“The Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,.. ‘Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 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 1:1-9
Joshua had observed the Lord’s intimate communion with his predecessor Moses, and experienced His faithfulness over and over. Now he was God’s man to take His nation into the promised land, and he would rely on God’s word and promises firsthand. How strategic, and kind, of the Lord to recount His promises as He commissioned the new leader. Strength and courage would indeed well up out of their certainty. (Exodus 33:11)
God’s commands are never capricious, meaningless, nor given in a vacuum. They are based on purpose, backed by his promises, bound by his character, and enabled by His Spirit. We need not shirk or fear obedience if we properly fear the Lord who issues the word and stands behind it. We can trust His reasons and results and do what He says with confidence in His direction and provision.
How do we treat our Lord’s promises? Do we put them in a treasure box to recite in special or needy times, but fail to live by them day to day? Have we separated our lip-service from the real-life service of obedience? How differently would we comprehend and engage in what God asks of us if we truly believed all He has promised?
Knowing and claiming God’s promises infuses our days with power, freeing us from fear of failure, ridicule, or inadequacy. We can prepare and go forth in obedience to His call with absolute certainty He will come through on His part. God’s word expressed is God’s word upheld.
Lord, help me trust and take You at Your word as I obey it, to Your praise and honor.
As the rain and snow 