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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Joshua 1:2
Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am to give them - the Israelites.
Joshua is worth an in-depth study.
He was Moses’ assistant for many years. He was a commander of the armies of Israel and fought vigorously and victoriously. Do you remember the battle against the Amalekites in Exodus 17? Joshua won the battle in the plains whilst Moses lifted up his hands to God. I love what God said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered AND MAKE SURE JOSHUA HEARS IT, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” (v 14).
Did you notice that? “Make sure Joshua hears.” He had done the fighting - he needed the encouragement. Joshua was the one who with Caleb, out of all the 12 spies sent into Canaan, returned and encouraged the people to enter the land straight away. It was probably one of the most exciting days of his life.
The vision was to become a reality. All that he had trained for, all that he had fought for, all that he was ready for was at last to become reality. He and Caleb were convinced this was God’s timing; God’s will and victory was assured. Then ‘let’s go and get it’.
So all the people flocked to follow Joshua the leader ... but no they didn’t. They rejected his testimony; they disobeyed the Lord, and stubbornly refused to enter in. So did Joshua, Caleb and Moses decide to go in on their own? No, they meekly submitted themselves to the will of the people. They interceded for the people and then walked around in the desert for 40 years waiting for all the disobedient people to die off one by one.
Moses and Joshua must have had a phenomenal relationship. Joshua went up Sinai and was with Moses when they came down to the ‘golden calf’ debacle. He spoke up when 2 elders received the Spirit of God even though they hadn’t turned up at the meeting. He was rebuked by Moses and told not to be jealous on his behalf. This was an intimacy no one else knew or experienced. Joshua would have considered Moses his mentor, his friend, his model, his encourager, his leader, his ‘god-father’.
“Moses my servant is dead. Now then you ...” Joshua would have deeply mourned for Moses. He would have known why Moses wasn’t allowed to lead the people into the Promised Land. He’s undoubtedly feeling lost, lonely and maybe even afraid - would the people follow him or rebel again and wander off back into Egypt? I guess this was probably the deepest valley Joshua trod to date.
Here into the very ‘shadow of death’ - God came. He came with authority. “Moses is dead, Joshua. It’s time to move on. Stop feeling sorry for him and yourself - Life goes on and so must you.”
The rest of this chapter is all about how God encouraged Joshua and commissioned him to be the new leader and also confirmed His Presence, His Power, His Promises, and His Blessings. God also caused the people to recognise Joshua as their new leader.
Can I encourage you?
In the deepest valley you will ever face - God will be there for you. And He will come to you as He did to Joshua and say,
“I AM the same yesterday, today and forever.
I AM with YOU and will never leave YOU nor forsake YOU.
YOU can get up and get going again.”
“I want to build an even more intimate relationship with YOU
so that YOUR faith will grow and
YOU will mature into the person I destined YOU to be.”
Why not put out your hand today and let God hold it for a while and reassure you with His promise to Joshua -
“Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified: Do not be discouraged
For the Lord your God will be with you
Wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9)
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