Monday 25^th February

Joshua 1

One of my favourite characters in the Bible is Joshua. His dynamic leadership and faithful obedience to God sets an example to most men of Godly submission and righteous living. He lived his life in humble adoration of an Almighty Living God.

 In this first chapter we read of Joshua being encouraged by God and being commissioned to lead His people into the Promised Land. Upon leaving the captivity of the Egyptians, the Israelites through their rebellion to God, wandered the wilderness for 40 years. God had promised Moses that He would give the Israelites a new home, a time of peace and bless them beyond measure. However Moses was not the one to lead them over the border. That was Joshua’s job. Joshua was Moses’ right hand helper. He and Caleb were the only 2 original people to leave Egypt and make it to the Promised Land. God had plans for him.

So we join the story here in these first few verses whereby God is commissioning Joshua with this great task. God reminds Joshua of the promise that He gave to Moses about Israel’s inheritance and their territory. However God wasn’t done. In verse 5 God gives Joshua the most amazing prophecy over his life “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you!” Isn’t that just amazing. Can you imagine if God spoke that over your life? What a promise and what a blessing. Joshua had personally seen God’s provision for Moses and how He really did keep His word and never left Moses. Through all sorts of battles and challenges, God was always there with him. And now that same God has just promised to be with Joshua.

However, there was a condition; to obey the Law, not turning right or left from it. To meditate day and night on it and observe all that was in it. Then his ways would be prosperous and he would have success in all he did. We too can be strengthened by these verses in our own lives. God will never leave us, period. However if we want our lives to be purposeful and prosperous then we too should have God’s word in our hearts, meditating on it day and night, allowing it to be a source of strength and encouragement. On our own, life can easily overcome us. But with God’s strength through His Word and through the Holy Spirit, we become over-comers.

Finally God comforts Joshua 3 times in the first chapter with this statement “Be strong and courageous”. Interestingly, if God said to Joshua ‘I will be with you always and never leave you’, then why would he need to be reminded to be strong and courageous too? Because as much as God was with Joshua, he also needed to draw on God’s strength and remember he was a leader. He was the one the people would follow. It was his responsibility to lead the people into God’s promised land for them. Again on his own, this task was impossible. But by drawing on the promise God had given him, he could find strength and courage to fulfill his role as Israel’s leader. The same stands for us today. God will never give us a role that He does not equip us for. His gracious hand upholds us, the Holy Spirit equips and in HIM, we have the boldness, strength and courage to face the challenges that lay before us.