GODLY CHARACTER

Character is the mental or moral qualities that make a person, group, nation, etc different from others. Your character is your total description. Character itself is the accumulation of behaviors / attitudes that have become part of one over the years. It defines who you are and what you do. Whatever you are in this world, whatever might be your achievement, if you don’t have good character, you have nothing.

Character goes a long way to determine one’s influence on those around, whether positive or negative. Joshua as a case study. The life style/character of Joshua was a basic element that informed his ability to elicit obedience from his followers and fellow Jews.

We first heard of him when he helped Moses during the Exodus, when he was sent by Moses to fight against the Amalekites; a battle which he won gallantly, bringing glory to God and victory to His people (Exodus17:8-15). To have been chosen by such a friend of God for such an onerous task goes a long way to tell us how faithfully committed he would have been to the course of God. Character!!!

His positive stance along with Caleb when they were both sent with ten others to spy the land of Cannan (Num.13:8,16; 14:6-9) projected him as a man with unwavering faith in Yahweh and a visionary motivator who could spur others up to follow God’s unfailing leading. No wonder himself and Caleb were the only ones who saw the Promised Land of their age mates that left Egypt.

 

Little wonder then that he became the trusted lieutenant of Moses the great man of God so much that he eventually stepped into the shoes of the latter after the latter’s translation (Num.27:12-23; 34:17; Josh.1:1-2). God saw in Joshua a man who could lead His people to follow Him in the actualisation of His eternal programme for them. Can God say that of you? Does your antecedent show you as one who is faithfully committed to doing God’s will so much that you can motivate others to do the same?

In his adventures as the military leader of the people, we see him exhuming real confidence that is based on nothing but the impeccability of the Jehovah Elshadai.

In his exploits, we see his total commitment to obeying God’s directives. He explicitly followed God’s instructions in cases such as the battle against Jericho, Ai and other people. He even divided the land according to Divine directives. The victory that greeted the way he led the people to follow God’s directives coupled with the deceit they suffered from the Hivites of Gibeon when they failed to ask direction from God (Joshua 9:14-27) would have taught the people that continued obedience to God’s Word was the only secret of their continued victory and continued possession of the Promised Land.

His declaration in his old age, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15b) is a summary of what Joshua stood for in his life time. He saw God as the only one worthy of his worship and service.

When Joshua was exhibiting the exemplary character, he did not know to what extent he would go. He did all he could to assist his master, Moses in carrying out the divine assignment. He honour God with everything. He obeyed God to letter. He meditates day and night in God’s Word. At the end of it all he became a Master.  Are you entrusted with one position or the other? Do everything within your ability to be faithful and successful in line with the Word of God. Character can mar or make you; check your character. You didn’t make yourself to be what you are, therefore respect others.