Joshua 1:5 says, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Moses Anoints Joshua
Joshua, served as Moses’ servant while they lived in the wilderness. It was Moses who renamed Hoshea, giving him the name Joshua (Numbers13:16).
Joshua translates, Yahweh is salvation. Numbers 27:18-20 says, “So the Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hands on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.”
And so, while the Israelites still lived in the wilderness, the Lord spoke to Joshua saying, “Moses my servant is now dead. Now, you and all the people get ready to cross the Jordan River.”
God having foreknowledge of future events was with Joshua during the wilderness experience preparing him to be a leader. Now, Joshua was charged to wage war against cities, towns, and villages of people who were familiar with fighting wars.
When God told Moses to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, He said to Moses “I will be with you”(Exodus 3:12). For Joshua, it was one thing to be sent into the promise land with authority to do God’s work, but God, like with Moses, assures Joshua that He will be with him.
The Lord Speaks To Joshua
The Lord spoke to Joshua, saying “today I will exalt you in the eyes of all Israel (Joshua 3:7).” Joshua gathers the priest and assembles the people; it is time to cross the Jordan River. Joshua tells the people “that the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord — the Lord of all the earth — set foot in the Jordan, its water flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap (Joshua 3:11).”
Joshua 1:15 says “Now the Jordan is at flood stage during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It pilled up in a heap a great distance away.”
Joshua 4:23 says “For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.”
God chose Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promise land, and to prove his presence was with them, The Lord God created a path into the promise land by stoping the flow of the Jordan River. All fear must have melted away as the people beheld the power and glory of Almighty God with them, among them; and at work on their behalf.
Genesis 28:15 says, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promise you.”
Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Prayer
Lord, God of heaven and earth, you are our Father, and we are your children. You knew us before we where conceived in our mother’s womb. Nobody but You watched over our journey into life; you and you alone watched over us, you were with us. May we forever have faith in your promises, and your presence in our lives.
Lord you know our enemies, you know the diseases, the poverty; the wickedness and oppression that runs rampant here on earth. Lord God, you sent your Son Jesus to reveal your presence within us, and among us. He healed disease, and ministered to the poor and oppressed. He gave us access to your Kingdom, He is our King. Father, give us courage and strength to face each day, and bless us to be free and live in peace. Give us Your heat and mind; anoint us to love, and lead us in service to one another, so that, the world will see that you are with us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
