Today’s Reading: Joshua

“Be strong and VERY courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command — be strong and very courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:7-9

God’s instructions for Joshua were very clear — be strong and courageous, and be careful to obey all of my instructions. Joshua’s leadership was God-ordained, but he was never meant to lead out of his own strength and wisdom. God had provided Joshua with His word so that he could study it and meditate on it. All the instructions were there for him, just as God would provide the courage.

GOD GOES WITH US, PROVIDING THE COURAGE WE NEED TO SAY YES TO HIS ASSIGNMENT.

Leadership is hard. The moment Joshua stepped into the top leadership position, it may have seemed to others that he was living his best life. But leading God’s people had never been easy for Moses, it would not be easy for Joshua, and it is still not easy today. Leadership assignments come with stress and anxiety; they come with tough decisions and interpersonal conflicts. But God promises to be with us.

Joshua sent two spies ahead of them to scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially the walled city of Jericho. When they arrived, they stayed at the house of a prostitute named Rahab. But word got back to the king and he ordered Rahab to bring the two men to him. She deceived the king and told him the men had already left.

Then Rahab went up to the roof where she had hidden the two Israelite spies. She told them how the reputation of God’s people had arrived in Canaan way before they did. The people of Jericho knew how God had rescued them from the Egyptians; they knew how He had parted the Red Sea so that they could cross safely on dry ground. They had heard how the Israelites had already conquered and destroyed Sihon and Og, and were afraid of what would happen if this large army arrived at the gates of Jericho.

Our God is so amazing! He struck fear in the hearts of the people of Jericho. He started fighting the battle for His people even before they took their first step of obedience into the land God had promised them. He did this for the Israelites and He does the same thing for us today.

HE IS THE GOD WHO GOES BEFORE US — WHO CROSSES OVER, PREPARES THE WAY, AND GIVES US THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO RESPOND TO ALL HE IS ASKING US TO DO.

Joshua’s faith and obedience were going to be tested moving forward. God told Joshua – you have never been this way before, SO FOLLOW ME for tomorrow I will do AMAZING things among you (3:3-5). You do not have to figure out how to cross this river on your own; I am going to lead you.

When Moses had led the Israelites to the banks of the Red Sea, they were told, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today” (Exodus 14:13a). Moses had stepped forward with his staff, raised his hand over the waters, and the Red Sea had parted. The people walked across dry land to reach the other side. But this time, God was requiring those in leadership to take the first step into the rushing waters. They were about to see the mighty strength of their God on display, but they had to step out in faith first.

But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground. – Joshua 3:15b-17

It wasn’t until their feet touched the Jordan that the river parted and dry ground appeared in front of them. They chose faith and not fear, and therefore experienced many AMAZING things just as God had promised. They took twelve stones from the middle of the riverbed and carried them to Gilgal, where they would camp for the night. Then Joshua stacked twelve more rocks where the priests were standing with the Ark of the Covenant as a memorial of the miracle their God had given them.

GOD DID MORE! GOD DOES MORE! GOD IS MORE!

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” — Joshua 6:1-5

And this is exactly what happened! God did more than they expected Him to do, and He continues to do more than we give Him credit for today. God is more than we will ever need.

What is your battlefield today? How is life pressing in and in what ways do you need God to step in and take over? Let go of the fear and the worry, because panic just leads to us running away from the battle. Trust that God has gone before you, that He is with you, and that He will do more than you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly…Choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:14-15

God, we thank you for your faithfulness and your daily presence in our lives — for this incredible opportunity to live in relationship with you. Lord, cause our love for you to grow so that our hearts naturally desire to obey you, to trust you, and to follow you. Help us to be content with what you have provided, and help us to call on you when life gets hard, knowing you will fight our battles for us. Today we choose to serve you and you only. Today we say an unqualified YES to you! Amen.