Ye Have Not Passed This Way Heretofore

Ye Have Not Passed This Way Heretofore
Walter Grubb, Headmaster
Faculty In-Service
August 8, 2012

Following the death of Moses, God chose Joshua to step into the leadership role held by one of the greatest leaders of all time. After Joshua assumes the responsibilities of leadership, we find the Israelites camped beside the Jordan River. He and his officers are preparing to lead them on their journey across the river into the Promised Land after 40 years of wilderness wanderings. 

I would like to share 3 brief thoughts from this 3,500-year-old story—nuggets that I hope will encourage us and inspire us as we cross our “river” and begin our journey through the Promised Land of the 2012-2013 school year. We pick up the story in Chapter 3 of the book of Joshua.

The first pearl of wisdom I notice is an admonition to be DILIGENT. Verse 1 says,
THEN JOSHUA ROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING…” He had a pattern of rising early. He was known for this behavior. (3:1, 6:12, 7:16, 8:10). How do people describe/remember us? Joshua loved his job. He was more concerned about his mission than his comfort. He was mission driven. What is your mission? What is our mission?

TKA MISSION STATEMENT: THE KING’S ACADEMY IS A CHRIST-CENTERED DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL, REACHING LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OF ALL SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, EDUCATING AND PREPARING THEM ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY AND SPIRITUALLY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.

Most of the people I know who do great things rise early. This is a reminder that aof us in positions of leadership, must be at our posts at appointed times. The wise King Solomon said: DO NOT LOVE SLEEP, LEST YOU BECOME POOR.(Proverbs 20:13) We set good examples for our students when we are prompt, diligent and vigilant.

For some among us, allow me to offer us a caveat: BALANCE! Dr. Sharp has given me 2 plaques for my office. One is on the door of the “executive washroom.” It says, “Don’t bug me. This is the only place I know what I am doing.” The other plaque is a quote from Psalm 127.

UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE,
THEY LABOR IN VAIN WHO BUILD IT;
UNLESS THE LORD GUARDS THE CITY,
THE WATCHMAN KEEPS AWAKE IN VAIN.
IT IS VAIN FOR YOU TO RISE UP EARLY,
TO RETIRE LATE,
TO EAT THE BREAD OF PAINFUL LABORS;
FOR HE GIVES TO HIS BELOVED EVEN IN HIS SLEEP.

Balance is the key to being DILIGENT without being ANXIOUS about it.

Second, let’s be DISCIPLINED. Verses 2-4:
AFTER THREE DAYS THE OFFICERS WENT THROUGHOUT THE CAMP, GIVING ORDERS TO THE PEOPLE: “WHEN YOU SEE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND THE PRIESTS, WHO ARE LEVITES, CARRYING IT, YOU ARE TO MOVE OUT FROM YOUR POSITIONS AND FOLLOW IT. THEN YOU WILL KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO, SINCE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS WAY BEFORE. BUT KEEP A DISTANCE OF ABOUT A THOUSAND YARDS BETWEEN YOU AND THE ARK; DO NOT GO NEAR IT.”
(KJV – YE HAVE NOT PASSED THIS WAY HERETOFORE.)

Discipline involves following God’s will, being obedient to God’s Word. “Disciplined” people are “disciples.” “Disciples” are “followers.” Although each of us is a leader by virtue of our positions, even leaders need a leader. The Israelites came to the Jordan River in faith, having been told that they should pass it.

We are come to the edge of the River 2012-2013. Our training and preparation has brought us here. Let us proceed as far as we can, and then depend on the Lord to take us through to the other side. Like the Israelites were to follow the ark, we, too, are asked to follow God’s Word, and the direction of the Spirit, in everything we do. They must follow the priests as far as they carried the ark, but no further. So we must follow the Lord and not get in front of Him.

Discipline involves reliance on God in unfamiliar territory. THEY HAD NOT PASSED THIS WAY BEFORE. All their way through the 40 years they spent in the wilderness had been an untrodden path, and more new territory lay ahead. We are going through new territory that we have not passed before.

This will be the first time in many years I won’t have some key people nearby. For the first time in 60 years, I won’t have my father to call and ask what he would do in a particular situation. And I am not the only one to bury a father this summer.

Nevertheless, in the path of Christian duty we may proceed with boldness and cheerfulness because we have the assurance of God’s presence. We need not fear; that will furnish us with such strength as we never had when we come to do a work we never have done. We do not know what lies ahead—poverty or wealth, pain or pleasure, labor or rest, persecution or praise, reproach or applause, life or death, good test scores or dismal test scores. We are merely called to follow—to follow the Author and Finisher of our faith.

We should take comfort in knowing that in every dangerous or difficult spot we trod, faith reveals the footprints of our Redeemer’s feet, affirming that we follow Him–that where He is, we may be also.

One other word about Discipline and following directions. The Israelites were told to keep their distance from the ark. That’s an odd directive: None of them were to come within a thousand yards of the ark. Why? First, distance in this case demonstrates reverence. God is holy—separate. When we are around something all the time, we begin to take it for granted. We must strive never to let our identity as a “Christian school” become commonplace. Maintain a perspective reflective of the high calling that is upon us.

Second, this suggests that the ark was able to protect itself, and needed not to be guarded by the men of war. It guarded them. What noble defiance of the enemy for unarmed priests to march with the prized possession, unprotected, 1,000 yards ahead of the others. It sent a statement. The ark of God was perfectly sufficient for its own safety and theirs that followed it! Let’s keep in mind that we are not doing God a favor by our sacrifice to teach in His Christian school. It is our privilege. He doesn’t need our help. We need His help. 

Finally, the ark was better seen by those that were to be led by it. It was in clear view. Let’s be careful that we do not confuse the focus of our students, that we do not call attention to ourselves this year, to the extent that we blur the vision of Jesus Christ that our students need to see.

My final major point is—let’s be DEDICATED. Verse 5 says, “CONSECRATE YOURSELVES, FOR TOMORROW THE LORD WILL DO AMAZING THINGS AMONG YOU.

There is an interesting note in the previous chapter when the Israeli spies went across the river and encountered Rahab. Although a foreigner, Rahab knew of the account of the parting of the Red Sea. She said word had spread throughout her land about this phenomenal event, terrifying everyone. In other words, the Israelites were being watched by the world. (Here’s something that isn’t emphasized: That had happened 40 years ago! Even still, they expected the Jordan River also to part for the Israelites. )

Guess what! People watch The King’s Academy. That awesome responsibility requires that we be DEDICATED. Part of our preparation for the task that lies before us is to sanctify ourselves for the journey.

We have a high calling. You are, in the words of Paul to his student Timothy, “APT (OR, ABLE) TO TEACH.” (sanctification) is not getting psyched up for a hard trip! We must prepare to receive the discoveries of God’s glory and his communications of grace. Because “THE LORD WILL DO AMAZING THINGS AMONG YOU.”

We must separate ourselves from other cares, devote ourselves to God’s honor, and cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. If we are to experience God’s love and power, we must put away sin, and be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

They were not told how they would pass the river, just that they should pass it. Similarly, we can count on some surprises and some adversity in the next 10 months. Nevertheless, we must go on in the way of our duty, trusting God to help us through them when we come to them. Let us proceed as far as we can, and depend on divine sufficiency for that which we find ourselves insufficient.

As we embark, let us periodically consider our diligence, dedication and discipline. It is a pleasure to be serving along your side in God’s Kingdom.