It’s hard to imagine Joshua relaxing under an olive tree or tending vines on a terraced hillside behind his house. He’s such an active and dynamic person. Neither generals nor spiritual leaders seem to be candidates for retirement.
Still, with the victories won and the land divided, Joshua settled down on his own inheritance. The Bible says he received the town of Timnath Serah, and “built up the town and settled there.”
Actually, Joshua’s retirement wasn’t simply a well-merited reward for his decades of exemplary service. Joshua was retired for the benefit of Israel! Why?
When the people of Manasseh needed more land (Josh. 17), they hurried to Joshua and complained. Joshua told them, “Clear land for yourselves.” The Manassites argued, fearful because the Canaanites had chariots of iron. They wanted Joshua to fight their battles for them. But Joshua wisely said, “Though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”
That last phrase is the key. “You can drive them out.” It was time for Israel to stop depending on Joshua and to step out on their own. Manasseh, and all the other tribes, needed to trust God for themselves.
Joshua’s wisdom in retiring is a lesson each of us needs to apply. We need to apply it as our children grow up, and especially when they leave home. We can encourage them. But we need to stop doing everything for them.
Counsellors need to apply the lesson in their relationship with counselees. Spiritual leaders need to apply it in their relationship with a congregation, an organization, or with disciples. There comes a time when each of us needs to step down and tell those we have nurtured, “You can
drive them out. It’s time for me to retire. And time to learn what God can do for and through you.”
Personal Application
In what relationships do you need to retire and let others be responsible for themselves?
Quotable
“When God contemplates some great work, He begins it by the hand of some poor, weak, human creature, to whom He afterwards gives aid, so that the enemies who seek to obstruct it are overcome.”—Martin Luther
REF;
The 365-Day Devotional Commentary (Lawrence O. Richards)