Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you…

By Dean Collins

It must have been overwhelming for Joshua to wake up one morning and learn that today was the day he would move from being Moses’s right hand man to suddenly being “the man,” God’s chosen leader to complete the 40-year wilderness journey and lead Israel into the promised land.

God didn’t beat around the bush with Joshua. He simply laid out the facts and gave the assignment: “Moses my servant is dead.” The verse that follows this pronouncement basically said: Now get up and go, you are the leader.

From a human perspective, you have to imagine Joshua would have had lots of thoughts and feelings in that moment. Maybe, like you and me, he wondered: Can I do it? Am I prepared? Did I pay attention well enough to remember what Moses told me? Will God speak to me as clearly as he did with Moses? When you move from a supportive role to a lead role, things can suddenly feel very different and sometimes overwhelming!

The Israelites had a change of leadership, but the new leader had the same mission, to take possession of the promised land. New leaders bring new ideas and strategies, but the core mission doesn’t necessarily change. God knows us well. He knows how we think, what makes us anxious, and our tendency to get overwhelmed by the details of our big assignments. We can learn from a few key reminders that God gave Joshua as he stepped into his new assignment.

“Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”

God probably won’t call us by a trumpet blast and have us go to Mount Sinai covered by a cloud of smoke. But he will speak to us by his Holy Spirit and through his word. He will one day call us by trumpet blast into the fully renewed and restored earth which awaits all who follow Jesus.

“I will not leave you or forsake you.”

Over and over again we read these promises. The writer of Hebrews restates this very same promise for us today, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (13:5) We have an additional reminder to not cling to our possessions or our incomes but rather be content with what God is providing for us.

“Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.”

God calls us not to be strong based on our own resources or determination. We are to be strong and courageous because he is with us every day and at every moment.

“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you.” 

God restated his call to Joshua about being strong and courageous, adding that Joshua must rely on the trustworthy nature of God’s word. We must do the same to read, memorize and live by the inspired and trustworthy word of God.

“Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.”

Whenever and wherever we are called to lead, we must stay focused on the main thing: Jesus and living according to his instructions. We need this reminder because in times of stress we tend to start looking all around for answers and drift toward people to provide what only God can provide.

“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.” 

I have written before about making it a point to memorize some scripture each year so that it is readily available in your mind, heart, and mouth. Meditation on the living promises of God will bring quick renewal and help reduce our anxiety.

“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.”

We tend to want ‘prosperous’ to always mean financial blessing. While prosperity in the Bible can include financial blessing, it is a much more wholistic term than dealing with financial success. Verse eight in Joshua 1 says: “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” All the verses leading up to this verse describe a life lived God’s way and according to God’s word. I think we often want to do things our way and then for God to make us successful at minimum, if not also healthy, wealthy, and wise. Sadly, we may hope and ask for healthy and wealthy over being wise.

Father, thank you for loving us first and completely. Thank you for the sacrificial gift of your son Jesus. We thank you and praise you for the gift of eternal life. Thank you for calling us to share the good news of Jesus with others and for using us to demonstrate your love to others through the transformation of our hearts and minds. Even as we face the challenges of life and of leadership in our various roles and ministries, we receive your instructions to be strong and courageous. Today we choose to surrender completely to you, that your strength might be seen even in our weakness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Joshua 1:1-9; Deuteronomy 34:9-12; Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash
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