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).
I needed to read these words tonight. I have felt so alone yet God is with me. He has not abandoned me
I needed this tonight! I love knowing that God will never leave me!
This is what I needed today. I’m a high school English teacher, and my husband is a university theatre professor. We both miss our students so much, and I’ve really struggled with feeling as if I’ve abandoned them during this strange time. It’s so wonderful to be reminded that God is not bound by earthly limitations when it comes to being there for us, and that he will never abandon us.
I work in higher education as well (student affairs – residence life) and yes, I felt very similar reading this today. In addition from Hebrews “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” I’ve felt so much fear surrounding my job and work upended. God is always with us no matter the circumstances around us.
I’m a day behind so I’m reading this on Thursday. From page one I just couldn’t get over Joshua 1:5 I will not leave you or abandon you.
I’ve stepped away from God for a few years. I recently discovered SRT and decided to start with this study. Wow it’s powerful. Even though I left God and abandoned him he repeatedly says he will not do that to me. It’s so comforting to read that at this time in my life.
It’s funny-sometimes I get a day behind but I know I can catch up on Saturday’s. This was such a week so I’m reading this passage on Thursday-the day my husband is performing lung surgery on a Covid-19 positive patient. He not afraid-but his people are nervous. He’s aware. But y’all-the Lords hand is in every detail of our day. He even texted me on the way to work that his verse of the day that popped up on his phone was Isaiah 41:10- which begins’ “Do not fear, for I am with you.” He is with us. He is before us, behind us, beside us, around us, and within us. In the morning, in the evening, in our coming and going, in our weeping and our rejoining. He is FOR us. His promises are true. If you get a minute- listen to The Blessing by Kari Jobe. Many of these words are form that song because I listen to and sing it in my head daily.
What a beautiful testimony! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing!
The song is amazing!
@Rebecca Leek, being in Christ has nothing to do with what we do. It’s about what we are: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/six-things-it-means-to-be-in-christ-jesus Knowing these things and living them out will gradually change us: we will see fruit in our lives (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, self control, faithfulness). We will strive to become more like Christ. We can’t force these changes in us but we can trust God to bring them as we reflect on who He is and who we are in Him. God always follows through on his promises ;)
@Paula Cline, thank you so much for your breakdown of ‘our’feelings and emotions. That absolutely makes sense..
Blessings and thank you again.❤
Love love love the story of Joshua. I can relate so much to his timidness about his mighty role. However God’s promise to him truly shows us God’s character. I immediately highlighted the promise of “I will be with you” & “I will not leave you or abandon you.”