From Joshua 1:1-9

This devotion begins a series that will explore the Old Testament book of Joshua.  As we step into the Old Testament, however, we ought to take a minute to consider how to faithfully look at what we will be reading.  In the Gospels, we learn about Jesus’ life and ministry.  The lessons He teaches and the work He accomplished both apply in a fairly direct way to believers today.  In the epistles, we learn about the early church.  The problems they faced and the understandings they uncovered again apply fairly directly to us today.  The Old Testament requires a little more discernment.  In the Old Testament, we read about the history of God and His people.  We read about the lineage that leads up to Jesus.  We need to look at these passages with an awareness that when God speaks to Israel, we cannot immediately say that God is commanding the same things of us. Jesus fulfilled the covenant God made with Israel, He revealed God in the most incredible way possible – and that changed a lot.  So, when we read the Old Testament today, what we glean from it is a chance to witness how God interacted with His people and how He expected His people to interact with one another.  From there, we can trust God’s character to be consistent and know that the same God is alive and active today.  It might sound like a minor distinction, but it makes a big difference when it comes to our takeaways.  For example, in the Old Testament God commands the Israelites to make regular sacrifices.

If you read that command directly and apply it to us, the conclusion would be that we ought to be making animal sacrifices.

If you read that as a historical way God interacted with His people, the conclusion is that God takes sin seriously, that there must be payment for our sins, and it gives us a renewed appreciation for Jesus as our sacrificial Lamb.

Like I said, sounds like a minor distinction, but it can make a pretty big difference for where we end up.

In the first nine verses of Joshua, we hear the instructions that God gives to Joshua as he takes up the mantle of leadership following Moses’ death.  He calls Joshua to be “strong and courageous,” particularly when it comes to standing by the Law that God gave through Moses.  God tells Joshua to meditate on His Word day and night and reassures him that “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” In these verses, we see God acknowledging that leading the people to remain faithful will require strength and courage.  We see that God wants the leaders of His people to lead them in accordance with the instructions He has given, that He wants His Word to be a constant companion to His people, and that He will always be there.

As we look back on Joshua’s experience, we know that God still wants His people to follow His Word. That requires strength and courage today, because the world still seeks to pull us away from that.  The world would like nothing more than for Christians to leave the will of God behind.  We also know that God still wants His Word to be a constant companion for us and that He still promises to be with us, wherever we go.  Brothers and sisters, be strong and courageous – cling to God’s Word, His instruction, and His promises!

Focus on God

We are reminded in these verses that God graciously promises to be with us wherever we go.

Function in Our Lives

We are encouraged to regularly, consistently be in God’s Word.

Topics to Pray About                                                               

• Thank God for the encouragement He gave to Joshua.
• Confess to God the times where you are weak or cowardly in regards to holding to His Word.
• Ask God to give you strength and courage.

In His Service,

J. LeBorious