The Promise of the Lord | Part Three

Joshua 1

No one reading this blog has been commanded to lead Israel into the Promised Land. If I'm wrong, please let me know; but I'm pretty confident on this one. So, we can't apply what God says to Joshua to ourselves in the same way Joshua did.

However, God's message for Joshua does point to broader principles that we can apply to our hearts and lives.

God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous based on the promise that He would be with him, not failing nor forsaking him (Joshua 1:5-6). This is not the only place in the Bible that God commuincates this promise.

A similar promise is given to Jacob  in reference to the Promised Land and to Solomon in reference to building the house of the Lord (Genesis 28:15; 1 Chronicles 28:20). The writer of Hebrews applies this promise to New Testament Christians in reference to guarding themselves from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5).

God will be with His people. God will not fail His people. God will not forsake His people. Including those of us who are Christians today.

The exhortation for God's people to be strong and courageous based on the promise of God's presence is scattered throughout the Bible. For instance, David writes in Psalm 27:14,

"Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord."

Perhaps the Holy Spirit inspired David to write this command in the form of a Psalm, used to aid God's people in worship for centuries thereafter, because waiting for God to fulfill His promises is a universal Christian experience. Like Joshua, we are often in the meantime.

God has promised many wonderful, comforting, and even awe inspiring things. However, there is usually an uncomfortable time of waiting before we receive the benefit of those promises. And in the meantime, there is pressure.

In Matthew 6, Jesus taught that we shouldn't worry about what we'll wear, what we'll eat, or even our lives because God knows what we need and He will care for us. Some of us are anxiously waiting to see how He will fulfill this promise in light of our circumstances.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Some of us are still desperately waiting for this rest.

In the meantime, the pressure to doubt intensifies with each passing day. Like the Israelites who couldn't wait 40 days for Moses to come back before they lost hope and trust in God's promise.

They had to make a golden calf to worship, which I always thought was ridiculous. But then again, how much waiting can we endure before we make a golden calf out of our plans or our bank account or alcohol or relationships or whatever we turn to for comfort aside from God? We're making golden calves all the time.

Many of us are in the meantime and the pressure is mounting. Joshua felt it. He had God's promise; but there was a flooded river to cross and many strong armies to defeat. And God says, "Be strong Joshua! Be courageous! I will not fail you! I will not forsake you! And by the way, there's something I want you to do in the meantime:

- "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...
- This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth,
- Meditate on it day and night."

Why does God put this emphasis on the law in the middle of all this about being strong and courageous and conquering the Promised Land?

Check back for Part 4 to find out.