In what ways can we "help your brothers" as instructed in Joshua 1:14? The Command in Context “Your wives, your children, and your livestock may remain in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all you mighty men of valor shall cross over armed ahead of your brothers and help them.” (Joshua 1:14) What Helping Looked Like for Israel - Leaving comfort: the eastern tribes already had their inheritance, yet they chose hardship for the sake of the others (v. 12-15). - Going first and going armed: they led the charge, exposing themselves to greatest danger. - Staying until the mission was finished: they remained “until the LORD gives your brothers rest” (v. 15). Translating the Principle Today Helping our brothers and sisters involves the same heart Joshua called for—sacrificial, active, persistent. 1. Stand up and step forward • Show up when spiritual battles rage—prayer meetings, crisis support, hospital visits. • Refuse passive spectatorship; serve on the “front lines” of ministry needs (Ephesians 6:12-18). 2. Shoulder burdens together • “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) • Practical aid: meals, childcare, financial help, job networking. • Emotional support: listening ears, timely words (Proverbs 25:11). 3. Stay until the Lord grants rest • Commit for the long haul—discipleship, mentoring, ongoing accountability (Philippians 1:27). • Celebrate victories but don’t abandon when the battle drags on (2 Timothy 4:16-17). 4. Invest your strengths • Every tribe had warriors; every believer has Spirit-given gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11). • Deploy skills—administration, teaching, craftsmanship, hospitality. 5. Encourage relentlessly • “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) • Speak faith when others doubt; remind them of God’s promises (Hebrews 10:24-25). 6. Guard unity • Crossing the Jordan together forged oneness; strife would have crippled conquest. • “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) 7. Prioritize others’ welfare • “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4) • Delay personal goals—vacation, purchases, leisure—when a brother’s need is urgent. Why It Matters - Reflects God’s character: He “sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6). - Advances the mission: united labor accelerates gospel progress (John 17:21). - Strengthens faith: shared trials knit hearts and magnify God’s deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Moving Forward Together Helping our brothers means marching ahead, armed with love, resources, and steadfast commitment, until every fellow believer enjoys the rest God has promised. |
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