In the Philippines, a local Church pastor used the following parable to illustrate Christ's offer of rest (Matt. ll:28) and the response of people who won't trust Him completely: The driver of a carabao wagon was on his way to market when he overtook an old man carrying a heavy load. Taking compassion on him, the driver invited the old man to ride in the wagon. Gratefully the old man accepted. After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. To his surprise, he found him still straining under the heavy weight, for he had not taken the burden off his shoulders.
23:1 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man.
We are always looking for a rest from the challenges that we face and the issues that we go through. Infact one thing after another is always there to bother us. Just when we think, this one is settled and things are fine, our hands are full again. Perhaps that’s the way of life for most of us who want to keep going in life and want to make an impact in the world around us.
Joshua and his people kept on fighting battles after battles. They faced one enemy after enemy. Though they were in the battlefield and sweating it out, It was God who was leading them and giving victory after victory. The enemies would have remained, the territories would have stayed unconquered, BUT GOD.
Joshua and his men were skilled and were expert in war and all the other strategy, but for victory they had to always depend on God. They could find rest only when they completely depended on God. They could enjoy the blessing only when it was given by God and they took it from God. For He satisfies.
Stanley Thomas Isac
Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at stanleytisac@gmail.com
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