"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
Moses shared these assurances, as he is succeeded by Joshua before entering the promised land. Where Moses mission ended, Joshua picks up. Talk about "big shoes" to fill. Joshua no doubt felt overwhelmed by all that was before him as he was given the call to lead God's people into the land through military conquest. Accordingly, Moses gives Joshua words of encouragement and shortly after the Lord calls Moses home to the true Promised Land, Heaven. The strong comparison of an earthly land for God's people, foreshadowing the great Promise Land of Heaven is a strong typology in Scripture. Jesus, Who shares the same name as Joshua, will be the spiritual General Who battles the powers of evil to bring this Promised Land to reality for God's people.
If Joshua chose to dwell on all the challenges before him, no doubt he would have resigned immediately and asked for someone else to take on the task. But Moses’ promise was not first from himself, it was God's promise to Joshua that Moses simply spoke. Because it is God's promise, it is sure and will be ultimately realized. Even as Joshua began his campaign, he would find this promise to be true and we know, the people finally entered into the land God had promised them when they crossed the Jordan River and inhabited its sacred ground.
We pray that God would make His promises real in our days as we face the enemies of sin and every evil. Not our will, but His be done.
We, like Moses and Joshua, are entering into a time of transition and are battling new enemies, even as we keep our focus on the promised land of Heaven. Knowing that God is with us, will never leave us or forsake us, gives us great confidence so that we need not be afraid or discouraged!
"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
Moses shared these assurances, as he is succeeded by Joshua before entering the promised land. Where Moses mission ended, Joshua picks up. Talk about "big shoes" to fill. Joshua no doubt felt overwhelmed by all that was before him as he was given the call to lead God's people into the land through military conquest. Accordingly, Moses gives Joshua words of encouragement and shortly after the Lord calls Moses home to the true Promised Land, Heaven. The strong comparison of an earthly land for God's people, foreshadowing the great Promise Land of Heaven is a strong typology in Scripture. Jesus, Who shares the same name as Joshua, will be the spiritual General Who battles the powers of evil to bring this Promised Land to reality for God's people.
If Joshua chose to dwell on all the challenges before him, no doubt he would have resigned immediately and asked for someone else to take on the task. But Moses’ promise was not first from himself, it was God's promise to Joshua that Moses simply spoke. Because it is God's promise, it is sure and will be ultimately realized. Even as Joshua began his campaign, he would find this promise to be true and we know, the people finally entered into the land God had promised them when they crossed the Jordan River and inhabited its sacred ground.
We pray that God would make His promises real in our days as we face the enemies of sin and every evil. Not our will, but His be done.
We, like Moses and Joshua, are entering into a time of transition and are battling new enemies, even as we keep our focus on the promised land of Heaven. Knowing that God is with us, will never leave us or forsake us, gives us great confidence so that we need not be afraid or discouraged!