Joshua 1:9–"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Context: Moses has just died and the second generation of post-Exodus Israelites are looking across the Jordan at the soon-to-be-entered Promised Land. From their camp across the river the Israelites can see that the land, the land promised to be theirs from God, is clearly inhabited. Furthermore, they can see that the cities are well-fortified and the inhabitants are militarily-strong. Add to this that their leader, the prophet who faithfully led them through the wilderness for forty years, has just passed away after delivering one of the most stirring theologically-convicting sermons in all of history (see Deuteronomy). Perhaps given the circumstance the Israelites were facing they might have just cause for fear, cowardice, and dismay.
But God, knowing the hearts of His children and hearing their cries, chooses a new leader, Joshua, and through Joshua sets His heart on comforting His people.
He turns to them and says this: "Have I not commanded you?"
In other words, God is saying, "Look guys, I know you're scared and terrified of what lies before you across the Jordan, but didn't I tell you that I will take care of you? Didn't I say that I will not forsake you? Didn't I say that the nations will be laid waste before you for I am fighting for you? Didn't I pull you through the Red Sea and save you from the hand of the Egyptians? Now trust me."
Every Christian and at many times in our lives has had a moment like this, when we're looking across the rivers in front of us and trembling in fear. In these moments, when it appears that we are at our weakest state and terrified of the foes that stand before us that God simply asks: "Aren't you mine?"
This verse is about dependence. The Israelites were at a crossroads. As soon as they crossed the Jordan and began to claim the Promised Land, they had to accept the horrific truth: if God doesn't do what He promised we will be destroyed. My prayer is that we would each recognize that this same thing is set before each one of us. We want to be so recklessly-dependent upon the Lord that if He does not do what He promises we will be likewise destroyed. But praise be to God! For when we are in that state He turns to us and says: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
No comments:
Post a Comment