In The Will Of God… There Is A Promise For You;
God’s Assurance! “For The Lord your God IS WITH YOU You wherever you go.”- {Joshua 1:9}
To counteract the two-prong attack of “fear and discouragement,” God commands Joshua to “be strong and courageous,” and the means to be strengthened …
1.- He Provides His Word…
“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 1:8}. Moses, the servant of God had died and Joshua was to led the people and if he was to be successful, he would need to immerse himself in the Word of God so he would know God better and the mind and will of God, to govern, guide him in his leading the people into the land God had promised!
1:7- Joshua was to keep the Law; “Only be strong and very courageous; 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, so that you may have success wherever you go.”
1:8 – Joshua was to meditate upon and do the Word of God; “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.”
1:7-8 – Joshua would be successful as he chose to Honor the Word of God; “…so that you may have success wherever you go…”-{v 7}; “…for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”-{v8}
“…That you may observe to do according to all the law: Joshua must take great care to observe the law. God’s word and Joshua’s commitment to it would be the pillars supporting his success. Joshua did not only need to read God’s word.It had to be on his lips (shall not depart from your mouth), in his mind (meditate in it day and night), and he had to do it (observe to do according to all that is written). For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success: God’s Word so lived is a guarantee of Christian success. Not that it promises a life without problems, but it does insure a life able to deal with anything because it takes full advantage of God’s presence and promises.”-{David Guzik}
2. – He Promises His Presence…
Is there ever a time, or place He is not with you? NO! What about if you don’t “feel” His presence? It is not a matter of how YOU “Feel” but what HE says!
“But God…” He gave Joshua the command to “be strong, be courageous,” as he would need to be, so as he went into the unknown, to him, but with the assurance he would not be Alone. “For The Lord your God IS with you wherever you go!” It is important in times of testing you realize you are not alone! Paul testified amidst conflict, “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.”-{ 2 Timothy 4:16}. For the sake of the Gospel Paul had been abandoned, and forsaken, by “all.” No one supported him, no one stood with him!
Yet Paul states in the midst of the conflict, the reality and assurance of the LORD GOD STANDING WITH HIM, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.” -{2 Timothy 4:17}, God stood with him, strengthened him for a purpose, that he might make the Gospel known! Paul knew His presence, Paul knew the strength of Him who stood with him, and others heard the liberating Gospel!
Jacob knew of His presence, ” When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” -{Genesis 28:16}
The Psalmist was in awe of His Omnipresence–, always present in all places at all times! “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. ” -{Psalm 139:7-12}
Joshua, Nehemiah, Jacob, The Psalmist and Paul all testified to the LORD’S Presence in the midst of conflict! We do not have to “feel” His presence to be assure He is present. We have His Word!
Conflict is real for the follower of Christ, “Fear and discouragement” are two of the evil one’s weapons, “But God…” Himself is our Provision, His Word{ v8}; His Promise, His Power, His Presence {v9}
He gives us assurance and the ability in the conflict to go forward in the will of God with Courage, Confidence, and His Companionship!
His Provision of His Word, and Practice of it along with the Promise of His Presence that He is with you “wherever you go,” strengthens the soul!
The assurance of God’s presence with Joshua would strengthen and embolden him to “be strong, be courageous,” to do His will! “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
His promise to Moses, His promise to Joshua, is also His promise to the disciples -“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”-{Matt 28:20}; and His promise to you, “…for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,!”-{ Hebrews 13:5}. “…God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,” -{Titus 1:2}.
In the conflict God Provides His Word and Promises His Presence. Our Responsibility is To take Him at His Word and PracticeHis Word, Assured of His Presencewith us to accomplish His will. We can go forward in faith! -{Joshua 1:8-9}
In The Will Of God… There Is A Promise Of His Presence With And For You;
God Is With You- Permanently!