What must it have been like to receive instructions directly from the mouth of the Lord? “Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites,” God told Joshua (Joshua 1:2). Moses had died, and now it was Joshua’s turn to lead—not because Joshua said so, but because God had said so.
Scripture does not describe Joshua’s emotional reaction to God’s directive, but we can infer from what God said next that Joshua was less than confident about the enormous task ahead of him: “I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or abandon you” (Joshua 1:5). Put yourself in Joshua’s place, the weight of a nation’s survival on your shoulders and impossible battles before you. Let God’s promise sink in.
God was indeed with Joshua. In the chapters that follow, we see Joshua successfully lead the Israelite people across the Jordan accompanied by none other than the tangible presence of God with the ark of the covenant. And we see God fight for Israel as they take possession of the promised land under Joshua’s command. Everyone who followed Joshua benefited from God’s presence.
But Joshua’s life and mission point to someone greater: Jesus Christ. And just as God’s promise to Joshua was for the benefit of all those who followed and obeyed Joshua, the promise is extended today to all those who follow and obey Jesus. The Lord’s presence is with us, wherever Christ leads. We can, therefore, rejoice in the freedom from fear that is ours in Christ. “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).
God gives leadership and instruction.
We are to trust Christ and go where he sends us.
I needed this. It was a good reminder of God’s promise that he will never leave me or forsake me is very much alive today and until eternity! This helped me during this season that we are all going through and at times I need a reminder that God is in Control!
Loved reading this. Feeling overwhelmed with NP school and work and a bit inadequate to do it. This reminder that God will not abandon me even when things seem impossible is what I needed today. I will carry this verse today along with the thought that if God brought you to it, he will bring you through it.
It is well with my soul!!
I love the reassurance of these passage. It stuck me when I read the verses about meditating day and night on Gods word. The world is full of chaos and confusion, and our God is the only thing to surround ourselves with right now. I need the word of God to give me peace and comfort to calm my heart.
Enjoyed this! Feeling so alone and abandoned at times, in desperation for comfort and mediating on this scripture really helped me .
Hang in there Rebecca, God is with you always. He will never leave you. Prayers for you!
*spoke to me
I needed this. Hebrews 13:6 really spoke to
me and was the little bit of reassurance I needed. As someone who has anxiety and is constantly worried about man and human feelings towards me—sometimes being fearful of human interaction and the what-ifs, this scripture made me realize that I don’t need to fear man because God is with me, always. Anxiety isn’t something that can be easily turned off, but I’m keeping this scripture in my back pocket to remind me that I’m never alone.