The Call of Joshua

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen People. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: I do not tell you this enough, Hoosher, but I am grateful for you. I've not known loyalty like yours. 00:00:12 Speaker 3: Thank you, Moses. I don't know what to say. You've been like a father to. 00:00:16 Speaker 2: Me, Hoshea. If you accept, I will give you a new name, a name to give you strength in our promised land, A name to remind you where your true strength lies in the face of whatever comes. I name you Joshua Yahweh is Salvation. Let this name remind you, no matter the danger or uncertainty, that salvation is found only in the Lord. The Lord does not fail, does not falter, and does not abandon his promises. May Our God protect you and guide your steps, granting you wisdom courage above all else. Joshua, Will you accept this new name, your new calling, and this mission? 00:01:07 Speaker 3: How much longer I tell you take the bombus land? Are we ready? And ready? Are the ready to take up the land they'd been promised? Will any of us if you truly be ready? 00:01:26 Speaker 4: Click the link of the description to grow closer to God. There you'll find daily prayers, Bible plans, sleep stories, and so much more, all on the Prey dot com app click the link of the description to get started. 00:01:40 Speaker 1: Warmth was returning to the breeze, and Moses leaned heavily on his staff, letting its touch soothe his face. Feeling restless, he walked beyond the camp to stretch his legs and calm his nerves. Spring was coming, a signal of change and a new beginning. He had watched Eliezer and the priests handle the censer sufficiently, calculating tribal allotments for the promised land. The competence of the new generation impressed him. They hardly needed him now. Moses found that unbidden, As if drawn by some force, his gaze kept returning to the mountain top that loomed before their camp. It was the mount that stood between their camp and the land of Canaan Mount Nebo. 00:02:33 Speaker 3: Is it time? Lord? Have I done enough? 00:02:40 Speaker 1: The warm breeze of the morning again tickled Moses's face. He closed his eyes, leaned into its touch again, and waited for the Lord's response. 00:02:51 Speaker 5: Yes, Yes, the time is drawing near Moses. The confirmation hit him like a wave. With it came relief, not quite acceptance, but at least the suspense of waiting had been lifted. With his eyes still closed, Moses took a deep breath and finally asked the question that had long tugged at his heart, yet he had never been brave enough to utter aloud. 00:03:20 Speaker 6: Can I see it first? 00:03:25 Speaker 5: Yes? 00:03:26 Speaker 1: Relief bloomed into something akin to hope in Moses's heart. He would set his eyes on the culmination of his life's mission before he passed from this mortal life, he would see the promised land. 00:03:42 Speaker 7: You will go up to the mountain range, to the mount called Nabo, and from there you will see the land I have given to the children of Israel. After you have seen it, you will be gathered to your people as erin us. You will not enter because of your rebellion at Kadosh, but you will see it. You will see the land I have given the Israelites to your people, for they have always been your people, as I have always been your God. 00:04:19 Speaker 1: There was something in the certainty and finality of the Lord's words that transformed the hope in Moses's heart into the fruition of true acceptance. Somewhere along the way, Moses had started to mistake his mission for his identity because it was so tied up with his mission. He started to wonder if he only held value to the people as their leader. He even wondered the same about God. If he was no longer useful to anyone and he had failed at his mission, what did that say of his value? Why was he still living if he had outlived his purpose? But no, just as he had been drawn out of the water and chosen all those years ago, he realized that had never stopped being true. He had been chosen, and not for anything he had done. 00:05:14 Speaker 3: Or would do. 00:05:16 Speaker 1: He was the Lord's and the Lord had been there all along, long before he asked Moses to save his people, God saved him. And what was more was that he had promised to be with him back on that first day in the fire, and it was just as true to day. Moses had just lost sight of the truth. God asked Moses to save his people, not become their savior. Though it had taken a lifetime for him to believe it, he had become one of them at last. Who he was was quite simple, after all, he belonged to God. Moved by gratitude and com passion, Moses once more interceded for the people he loved, to the God who loved them even more. Moses called on God's name, one that spoke to his intimate discerning nature. 00:06:14 Speaker 8: My God, you are the god of the spirits of all flesh, the God who gives breath to all and understands all people. My people will find themselves in rebellion again. He who surely fail and falter, please a point them a leader. Appoint them a leader who will understand their shortcomings and lead with a steady faithful And one who, like your nature, knows the people according to this hear it, someone who will go out before them. 00:07:04 Speaker 3: So your people won't be like she, We will to shave them. 00:07:10 Speaker 1: Moses again felt the comforting breeze and an unspoken affirmation in his heart. He also knew the name of who this leader should be, even before the Lord spoke. 00:07:23 Speaker 7: Joshua, Joshua, son of Nund. 00:07:27 Speaker 1: Of course it had to be Joshua. There was no other. 00:07:33 Speaker 7: You will take Joshua before all the people. He will be standing before Eliezer, my High Priest, and you will lay your hands upon him, and he too will possess my spirit to guide him. You will commission him before the people. All of Israel will see that your authority has been passed to him, and they will obey him. 00:07:57 Speaker 1: Moses beamed. Perhaps he had always known, or known on some level, that he had been preparing him for a time such as this. Joshua received moses summons around midday and hurried to his tent. When he entered, he found Moses alone and standing peacefully at attention. Joshua knew Moses better than he had ever known either of his parents, having served him for more than half his life, but he found moses expression inscrutable, absolutely unreadable. He was pleased about something, but something more complex lurked under the surface. 00:08:40 Speaker 8: Joshua, my son, please come in and sit. 00:08:46 Speaker 1: Joshua sat where Moses gestured, and waited patiently for Moses to sit across the low table. Moses did not join him, but instead served him wine and bread. Joshua did not quite know what to make of this formal gesture. Joshua made to stand and help him. 00:09:05 Speaker 3: Please, Moses, let me help you. 00:09:08 Speaker 1: Moses held out his hand and stopped him. 00:09:11 Speaker 3: No, allow me. 00:09:14 Speaker 1: Feeling rather awkward, Joshua waited while his one hundred and twenty year old master, the leader of the nation of Israel, served him a simple meal. 00:09:25 Speaker 8: There is a story passed down from Abraham that the high priest and King of Salem once served wine and bread to Abraham. Can you imagine a king serving a wandering sheepherder a meal? But I suppose that's true leadership, isn't it serving? 00:09:52 Speaker 1: When Moses was done serving the food, he sat across from him, lifted his cup and gestured for Joshua to do the same. 00:10:02 Speaker 8: To you, Joshua, thank you for your faithfulness. You've remained steadfast and loyal all these years, stewarding the small tasks I gave you as well as the vast. 00:10:19 Speaker 3: Thank you, Moses, You've been kind to me. It's an honor to serve you and the Lord. 00:10:24 Speaker 1: Moses inclined his head and both men drank. Moses was quiet for a moment. He clearly had more to say, but was unsure of how to say it. Joshua patiently waited. 00:10:39 Speaker 8: I have something to tell you, Joshua, two things. Actually, Well, now that I've come to it, I am not sure how to begin. 00:10:52 Speaker 3: It's all right, Lord Moses, will hear anything you want to tell me. I know you will. 00:10:58 Speaker 8: Joshua, do you remember the day the Lord brought water out of the rock at Kadesh. 00:11:07 Speaker 1: Joshua's heart hammered in his chest. A memory flared, urgent and persistent the prophecy. Though he had tried to forget the words countless times and bury them deep under the depths of denial, the words from the prophecy from almost forty years ago ran in his mind. A prophet had told him that he would lead the nation one day. Although Joshua paid little heed to the thought. He was too fiercely and presently devoted to Moses. Nor was Joshua a man driven by personal ambition for status. Joshua realized Moses was waiting for his acknowledgment. Breathless, he answered him. 00:11:50 Speaker 8: Yes, I remember I I disobeyed the Lord that day. I I rebelled against our God, and because of this rebellion, I am not permitted to enter the Promised Land. 00:12:10 Speaker 1: Even as he said the words, Joshua realized the weight of what had been spoken to him. What he had known, what he had always known but refused to accept. His face must have betrayed that truth, because Moses leaned over the table and peered deep into his eyes, searching, you knew. 00:12:35 Speaker 9: Ah, it doesn't matter. 00:12:40 Speaker 1: Relief flooded through Joshua. He didn't know how he would explain what he knew anyway, But then the gravity of Moses's words hit him. He could not fathom the grief and devastation weighing on his Moses. He finally found his voice again and reached across the table to grasp Moses his hand. 00:13:00 Speaker 3: AM so sorry, Moss, siety, I truly am. What will happen now? 00:13:07 Speaker 1: Moses placed his free hand on top of Joshua's and clasped it firmly. He held his gaze and nodded gently, me, of course you. Moses's face broke into a genuine smile edged in pride. Joshua struggled to comprehend as he reeled at this revelation. 00:13:31 Speaker 8: Yes, Joshua, you will lead the Israelites. You will lead them into the Promised Land. 00:13:45 Speaker 1: A dawn the next day, all of Israel gathered to witness Joshua's commissioning. He stood before Eliezer and the entire priestly order, with the nation looking on the tabernacle. The towering cloud pillar, the presence of the Lord formed a majestic, supernatural backdrop. Eliezer prayed a simple blessing over Joshua, who knelt before him. Moses' heart swelled with pride as he envisioned the great things this humble and worthy man would accomplish for Israel in the service of the Lord. 00:14:25 Speaker 3: May the Lord bless you and protect you. 00:14:29 Speaker 1: Feeling prompted by the Lord, Moses stepped forward and laid his hands on Joshua as Eliezer continued to speak over. 00:14:37 Speaker 7: Him, Maizen, Lord, make his face to shine upon you. 00:14:43 Speaker 1: As soon as his hands touched Joshua's shoulders, Moses felt the overwhelming and undeniable stirring of the Lord. Moses did not look up, but he could sense that the witnesses could feel it as well. Moses added a quiet prayer of his own to his nephew's blessing. 00:15:03 Speaker 6: Yoeeh, he with Joshua as you have been with me, and be gracious unto you who you will not leave him or abandon him. 00:15:15 Speaker 9: May your Lord look with favor upon you. 00:15:19 Speaker 8: Have him not turn to the right or the left, And let not your law depart. 00:15:26 Speaker 9: From his mouth, and give you peace. Help him be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for you with him wherever he goes. 00:15:41 Speaker 3: Amen. 00:15:46 Speaker 4: If today's reading moved to you. The pray dot Com app is where you can go deeper with daily prayers, Bible plans, and more. Download it free link in the description. 00:15:55 Speaker 1: This Pray dot Com production is only made possible by ount dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.