THE LORD THY GOD IS WITH THEE. Joshua 1:7-18 When facing new situations and challenges, wise people recognize their need for God to be with them to guide and control their actions. Our need for God is always present, but when He leads us into new work and gives us responsibilities we've never had before, we must listen for His voice and trust in His power working through us. The first conversation in the book of Joshua is God speaking to Joshua. After confirming that God's written instructions would be his guide, Joshua instructed the officers on how to prepare to cross the promised land.
The second speech is Joshua's speech when he instructed the tribal leaders. This was the moment in his life when he fully took control as the national leader. He started with practical instructions about food and the Israelites' progress across the Jordan River. A military victory had defeated opposition from two kings east of the Jordan River. The men of military age from the two-and-a-half tribes that chose to settle east of the river were to join the other tribes in conquering the promised land. This was a task for the entire nation. The eastern border was secure, and those who crossed Jordan with the nine-and-a-half tribes could rest assured that their families would be safe because the Lord God of Israel was with them.
The third speech consisted of reassuring words from those Joshua was leading, who responded to his instruction by expressing confidence in him. They verbally pledged their allegiance to Joshua, which included a death sentence for anyone who rebelled against him. Their words to Joshua echo the Lord’s words to him, which would have greatly encouraged this new leader. Clear communication is essential when we are involved in God's work. This is the first time we read of God communicating through the written word and the importance of carefully meditating on it to fully understand God's intentions.
To succeed in God's eyes in the work He has called us to do, we must be strong in faith and courageous in our actions. We must obey His word without twisting it to fit our ambitions. When we understand what God says and meditate on it enough to grasp its meaning, we are responsible for acting on its truth and following the path that unfolds before us. The promises of God need to be taken personally and then acted upon. Those things God exhorts us to dedicate ourselves to will lead us to where we can personally claim His promises.
The children of Israel understood God's promises to their ancestors. They were young when they stood at the edge of the promised land and personally saw the tragic consequences of their parents' failure to be strong and courageous. Now, as adults responsible for moving forward and claiming the land, they might have been aware of their own children looking across the Jordan River at the land beyond, wondering what would happen next. Now, "the ball was in their own court."
It is a wise generation of people who learn from the failures of the generation before them. It is wise people who realize that when God buries His servant, He raises up another to lead His people. As far as Joshua was concerned, he was God's choice because he heard a clear call from God assuring him that he was doing God's will and could trust him to lead His people. He had no competing claims to attract him. Regarding God's selection of Joshua for leadership, He knew Joshua was a faithful man who had been trusted with small tasks while living under Moses' shadow for forty years and was effective in his duties.
Now, Joshua had the word of God that Moses had written down to meditate on and act according to. The presence of the Lord with us is connected to our obedience to God's word. Knowing what is right and being able to teach others does not mean we possess the truth. The blessings promised do not come just because we know the truth. Truth must be put into action. We need to practice what we know. We must learn to gauge life's difficulties by comparing them with God's strength, not the level of opposition. There will always be opposition to God's work, but we must constantly remember that God is greater than His enemies.
Our strength lies in the Lord; when we truly grasp this fact, we can stand firm against dangers and difficulties. These are expected on the Christian's journey into the land of Beulah. God's word does not change with the times or places, so we must not deviate from the written word if we want to claim the spiritual blessings it promises. God's word should never depart from our mouths. It can be used in every situation we face. It should be our practice to meditate on its truths and apply them to any matter without hesitation. Spiritual prosperity is not measured by financial success or popularity in the world. Even religious popularity may increase in numbers rather than in faith and obedience.
Faith and obedience work hand in hand. There will always be obstacles, like the floodwaters of Jordan before the Israelites. We must leave some things to God to handle in His own way and focus on what we need to do now, trusting Him with the future. Leadership is essential to prevent chaos and confusion. A leader guides according to what is right and encourages others to follow that guidance rather than be distracted by doubts about the task ahead. People expect the same qualities from their leaders that God does: faithfulness, confidence rooted in God's word, and obedience that acts in accordance with God's will.
Loyalty to our brothers and sisters and obedience to God go hand in hand. We have responsibilities to those with whom we share our faith that we cannot delay. The Lord doesn't force us to follow the path of obedience, but He clearly shows the choices we must make if we do, and the consequences we face if we don't. The wise leader knows how to delegate tasks and is willing to let others carry them out for everyone's benefit.
Joshua entrusted the officers with the task of informing everyone to prepare what they would need in three days for the upcoming journey and the conquest that would follow. Three days would give them enough time to gather the necessary food. This wouldn't be a rash decision made on impulse by a hurried leader. Relying solely on personal strength is likely to fail. When the truth is revealed, take time to accept that truth by faith. Then, it will be ready for use when we face pressure from events and people around us.
Quite often, the work we do is seen by others as intrusive and none of their business. Most people want to decide and act on what happens in life without considering what the Lord our God desires. Those who don't read the Bible see the conquering of Canaan as an act of imperialism or expansionism. They fail to understand that righteous judgment will come upon those who practice extreme wickedness and refuse to repent and turn away from their evil ways. The Lord our God is with us in judgment, justice, grace, and blessing.