Arise: Week 1, January 3, 2016

A mulligan in golf is a second chance.  It is usually granted after the first attempt is duffed. Wouldn’t it be great if life afforded us a second chance?  Well, the good news of the gospel is that we can have a second chance.  

Israel got a second chance to enter the Promised Land.  Now, to be sure, they blew it the first time.   God had rescued them from Egypt and brought them miraculously to the brink of the Promised Land.  There they balked.  They doubted and refused to go forward.  That whole generation died in the wilderness.  What should have been a couple weeks’ journey from Egypt to Israel turned into forty years of wandering.  Finally, God brought them back to the Jordan.  The ball is teed up.  It’s their mulligan moment.  God says,

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.

Thankfully, they had learned their lesson and this new generation arose and said “yes” to the Lord!  

As we retrace the journey of the Israelites, it is an opportunity us to have a fresh start too.  May He hear us say “yes” as He calls us to a new place of obedience in 2016!

Arise!

 

Arise

“Make the Most of Your Mulligan”

Joshua 1:1-5

 

1. Face the facts (v. 1-2a)

 

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, “Moses my servant is dead . . .” (Joshua 1:1-2a).

 

1. Hard truth

 

1. Heartening truth

 

2. Face the future

 

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 1:2b-3).

 

1. Partnership with God

 

1. Promises from God

 

3. Face the foes

 

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you (Joshua 1:5).

 

1. Clarification about this promise

 

1. Condition for this promise