Enable – to give the authority or means to do something; make it possible to do something; make something possible.
Joshua had been given a seemingly impossible task. His leader and mentor had just sprung the news upon him that he was the one the Lord had chosen to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. In lay man’s terms, that meant Joshua would be responsible for leading millions(?) of people across the River Jordan, to take over a land where they would have to fight the current inhabitants for possession. It boggles the mind. God knew all this and yet He still said that ‘Joshua would enable Israel to take possession’.
‘Joshua son of Nun, who attends you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit it’. Deuteronomy 1:38 (HCSB)
‘Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land the Lord swore to give to their fathers. You will enable them to take possession of it’. Deuteronomy 31:7 (HCSB)
This is because the Lord Himself enabled Joshua and the people to take possession. Joshua 1:1-7 takes place after the death of Moses and in my bible it is titled ‘The Encouragement of Joshua’ – what I love about this is that it is God Himself encouraging Joshua! He knew that He had charged Joshua with a gargantuan task. He didn’t abandon him nor did He just leave Joshua to figure it out on his own. Throughout the whole process, God’s presence, favour, wisdom and instructions were evident.
Today’s word prompt had me thinking deeply over the past 12-14 months and I’m amazed by not only how God has brought me out of a dark time in my health (which then of course impacted everything else not least of all because of the pandemic) but also what He has enabled me to achieve. Against all odds. Much of the past year was seemingly spent facing one impossible obstacle after the other. I can’t imagine exactly how Joshua felt after all the people finally made it to the promised land but I imagined he, like me, also looked back and was amazed at how God had enabled them to triumph.
No matter what you are facing today, I hope you are encouraged because just like Joshua and the people of Israel, you have a not-so-secret secret weapon:
God, our Enabler.
This post was originally written for Five Minute Friday but may also be linked up at these places.
I’m going to put that on my desktop today – “God the Enabler!” Thank you so much for the reminder.
I think I should do that too!
I’m glad to read how God has been at work within you, enabling you as He did Joshua and Moses!
“God, our Enabler.” Such a powerful statement, Wemi. (FMF #16)
Our not so secret, secret weapon – our Enabler!!!
God can make it happen;
go on, now, take His bet!
The devil gets caught nappin’,
and you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.
God can smooth the roughest ways,
break down the highest walls,
so better give Him thanks and praise
and brass-bright trumpet calls
’cause He didn’t have to do this,
but thought us worth the price
to accept the Judas-kiss,
to die, and roll the dice
to give us life we didn’t earn,
that we might love Him in return.
Wemi, another characteristic (and name) of God to remember-Enabler. I always appreciate the way you expound on scriptural narratives.
“Not so secret weapon” — I love that! FMF#55