Sabbath: Recipe for Success
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 27th of September 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study Deuteronomy 18:15-22; Joshua 1:1-18; Hebrews 6:17-18; Ephesians 6:10-18; Psalms 1:1-3; Romans 3:31.
Memory Text: “ ‘Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go’ ” (Joshua 1:7, NKJV).
Benjamin Zander, musical director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, taught a music interpretation class. He observed the students’ anxiety as they faced the evaluation of their performance. In order to put the students at ease and to open them up to their full potential, he announced on the first day of the class that everybody would get an “A.” This “A” was not an expectation to live up to “but a possibility to live into.” The only requirement was for the students to write a letter within the first two weeks of the semester but dated at the end of the class. The letter explained why they deserved the high grade.
The book of Joshua is about new possibilities. Moses, who had dominated 40 years of Israel’s history, belonged in the past. The Exodus from Egypt and the wanderings in the wilderness, tragically marked by rebellion and stubbornness, had ended. A new generation, willing to obey God, was ready to enter the Promised Land, not as an expectation to live up to but as a possibility to live into.
Let’s study the way God opened up a new chapter in Israel’s life and how He can do the same in ours, as well.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 4.
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I have told this story before but I think it fits the lesson today. When I came to Avondale College (now Avondale University) as a student in 1963, I was young, and immature. I had left my home country, New Zealand, to come to Australia and study for a Bachelor of Science from London University at Avondale. I thought I knew it all. I had done well in my high school studies in New Zealand and thought this BSc was going to be a pushover. It wasn’t! And to rub salt into the wound, I failed to pass the entrance examination into London University twice. I sat the examinations a third time and then went back home to New Zealand to await the results (No electronic communication in those days) and worked in a concrete pipe factory for the best part of a year.
That time out was my “40 years in the wilderness”. Working in a pipe factory as a “stripper” eleven hours a day gave me plenty of time to think and reminded me of where I should be and what I should be doing. I went back to Australia and Avondale, much wiser and more mature, and I have never failed an examination since.
The Children of Israel came up short on the borders of Canaan and had failed. Forty years later, they were ready to follow the leading of God. It had taken a whole generation to get their act together.
[I have to explain that my job as a stripper was to strip concrete pipes from their molds. I admit that is does raise eyebrows a bit when I write my employment CV.]
The mindset to get caught up in fear of failure is real, to the point where the fear consumes us, and we abandon any plans to move forward. If we want to move forward in our journey of faith, we need to give up the worldly mindset. It’s interesting how many times we think, “Well, because God is in it, it should go easy.” We know better, but yet it seems like many times we develop the mindset that God will provide an easy path for us. The truth is we are never promised an easy path. Joshua was told this plainly—God didn’t promise him comfort, but He did promise His presence: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Often along our way we get beaten down, worn out, discouraged, and frustrated, and in the process we begin to damage our relationship with Christ. The world tells us we should worry and even be scared all the time. But worry and discouragement should not be primary attributes of a Christian. Joshua himself faced giants, fortified cities, and battles that looked impossible. Yet each time, the call was not to fear but to trust in God’s strength: “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand’” (Joshua 10:8). Just as Joshua’s victories came through obedience and reliance on God, so we too are called to walk forward in faith, trusting that while the path may be hard, God’s presence and promises remain unshaken.
The purpose of apprenticeship or mentorship is continuity – more of a passing of the baton or passing over the torch – and not necessarily setting a legacy. Continuity is an ongoing process and strategy to maintain operations and values despite disruptions, whereas legacy refers to the enduring impact, values, and wealth passed down through generations.
Numbers 27:18-20
Joshua, originally named Hoshea (Hōšēaʿ, הוֹשֵׁעַ), was renamed by Moses (Numbers 13:16). Born in Egypt as a slave, Joshua's name change to Yehoshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ), meaning "YHWH is salvation," signifies his destiny representing God. His original name, Hoshea, meant "Deliverer" or "Salvation," while the new name Joshua carries a deeper meaning, echoing the Hebrew name of Jesus, "Yeshua," which means "God the Savior." This name change highlights Joshua's valued teachings from his mentor Moses and his role in fulfilling God's plan.
Joshua's first mention in the Bible is in Exodus 17:9 as the young leader of the army of Israel that fought against the Amalekites, led by God through Moses. Even as a young man, his courage and commitment to God and His servant Moses were never in doubt. We see Moses mentoring Joshua quite early. He appears amongst the 72 elders accompanying Moses and Aaron at Mount Sinai and is referred to as Moses' assistant (Exodus 24:13) as they go further up the mountain to receive the 10 Commandments.
In Exodus 33:11, Joshua stands guard at the entrance of the Tabernacle when Moses took the Tabernacle outside the camp into the wilderness. Joshua was entrusted with significant responsibilities; he was amongst the spies sent to Canaan and stood on the side of God, along with Caleb, when Israel doubted God's promise. It was no wonder that God chose him to take over from Moses.
While Moses' work was to lead Israel out of Egypt and prepare them for God's promise, Joshua's task was to bring them into the Promised Land, oversee the demarcation of the land to the 12 tribes, judge over them, and remind Israel to adhere to God's laws and manage God's people according to His will.
This was a daunting task ahead for Joshua, which is why the words "Be strong and of good courage" are said and repeated to him (Deuteronomy 31:7; Joshua 1:7, 9, 18). Nevertheless, Joshua is up for the task ahead – the apprentice is now ready to lead.
“God also bound himself with an oath... because it is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:7-8).
The greatest assurance that we have for our spiritual success is to have total conviction in the character of God. God is faithful. God has not only promised but also taken an oath to see us land successfully in the heavenly Canaan. God is fully committed to this course. “We who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence...”(Hebrews 6:8). As we run to Him, by no means will He forsake us. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The world has a different formula for success: “work harder, be smart, stand up and fight, earn your place, etc”. However, God has already provided a means for our success. “As we run to Him, He will by no means forsake or reject us".This is not wishful thinking, but an assured promise based on the eternal character of God.
Therefore, God has sounded a call to all mankind to run to Him for safety.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”(Psalms 91:1-2, NIV).
Amen! This is touching and encouraging.As we go every day in our life,we have to be strong and of good courage. Even if things may rage in our way,we must be focused and faithful to the Lord as Joshua did.
There is comfort in knowing that we do not fight our battles on our own. Just as God promised Joshua to be with him and the children of Israel as they crossed in to the promised land, so He promises us today that He will never leave us nor forsake us!
May we claim this promise as we move forward toward the "Promised Land"!!!!!
I appreciate Motanya’s and Stanley’s comments pointing to that which made all the difference in Joshua’s life. What is that which set him apart, made him 'ready', therefore able to be called as the leader for the children of Israel at this point of their journey?
For that matter, what is that which sets any one of us apart to advance the work of our Lord and Savior? What has to happen before we can hear God saying to us: ”Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”? Joshua 1:9. Is it not the revelation, the awareness, the assurance to have received and welcomed His Holy Spirit? Numbers 27:18-20.
Like Moses and Joshua - all are called to engage in promoting God’s 'Way of Life'. We need to humbly consider the source of their and our call - the Holy Spirit - and the true purpose for their and our calling. By the Power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ is our 'Commander' now, reassuring us of the Holy Spirit's continuous Presence to help us stay the course. Ultimately, we are called to engage by faith to aim our life toward fostering peace and love among man - Luke 2:13-14.
In Numbers 13 and 14 Caleb and Joshua were the only 2 spies of the 12 who believed in the power and promises of God to deliver the children of Israel from all the power of the giants in the land of Canaan and to the promised land of rest.
Hebrews 3 and 4 references these events. The Gospel we live out today has not changed at all for us. "For unto was the Gospel preached as well as unto them (children of Israel), but the word preached did not profit them,not being mixed with faith..."; "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
So, the gospel is eternal and does not change. The lesson we must learn is that we must believe, have faith, to believe in the power of God to deliver from the power of the enemy of souls and we will enter in to His rest today and every day throughout eternity.
"Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest any of you should seem to come short of it." Hebrews 4:1
As the children of Israel stood on the borders of Canaan, they could have chosen resentment. After all, it was their parents’ unbelief that condemned them to wander for forty years. They might have grown bitter over the loss of Moses, their faithful leader, who was not permitted to enter with them.
But instead of anger, Israel chose faith and obedience. Under Joshua’s leadership, they renewed their covenant with God. They accepted Joshua as God’s appointed servant, consecrated themselves before crossing Jordan, embraced circumcision at Gilgal, and celebrated the Passover. These acts of submission prepared their hearts to follow God fully.
The lesson is clear: when faced with disappointment or loss, we too can choose bitterness—or we can choose to renew our faith, obey God’s word, and trust His appointed plan. Israel’s decision to submit made them ready to enter the Promised Land. Our decision to trust and obey will make us ready for the heavenly Canaan.