800:1

 There are some things in life that defy the law of averages. While people may take some risks, typically they are calculated risks. We prefer the odds to be in our favor. 800:1 odds do not fall into that category. Those are exactly the odds that Josheb faced. 

Josheb was one of the mighty men of David. He had a nickname "Abino of Eznite." The name literally means voluptuous, delightful and dainty. Not exactly characteristics I would use to describe a warrior. 

We have all heard the phrase not to judge a book by its cover. We still do it all the time. I am glad God does not do that. I would label Josheb as a pretty boy. Behind that pretty appearance was a fierce and courageous warrior. God chose to work powerfully through Him. Just like He did through Moses, Joshua, David, and Paul the apostle. God looks beyond the cover of the outside. He sees the heart and sees those who trust Him. 

Josheb took a stand when nobody stood with him against 800 enemy forces. Faith coursed through his veins. Courage consumed him. He did not think of the impossibility of the odds and what he could not do. Instead, he thought of the possible things God could do through him. We have the luxury of hindsight to see how it turned out for Josheb. On that day, he had no guarantees. He still attacked when most would have whimpered and run away. He stood alone when the safer bet was to retreat and live to fight another day. 

Josheb stood and fought with a spear. God worked through him and he killed 800 men at one time with a spear. Read it for yourself in [II Sam 23:8]. 800:1 is impossible. Impossible for us. Possible with God. 

I can't help but think the ripple effects of David's faith impacted Josheb. David killed Goliath. That one act made David a legend. The women sang that King Saul slew thousands, but David slew ten thousand. Everywhere David went his reputation as a giant slayer proceeded him. I imagine that the faith David had rippled down to other people. Especially Josheb. 

Josheb's faith ripples down to us today. How did he have the courage to face 800 enemies alone? He was not alone. God was with Him. God plus one always equals more than 800. It all started with one simple act of obedience. Kill the first soldier. Big dreams can hinge on simple single acts of obedience. You never know what one simple act in response to God's call will lead. You never know what one divinely orchestrated conversation  doors will open. 

What is that next act of obedience for you? What is it for me? We take one faith step and then the next, and the next, and the next, and so forth. You kill 800 enemy soldiers one at a time and one after another. The whole story is impossible. Nobody has the physical stamina to kill 800 others in hand to hand combat at one time with a spear. Nobody can do that, but on the other hand, anybody can do that who is surrendered to God and God works through. 

I want to be a Josheb. Courageously facing 800:1 odds and watching God do miracles. I want to live a life where the ripples of my faith inspire countless others to trust God and follow His calling no matter how impossible it seems. Even if I have to stand alone. I hope you want the same thing as well. May God be glorified by our simple acts of obedience and the corresponding ripples that go to the ends of the earth. 

Failing Forward

 Israel disobeyed God and failed royally. The mission was simple. Go defeat the small town of Ai. Fresh off their victory over the much larger city of Jericho where God gave them victory, Israel was confident God would help them again. 

Only this time they had sin in the camp. Achan took things from the city God had banned not to be taken. He took a mantle, some silver and gold burying them under his tent. He thought it was hidden. Nothing is hidden from the eyes of God. God saw and was angry. So angry He refused to help Israel when they went to attack Ai. 36 Israeli soldiers died that day. It was an epic failure and Joshua did not understand. Not until God revealed the sin. Achan was dealt with along with his family. The nation repented. 

For the second time God called them go attack the city. He even gave them counsel how to do it. I wonder if the fear of failure replayed in their minds? God told Joshua not to fear nor be dismayed. [Joshua 8:1-3]

 Have you ever been fearful of repeating a past mistake. Of failing again? I certainly have. God often makes us face our fears. Face the very thing where we failed. Many remain stuck spinning their wheels right where they did not meet expectations. The place where they did not achieve success. It is understandable for people to be gun shy. Why put yourself through the humiliation, defeat, and pain of epic failures again. It is easier to let failures define us. As a man thinks in his heart so he is. [Prov 23:7] If you see yourself as a failure you most likely will think and behave like a failure.

All of us fail from time to time. None of us is perfect. Just because we fail does not mean we are a failure. We can fail forward when we learn valuable lessons from defeat. Israel did. When they attacked Ai the second time they did pay special attention to what was under the ban. They also followed the instructions God gave them completely. 

Failing forward requires faith to obey again. To face the same formidable obstacle that defeated us once before. God saw the victory before the army did. It was one step of faith followed by another. We cannot remain frozen by our fears. Faith trumps our fears. 

In the end, God gave Ai to Israel. The king and and all the people. It was one more step of progress in possessing the land God promised them. They learned from their failure and failed forward. I want to be like that. To learn from past mistakes and defeats. To refuse to retreat in fear. To possess what God calls you to claim you have to go forward. Even after a failure. 

Failing forward requires some grit, determination, and raw resolve to not give up until the goal is accomplished. Inventors like the Wright brothers and Thomas Edison learned to fail forward. So did Abraham Lincoln. Pastor and author Mark Batterson failed in his first attempt to plant a church.  You could understand if he felt a little reservation about packing a U-haul truck and trying to plant another in Washington, D.C. They met in a movie theater. It was tough sledding. In the first months they had 19 people. 20 years later they have thousands. He failed forward. I hope we will do the same thing.