God's Promises

Joshua 1:5b – As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you. (NIV)

There have been times in my life when I've had responsibilities which I've thought were greater than I could handle placed on my shoulders. Then I've thought of Joshua, who inherited a tremendous responsibility when Moses died, and the task of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land fell on his shoulders. Remembering from today's Scripture God's words to Joshua, I've realized that He did not expect me to handle the situation alone. God is always there to help, and if we examine our resources, we find that there are others who are also willing to help us.

Joshua had reached the place where he could see the Promised Land. He had shared Moses' dream and had gone with a team of people to explore the land forty years before. Now the job of leading the children of Israel into the land had become his responsibility. The future was up to Joshua now.

How many times have we stood on the threshold of a new world, trembling in fear of what lay ahead? Joshua remembered one thing: God always keeps His promises. The message God gave to Joshua is still relevant today:

Joshua 1:7-8 – Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (NIV)

Joshua realized that everything did not depend on him alone. He needed to think clearly, to make use of the skills of others, and to remember that he was God's servant and that God had made him a promise that He would be with him. This promise applies also to us, and calls for similar obedience:

Joshua 24:15b,23-24 – "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel." And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God and obey him." (NIV)

Prayer: Lord, just as Joshua called on Your promise, may we remember Your promise that You will not fail or forsake us. May we commit our lives to the tasks You have called us to do. Amen.

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