Have you noticed that it seems every task the Lord assigned his servants in both the New and the Old Testament could not be accomplished by human means? Things such as go into the greatest power on earth and tell them that God sent you to remove their free source of labor, (MOSES), or lead these people across the Jordan river when it is at flood tide but do not use a boat; (JOSHUA), OR take on a force of a thousand trained and fierce fighting men by yourself and win with just a piece of bone (SAMSON).
Perhaps that is at times how you and I feel over the task the Lord has assigned us.
Our tasks may be much smaller than those listed above, but no less daunting.
For instance, we might be doing our fighting in efforts to raise Godly children, or building a business on Christian principles.
It may be we are called to build His church or teach a home group or simply to win our neighbor to Christ.
As easy as these things sound, none of them can be accomplished in our own strength.
They will indeed need the supernatural power of the Lord.
Like most believers, I have often become overwhelmed by the things the Lord has asked me to accomplish for Him.
When this begins to happen, I notice a weariness that seems to grow ever greater and a loss of the original vision as problems increase and multiply.
If not dealt with, a hopelessness will set in and then a very real decline in the truly simple things like vacuuming or going to work begin to become ever harder.
If you are the wife or the one called to help someone experiencing these things, it can become an even greater burden upon you as you try to pick up the things you see that need to be done, often without the gratitude of the one you are doing them for.
Thankfully, like always, the precious Word of God holds the answers we so desperately need.
When God called Joseph to pass over the Jordan and lead His people to possess the Promised Land by defeating seven nations greater and mightier than the Israelites, it truly was a humanly impossible task.
To lead a hundred people to cross a river at flood tide without loss or injury with no bridge, boat, or barge is a big job; but to lead three million across- well that is mind boggling! It has become my experience that the greater the task the Lord calls us to, the greater the confirmation and affirmation we will receive.
I often say that if you are experiencing supernatural revelation it is because you are going to need it.
We better hold on to what the Lord says and hold on tight.
The Lord gave Joshua a great task, but He also gave him great support and resources.
Even so, the Lord will do the same for us.
First, the Lord gave Joshua clear directions about what he was to do.
Joshua 1:2-3 "Moses my servant is dead.
Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them -to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
Second, the Lord gave Joshua a promise.
Remember this; the Lord never gives us an assignment without giving us the resources we need to accomplish it.
Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Third, the Lord told Joshua what his part was.
Be strong and very courageous.
Both of these words - strong and courageous, carry the sense of holding onto something with all of your strength.
In this case hold on to the promises I have given to you, Joshua, with all of your might.
No matter what size the opposition is, My promise to you is greater.
That is a great Word for all of us.
Joshua 1:7-8 "Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.
Then you will be prosperous and successful.
" Before I close this writing, I want to include one more point even though there are many others we could consider.
This is one I have not heard much teaching on and I think as a result we have many tragic situations arise from those who think they have heard from the Lord.
So then the fourth thing we need when the Lord assigns us a task far greater than we can accomplish is Divine Endorsement! What do I mean by this? Look at what the Lord says and does for Joshua after He assigns him the near impossible task of possessing the Promised Land.
Joshua 3:7 And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
I have watched as many of God's children began to try to accomplish what the Lord had put into their heart without the divine confirmation of the people the Lord gave them to influence and always with tragic results.
When the Lord gives us a great task we need to ask Him for confirmation and endorsement from Him, and the bigger the task, the more confirmation we need to ask for.
Then we need the patience to wait for His timing.
This is a pattern throughout the Word of God.
Whether we are a young David or a young Joseph.
There is a season when the Lord will lift us up and give us divine favor among the people to accomplish His purpose.
Until the Lord surrounds us with the right people and the right resources we dare not try to move ahead of God because we are not ready.
Young David had to wait in a cave until the Lord began to send him the four hundred men that were a tithe of what was coming.
When David learned how to work with these outcasts the Lord gave him more.