Good morning. When God brought His people out of their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness to the borders of the Promised Land, Moses had died. He deserved his rest and his reward, but now the people needed a leader. Joshua had been Moses’ right hand man and God lifted him up to be the new leader of the people. The words of the Lord to Joshua at that time are striking, and I think that there are two aspects that are clearly at the heart of those commands. The following is from Joshua 1:5-9 I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, 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 good success. 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.”
The first great command of God to Joshua, and I believe that it is the same for all of us who will follow and serve Him today, is to be strong and courageous because God will always be with him (us). The command is repeated a few times and ends: Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Clearly, God wants His servants to be strong, courageous, unafraid, and to not be dismayed! Why should we fear? He is with us wherever we go!
The second great command given to Joshua was regarding the Law given through Moses. It was God’s Word and would keep His people healthy, at peace with one another, and would teach them to look forward at all times to the Messiah of God who was to come. The command is to meditate on His Word. This means that we don’t simply read it and discuss it. It says that we are to fill our minds for a time with His word and really think about it, to dwell upon His Word.
To do this we need to do a few things: 1. We need to have our tools prepared. The main tools of meditation are a good Bible and a quiet place without interruption. 2. We need to have our time arranged. We need to set aside the time, plan for it, and protect it as something of great value…because that is what it is. 3. We need to be ready to accept God’s truth. This may sound easier than it often turns out to be. His truth isn’t always comfortable. His commands are frequently urgent and demanding. To meditate on God’s Word, we need to be ready to study it, hang on to it for a while, and then we need to be ready to act on what God has revealed.
Never fear, God is with you! Meditate on His truth and you will hold Him closer still!
Vern