“Only
be strong and very courageous; be careful to do all the law which Moses My
Servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that
you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not
depart from your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you
may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will
make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:7-8
Joshua 1 Contains a
Conditional Promise to Prosper
As the book opens, Moses the leader of Israel had died and a new leader named Joshua was appointed to lead the Nation of Israel into the Promise Land, Canaan. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel is about to take possession of the Land that God promised to Abraham many centuries earlier. (See Genesis 12:7) The words that God had given to Moses were his promises of protection and prosperity when His instructions were followed. He was reiterating that to Joshua and to the Nation of Israel. God wanted Israel to move beyond the pain and problems of the past into peace, power and prosperity of trusting and resting in Him. To the contemporary Christian, the book speaks of and allows us to see our own pain, struggles and suffering as we “grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ” 2 Peter 3:18 and move closer to His plan and purpose for our lives.
As the book opens, Moses the leader of Israel had died and a new leader named Joshua was appointed to lead the Nation of Israel into the Promise Land, Canaan. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel is about to take possession of the Land that God promised to Abraham many centuries earlier. (See Genesis 12:7) The words that God had given to Moses were his promises of protection and prosperity when His instructions were followed. He was reiterating that to Joshua and to the Nation of Israel. God wanted Israel to move beyond the pain and problems of the past into peace, power and prosperity of trusting and resting in Him. To the contemporary Christian, the book speaks of and allows us to see our own pain, struggles and suffering as we “grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ” 2 Peter 3:18 and move closer to His plan and purpose for our lives.
There is no issue in your life or
mine that God doesn’t address in His Word. His love letter to us each of us compels to do
as Christ appeals for us to do, “Come to me all
who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. These people already had a land
and there was no need to continue wandering.
All they had to do was to claim it! The same thing is true in the life of every
believer. We are the recipients of
victory through Jesus. All we need to do
is claim it.
God’s Word For Israel Was Not Meant To Be A
Roadmap But A Relationship
The land
God gave to Israel was about 300,000 square miles. They had only possessed and claimed only
30,000 square miles of it says Joshua 1:3. The extent of their victory was limited by
their Faith. The same is true with us!
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and it shall be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7. Jesus said to the Sadducees of his day, “You are in
error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God,” Matthew
22:29. Joshua was calling
them to have confidence and faith in what God had told them.
- He promised victory over
every enemy.
- He
promised His presence and power.
We can walk in victory in the
Christian life today as we develop a love and thirst for the Word of God. We can say as The Psalmist, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,”
Psalm 119:105.
Prayer: “Lord, give us a hunger and
a desire for your Word in our hearts. Give us understanding and wisdom that we
might apply your truths to our lives. By doing so may we experience that
Abundant Life that only is found in You.
Bless us as we obey your word enabling us to bless others.” Amen!
by Donnie O’Fallon
