.
SO, WHAT PART OF NO DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?
EVERY DAY WITH JESUS IS SWEETER THAN THE DAY BEFORE!!!
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