The Other Side

Humans Make Things So Complicated

As humans we make things exceptionally difficult on ourselves. We really do. A man and woman get into a sexual relationship outside of the will of God. As is expected, such a relationship gets difficult. When you ask them about it, their reply is:

“It’s Complicated”

No, it’s not complicated. We make it complicated. We don’t listen to God or His Word and try to do it ourselves in our own ways and find complications. This has never changed. As Daniel that wonderful and righteous Prophet of God rightly said:

“O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee,
but unto us CONFUSION OF FACES” (Daniel 9:7)

When we depart from God and His Word – living as He tells us to live – we get confusion of face. Iniquity – disobedience to God – brings confusion of face (Ezra 9:7). Oh that we would remember:

“God is not the Author of confusion,
But of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33)”

I was standing in a hospital hallway the other day, waiting to visit and pray with a sick person. As I stood there I decided to read my Bible. I still carry a leather bound Bible with me when I visit people. Some carry them on their electronic devices – I just prefer the old bound Bible. Not judging you, by the way: I love technology! But nothing beats the feel of the old leather Treasure. As I was reading in Joshua I came across a phrase I honest can’t say ever really struck me before. I suspect it’s because – as I said – we all make things too complicated. The phrase was this.

Turn with me in your Bibles to Joshua chapter 24. I want to show you what I saw.

Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

Joshua 24:3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Now unless you’re blind, deaf, or just pure dumb you saw the phrase, the other side of the flood. As soon as I read that I said to the Lord “I see a sermon in this”
and He told me “tell them”.

So I’m going to tell you. You can make this complicated or you can just let God speak to you. The phrase the other side of the flood is not Joshua’s invention. Joshua is at the end of his career of service as a Judge in Israel. He has honorably served the Lord, and is preparing to retire. He wants Israel to hear a final word from God.

Joshua 24:1-2 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said unto all the people, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL …

This is God’s Word. Not Joshua’s word. God’s word.

Obeying God’s Word Brings Blessing

The people came together in one accord at Shechem.
Why Shechem?
How did they get to Shechem?

It was at Shechem that God called out Abram who would become Abraham. God spoke to him and said “Follow Me, and I will bless.” Now that’s not complicated. Hear God, follow God. Because of that promise Abraham built the first altar to God in Shechem (Genesis 12:7). When Jacob, Abraham’s grandson repented and began to follow God he buried his idols at Shechem. Jacob built an altar to God our Father at Shechem (Genesis 33:18-20) and built another altar at Bethel (Genesis 35:1-4) when God had him go there. When Joshua first led Israel into the Promised Land it was at Shechem that this generation repented and pledged to follow God’s call (Joshua 8:30-35) following Achan’s sin (Joshua 7). Following their pledge they built another altar at Shechem. From that point on Joshua and Israel had NOTHING but triumph. Following God and simply obeying Him brought blessing beyond measure.

Now the Promised Land has been taken, and Israel is triumphant. Why? Because they followed God. So as they all stand at Shechem they presented themselves before God. Oh Beloved, do you not know the words of our Lord?

Matthew 12:25 … Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand .. (see also Luke 11:17)

God calls His people to unity with HIM and with ONE ANOTHER. We who are His are to follow HIM TOGETHER. As they stand before God, the Lord Himself speaks through Joshua’s mouth:

Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL …

This is not Joshua’s opinion. This is God’s word coming through his humble servant. Hear God’s word!

Joshua 24:2 … Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

Your forefathers on the other side of the flood served other gods. Let’s look at that phrase “other side of the flood” in the Hebrew. Many versions translate this text as “the other side of the RIVER” – perhaps the version you are reading does that. The Hebrew עֵבֶר ʻêber, (pronounced ay’-ber) נָהָר nâhâr, (pronounced naw-hawr’) can indeed be translated “the other side of the river” but can also be translated “flood or floods” (see the New American Standard translation of nâhâr in Psalm 93:3) or “rushing streams” (see the New American Standard translation in Isaiah 59:19) or “seas” (see the New American Standard translation in Jonah 2:3). In reality the word nâhâr can be used for any large body of water. In our Joshua text today the word is used as a reference to the Jordan River which was flooded when Israel passed over it. Yet they by faith they heeded God’s Word. In union with God and with one another the Bible tells us that:

Joshua 3:15-16 … as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon a heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

As soon as God’s people did what God told them to do, the floods were held back, and God’s people went through the midst of the waters as if on dry land. This was not the first time God did this. The first generation of Israel left left Egypt because they obeyed the Lord. After they left Egypt it wasn’t long before Pharaoh and all the godless pagans chased the Lord’s people. As Israel followed the Lord the Lord led them to the edge of another Flood, the Red Sea. God’s people began to revolt as they saw the Egyptian Army marching toward them. They began to grumble, to backbite, to fragment. “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. (Exodus 14:11-12)”. Artist Keith Green wrote a song before he went to be with the Lord called “So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt”. The lyrics are amusing.

So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it’s warm and secure.
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure.
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it’s getting so hard
Are you sorry you’re out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard?
Well there’s nothing do but travel,
And we sure travel a lot!
‘Cause it’s hard to keep your feet from moving,
When the sand gets so hot!
And in the morning it’s manna hotcakes,
We snack on manna all day.
And we sure had a winner last night for dinner,
Flaming manna souffle!

What happened at the flood that was the Red Sea? You know the story. Moses told Israel:

Exodus 14:13-14 … Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

When Moses said STAND STILL he didn’t mean they shouldn’t move their feet. They would have to move their feet. But God wanted them to be still, look up, and trust Him. God was going to do a miracle. But God wouldn’t do the miracle if they wouldn’t hush up and quit blaming God. God also wouldn’t do the miracle if they wouldn’t do what God said.

Beloved, we must do what God says if we
expect to receive the blessing.
God will get us through the flood,
through the impossible rivers and seas.
But we must hear Him and do as He says!
It makes no human sense that Moses’ staff will part tons of water.
It makes no human sense that a Box which is the Ark
will hold back a raging river.
It makes no human sense that believing on and obeying
Jesus will bring blessing and eternal life.
It makes no human sense that this Book of Books is God breathed.
It makes no human sense – but it is true nonetheless!

I could talk about Noah and the Ark of Genesis 6 – and the REALLY big Flood that sin brought on the world – but I won’t. I will say this. When you follow God you will find blessing in your life. When you just plain obey the Lord’s Word you will be blessed. But when you follow idols – which includes yourself – then you bring a curse on your life. Want to be blessed? Follow Jesus! Follow this precious Word! Love one another. Love God. Now that’s not hard, is it?

To Believe Is To Put Away The Other gods

Joshua 24:3 I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

God took Abraham. How did God take Abraham? He told Abraham what to do, and Abraham did it. God doesn’t pick us up by the nape of our necks and drag us where He wants us to be. He speaks to us. He directs us. He tells us. How did Abraham get children. Did Abraham sit in the recliner day after day and bemoan the fact that he had no kids? Or did he do something about it? Beloved, the only miraculous conception in the Bible is the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was to Mary that God said “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Jesus was born supernaturally. Isaac was born the old fashioned way. If you don’t know what that is, go home and ask your mommy! God said that He multiplied Abraham’s seed, and gave him Isaac. An impotent man was made potent. God changed him – and Abraham obeyed God and had a child.

God moves us when we hear Him and do as He says. He blessed Abraham, and He will bless you.

When we were on the other side of the flood we served the gods. We served the Roman god Bacchus, the god of sex and alcohol. We served the Greek god Narcissus, the god of self worship. We served the Egyptian god Isis, the goddess of health and medicine. We served mother earth as a goddess. We served many other gods and goddesses. But like Abraham we put away the other gods and goddesses and love only the One True God.

Joshua 24:14 … Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

You are not as you were before. When in Egypt you served other gods. When you were wandering you served other gods. When you were with your forefather Terah you served other gods. You have seen that believing in the Lord brings blessing.

I am not my own. I am bought with a price. God has shed His Blood for me on Calvary. God called me from the fishing nets. He said “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”. Believing is not a one time thing, but a daily obedience. Let me say that again:

Believing is not a one time occurrence.
It is a daily faithfulness to God.

What does God call you to do? Fear the Lord. Show Him the respect due His status. Yes, the Bible says that there is no fear in love, but you take this out of context. I do not fear hell, for Jesus Christ gave Himself for me. Because of this I have boldness in the day of judgment (1 John 4:17). I do not fear judgment. Because Jesus gave Himself for me, I do not fear death, for God dwelleth in me, and I in Him (1 John 4:12). He has given us of His Spirit (1 John 4:13), and death but a pin prick for I am immortal because my God is immortal. No, I do not fear anything on this earth. But the Son of God should Fear the Lord. We should Fear hurting Him. We should Fear disappointing Him. We should Fear to walk in a way that He does not walk. My power is in Him. Has not Christ said:

John 15:5 … without me ye can do nothing.

You took the Promised Land walking with and in God. Will you now keep that which you have without Him? Absolutely not! Let us who are His Fear the Lord. As Moses said,

Exodus 33:15 … If thy presence go not with me …
carry us not up hence.

If God is not in it, if Christ is not glorified by it, I DO NOT WANT IT! And neither should you, dear Christian.

What does God call you to do? Serve Him in sincerity and in truth. The Christianity brayed about today from mulish pulpits and musical nonsenses makes out that God serves us. God is a massive Waiter Who watches our every move, daring not to upset us lest we in rage without our affection. May I tell you that this is satanic nonsense. The Christianity that does not teach service to God and service to others is not Christianity at all, but an ancient evil that was first suggested by a serpent in the Garden of Eden. God does not exist to serve you, but you Him. We are to Serve Him not to be saved, but BECAUSE we are saved. What did Jesus teach us?

Luke 22:26-27 … But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Our Master served. Our Savior served. Our Jesus commands that we serve. Not sit. Serve. Serve. Bend your knees, bend your back, and serve. That selfish thing which has become the Church in America and the American Christian is not even close to the Church that Christ died for. Jesus showed you how to serve. Look at the nails in His hands and feet. Listen to the crowd mock Him. Do you not know that at any time Jesus could have called out to the Father, and He would have at once sent to rescue Him twelve legions of Angels (Matthew 26:53)? But He did not. He gave everything in service to save us.

And yet most of us cannot sit still for 30 minutes to hear from His Word once a week.
Oh Beloved, let it not be so!

The selfish Christian is the unspiritual Christian. As Jesus served, let us serve. Serve not because you MUST. Serve Him in sincerity and in truth. This is the way to blessing. Works will not save you – you cannot work your way to Heaven. But if you are saved by faith in Christ then you will not be the way you were. You will gladly serve Him.

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

When you serve Him with gladness, when you serve Him in sincerity and in truth, then your heart will overflow with gladness. You will experience His presence. You see, the reason that God is speaking to Joshua and through Joshua is because Joshua served the Lord in sincerity and in truth.

Make Up Your Mind Who You Believe

Choose. Quit sitting on the fence and choose. If you are not going to serve the Lord Jesus then quit pretending. An unbeliever pretending to be a believer is just a fool. If you don’t believe in Him, then obey the god you believe in. But Beloved, I’ve made up my mind. You can call me homophobic, a hater, a misogynist, a b——, or anything else you want to call me. As God is my Witness I hate no one. I wish you all would come to this side of the flood. I really do. I wish you would trust Jesus, step out on faith, and let Him guide your life. I wish you would stop writing your own story and let the Lord Jesus Christ become the Author and Finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). I pray that for you. But if you won’t, then be honest with yourselves. Be honest, and serve that false god. But I stand with Joshua. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Amen!