I believe I need to explain the title of my blog.
Joshua of None is the title, and boy, does it have meaning. I was named after Joshua of the Old Testament. It was Joshua who led Israel out of the promised land 40 years after God used Moses to free them from enslavement in Egypt. Joshua, son of Nun, and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, (not a coincidence that my brother’s name is Caleb) proved themselves faithful among the people of Israel (Numbers 14:30). Joshua progressed from a faithful man, to a faithful spy, to Moses’ faithful assistant, to the new leader of Israel. He led them into the promised land and to the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding their land (Deuteronomy 6:3). This faithful, follower of God is my namesake, and the namesake of this blog. Joshua the son of Nun.
And yet there is more behind the meaning of the title. I consider myself pretty good at a lot of things but I’ve never been excellent at just one thing (sort of a jack-of-all-trades). I constantly wonder if it would be better to be super-skilled at one thing rather than mediocre at many things. Wouldn’t I make more money? Wouldn’t I be more useful to my family? To God? Sometimes I think I’m useless because I don’t have one excellent ability. I have struggled with this notion a few times in the last 10 years, especially while I was a student. I had so many professors expecting excellence from me; my plate was full. How could I produce excellence in all those activities and assignments when I was already spread so thin? I have had to reconcile my actual mediocrity with my understanding that the Lord has laid out my path and guides me through this life (Psalm 23). He has allowed me to experience life as I know it for a purpose and His plan is perfect (Jeremiah 29:11). And though this verse is for those who were taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, it is still an encouragement to me that my God is directing all things, and that His plan is perfect and to be desired over all things. Therefore, I am comforted to know that what I, and the world, see as inexperience in my life, the Lord has purposed as part of His plan for my life. Don’t get me wrong. I have skills, and abilities, and some may call me an artist, but I do not stand out as an authoritative voice. However, through my faithfulness now, my confidence is that His will is being carried out, and His plan is far more important and perfect than mine could ever be. It just happens that this Joshua is jack-of-none; for now.
But there’s more. Check out this verse.
Romans 3:10-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
“as it is written:
‘None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.’ “
Photo Credit: transposition via Compfight cc
This is the killing-blow, and the real power behind my title. I am one of those “none” that Romans 3:10-12 talks about. Romans 5:6-11 tells me that before I was saved, I was UNGODLY, His ENEMY, a SINNER, and DESERVING OF HIS WRATH. I was one of those sinners; I was part of the enemy team; I was ungodly or anti-God, and I deserved wrath because of my sin. And yet, (here’s the awesome part) HE SAVED ME! That is the incredible thing about my God. I didn’t do anything to deserve being saved from that life. He chose me and as I was running from Him, he plucked me up out of that headlong rush and since then, I have been safe in His arms. I can trust that He will provide for me, will care for me. He has declared me righteous because of the saving work of His Son, and I have been given all the rights of Son-ship. I am a child of God. It is all God’s doing and NONE of my own. Without Him I am nothing.
My example is Joshua of Nun. In the world’s eyes, my experience racks up to nada, zero, zip, none. In my Lord’s eyes, I am His Son, but came from none. Thus, I am JOSHUA OF NONE.
Joshua of None 