The Motivational Speaker

THE MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

(Joshua 17: 14-18)

He jogged up the stage as his name was called out.

A few people in the hall clapped.

He smiled…

He has been here many times, invited over to come talk to a discouraged and unmotivated group of people. He had honed his skill for about 10 years, so he had no doubt in his heart he would do a great job as he walked towards the microphone. He picked the microphone, opened his mouth and started to speak…

An hour later, the atmosphere in the hall had changed! The gloom had lifted! Everybody who heard him was supercharged and raring to go! He was given a standing ovation!

Woah!

Have you ever listened to a Motivational Speaker? They sure have a way with words! If you get sacked and you go listen to a Motivational Speaker, you will want to go slap your former boss, tell him off and go start your own company!

They awake the LION in you!

Have you ever wondered who the first Motivational Speaker was? I have no idea, but I can tell you Joshua was one great Motivational Speaker!

Joshua took over the Leadership of the Israelites after the death of Moses. He led the people into the Promised Land and he divided the land for the different Tribes.

Now he gave a portion of Land to the Children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim. Those 2 tribes did not like what they got: and they protested!

The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”

Joshua 17:14

Their submission was, we are so many: the land is not big enough to contain us!

Now, you would expect Joshua to look into the merit of their submission and possibly allocate more land to them. But he didn’t! His response was interesting!

“If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.”

Joshua 17:15

Joshua simply challenged them to go annex the land of their neighbors! “You need more land? Go get it!”

The Children of Joseph didn’t like that! They expected a different response. But when They realized Joshua was serious, they started making excuses…

The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”

Joshua 17:16

“These folks have chariots of iron, Boss! Annexing their land won’t be easy! It will be almost impossible to do!” They didn’t want to go through the hard route: wouldn’t it be easier if Joshua just allocates more land to them?

In that moment, Joshua became a Motivational Speaker!

But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Joshua 17:17-18

Woah!

Joshua challenged them!

You are powerful, guys!

You can drive them out!

You can do this!

HE WOKE UP THE GIANT IN THEM!

These folks became WARRIORS! Fighting became their default setting: it was like the Spirit of the Warrior came upon them all after Joshua spoke to them. So much so, years later, they quarreled with people who go to war without them!

Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they challenged him vigorously.

Judges 8:1

They were angry with Gideon for leaving them out of the fun. That was how they saw war: FUN!

The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”

Judges 12:1

Here, it was Jephthah who felt their wrath for leaving them out of battle. To think these were men were unwilling to take out the Perizzites and Rephaites, using “chariots of iron” as excuse until one Motivational Speaker fired them up with words!

Now, SCRIPTURES are the best Motivational Words you need as a Christian. Read it to ALWAYS stay motivated!

There are no better spoken word that can motivate you than the written word of SCRIPTURE. The more you read it, the more you study it, the more you soak yourself in it, the more motivated you are.

And the LION in you will ALWAYS be awaken!

Shalom,

Haruna Daniels