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Faith is something we mention often but rarely understand. Indeed, the way the term faith is used in day-to-day conversation demonstrates that it has been rendered all but devoid of meaning.

The description “a man (or woman) of great faith” may be applied to anyone from a pagan witch doctor to a Christian evangelist to a golfer with a reliable shot. For some, faith is defined exclusively in terms of the act of believing fervently. For others, faith is defined in terms of affirming that some proposition is true. And for still others, faith may be defined in terms of believing what is absurd.

Saving faith certainly involves the act of believing. But it also involves a proper object of faith. A belief in the ability of your faith to accomplish what it believes is quite different from the belief that God can accomplish all that He desires. The first is humanistic faith and the other is biblical faith. Likewise, an assertion that something is true does not necessarily meet the biblical requirements for saving faith. After all, James tells us that the demons believe that there is one God. They are so convinced that there is one God that they tremble (James 2:19).

The book of Joshua records the proper exercise and place of faith in the progress of God’s kingdom. A brief overview of several chapters is instructive.

Following the circumcision of the men and the celebration of the Passover at Gilgal, Joshua and the armies of Israel prepared to begin the occupation of Canaan with an attack on Jericho. At the outset, God corrected a common error in the faith of believers. We tend to think that the critical question to be asked is whether God is for us. The answer to that question is found when we ask another, more critical question: Who are we for? When God appeared in a warrior’s guise, Joshua asked, “ ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’ ” The LORD answered, “ ‘No, but as the Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come’ ” (Josh. 5:13–14). God does not come to be enlisted in our cause, but to enlist us in His. Faith then, seeks to determine God’s will rather than secure His approval of ours.

Joshua and other leaders in Israel undoubtedly had formulated a plan to overthrow Jericho. They had sent out spies and heard their reports. I doubt God’s plan was on the table before He revealed it. Even as we read it after the fact, we want to object that His plan doesn’t seem reasonable. However, saving faith takes God at His word. If God will confound the wise with apparent foolishness and defeat the strong with apparent weakness, then that is what He will do. In the exercise of faith, we cast away our thoughts and plans, and rest in the infinite wisdom and power of God.

One might object that this kind of faith falls into the category of believing the absurd. The response is that Joshua’s faith was not in the mechanism that God chose but in the God who chose the mechanism. There is nothing absurd in believing almighty God. Joshua and the people believed God and “the walls came a tumblin’ down.”

God also teaches us that believers must not rest on one apparent act of faith. What you believed yesterday or years ago is not nearly as significant as what you believe today. Counterfeit faith, like the seed sown on rocky and thorny ground, may appear to be productive for a time. However, it is only the ground in which the seed ultimately bears fruit that exhibits genuine faith. Faithfulness over time is the mark of a true believer.

God’s covenant people must learn to deal with personal and corporate sin. The account of Achan’s sin is remarkable in its introduction. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel” (Josh. 7:1). Achan and his family sinned, but corporate Israel was culpable and suffered the consequences. Saving faith is concerned for the well-being of the covenant people and the reputation of Christ as the covenant head of the church.

Saving faith must be developed zealously. How easy it is to exchange carnal presumption for humble faith. When the armies of Israel went to battle against the town of Ai, they were flush from the victory over Jericho. It seems that the spies’ counsel that a representative force from Israel could easily defeat the small number of adversaries indicated an inappropriate self-confidence. This is evident in that they did not consult with God before engaging the enemy, apparently believing that their experience and abilities were more than adequate to accomplish the Lord’s work. But that self-confidence was quickly dashed when Israel’s armies were defeated. In defeat, the people returned to the only sure object of faith. They asked the Lord the reason for this setback. They repented of their self-confidence and renewed their faithful obedience to God.

When you meet defeat, do not hesitate to go back and examine the first principles of faith. It may be that you have changed the object of your faith. It may be that you have not used the Lord’s methods of doing His work. It may be that there is sin in your life or camp that needs to be dealt with. The faithful will ask the question and rest in the faith once for all delivered to the saints.

Roots of the Rift

A Sin Found Out

Keep Reading The Inconspicuous Virtue: Profiles in Humility

From the February 2001 Issue
Feb 2001 Issue