Keep Your Foot On The Gas

JULY 27, 2020

By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

As I was reading my devotion the other day, I had to re-read a section of Scripture a couple of times. It was about Joshua and Caleb, two of my heroes in the Bible. Both were skilled spies, bold spokesmen, and courageous leaders.

I knew that this passage of Scripture was written after Joshua and Caleb had accomplished much. They helped lead a million people out of Egypt through 40 years in the wilderness, crossed the Jordan River and battled many enemies, and built many cities in claiming the Promised Land.

So here we listen in on God speaking to Joshua in chapter 13, who some scholars say is about 100 years old at this point. God is giving him instructions on how to divide the land among the Israelites.

When Joshua had reached a venerable age, God said to him, “You’ve had a good, long life, but there is a lot of land still to be taken.” (Joshua 13:1)

Wait, what? After all that Joshua had done, I expected God to say something like, “Joshua, you’ve had a good, long life. You can take your foot off the gas now. Take it easy and enjoy the rest of your life.” But no. God’s telling Joshua that there’s still much to be done, and it isn’t easy stuff. It’s serious life-and-death stuff battling more enemies and building more cities. This doesn’t sound like slowing down!

In Joshua chapter 14, we read Caleb’s response to Joshua after he got his allotment in the Promised Land:

“Now then, just as the Lord promised, He has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time He said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. (Joshua 14:10-11)

So here were these two Kupuna, the 100-year old Joshua and his whippersnapper partner Caleb at 85 years old, and they ain’t slowing down. But how? How can these two guys say that they are as strong and as vigorous to go to battle as they were 45 years earlier?

I was 18 years old 44 years ago. I was a year out of high-school. I was studying hard to be an electrical engineer, working part-time, and serving in the church youth group. I remember we would go out after work, play tennis at Kapiolani Park, run around Diamond Head, and play some more. 

Am I as strong and as vigorous now as I was then? I don’t think so. But after reading these passages of Scripture about Joshua and Caleb, I think that’s going to be my prayer. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be vigorous to go out to battle. Give me the passion to lead others to You, to help them to grow in You, and to help them to do the same. Help me to be strong, a new strong, not for the old battle, but for such a time as this. Keep reminding me that youth is not the source of vigor and strength; You are! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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