Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD that the LORD spoke to Joshua...saying, "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them... Every place on which the sole of our foot treads, I have given it to you... No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have 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 success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
The call of God to move a certain direction is always backed with the promise of His Presence and strong hand to accomplish that call. As long as we know two things, first, that this is the clear call of God and not something of our own making, and, secondly, that we are walking with God with all our heart, the promises of God are as big as God Himself. We can be assured that when we are picked by God to a special task, He will be with us and He will not forsake us. Clearly, the promise was Joshua's to know because he had God's word in his heart, with all His heart. From this passage, there is no doubt everything God promised depended on a careful and committed adherence to God's word. Again, all of the promises of God are ours, but the promises are joined at the hip with our obedience to the word of God. Christian faith simply cannot function apart from the Christian life. They go hand in hand, all the time. This is especially relevant to our day, where so many who claim to have known God's saving grace seek Him only in an emergency, and that, case by case, never giving much thought to Him outside of these pressure moments, except to question, doubt and blame Him. The Presence and Promises of God aren't for these kind of people. He has His eye on those with a different spirit than that and He is always ready to move on their behalf at full power. This is a great God! Hallowed be His name!
The call of God to move a certain direction is always backed with the promise of His Presence and strong hand to accomplish that call. As long as we know two things, first, that this is the clear call of God and not something of our own making, and, secondly, that we are walking with God with all our heart, the promises of God are as big as God Himself. We can be assured that when we are picked by God to a special task, He will be with us and He will not forsake us. Clearly, the promise was Joshua's to know because he had God's word in his heart, with all His heart. From this passage, there is no doubt everything God promised depended on a careful and committed adherence to God's word. Again, all of the promises of God are ours, but the promises are joined at the hip with our obedience to the word of God. Christian faith simply cannot function apart from the Christian life. They go hand in hand, all the time. This is especially relevant to our day, where so many who claim to have known God's saving grace seek Him only in an emergency, and that, case by case, never giving much thought to Him outside of these pressure moments, except to question, doubt and blame Him. The Presence and Promises of God aren't for these kind of people. He has His eye on those with a different spirit than that and He is always ready to move on their behalf at full power. This is a great God! Hallowed be His name!
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