MARCHING ORDERS

The Lord is the one who goes ahead
of you; He will be with you.
He will not fail you or forsake you.
Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8

Joshua is a favorite person of mine in Scripture. He always appeared to be a fairly common guy, brother of Moses and thus became the right hand man of Moses. Who could foresee the role he would eventually play in the wilderness wandering scenerio. As the group of Israelites neared the Promised Land, God let it be known because of Moses' disobedience at one point, that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

God let it be known that Joshua would lead his people across the Red Sea into the land God had promised the people. It wasn't going to be a Sunday school picnic. Somehow, we always thought God's people were going to walk right into the land their ancestors had left many years prior. It wasn't going to be that easy.

Joshua not only was going to lead a people, many very disgruntled, but they would have to do battle. They weren't a warring people...they weren't soldiers armed to the nth degree. Joshua wasn't a military guy, but he was going to be one.

I love the latter part of Deuteronomy where God and Moses spoke very clearly to Joshua. I see no back talk from Joshua. He certainly had witnessed God in action for the past forty years and knew God's power first hand. I love what Moses said in the above verse to assure Joshua that all would be well. God would do His part...Joshua would have to do his. Joshua had his marching orders given from God who would secure Joshua's victory.

Guess what? The God who instructed and led Joshua those hundreds of years ago is the same God we love and serve in our day. I wish we could learn that God has purpose wherever He chooses to lead us. We all are at different places...some are in financial straits while others may be facing serious health issues. Some folks have struggled with errant children and we all feel deeply with a country we love that is flaying it's arms in the battle for survival.

We cannot concentrate on all the negatives we see around us. I'm sure Joshua viewed his own circumstances as being pretty impossible to cope with. The thing I see about Joshua is that he didn't go looking at the problems of others. He was a concerned leader but when God spoke, Joshua's job was to keep His eye on Him and do in it all to stay focused on God and His plan. We tend to take on the problems of the world knowing full well we're doing quite well to just handle what God expects of us. For some, just reading their Bible and praying daily seems an impossible thing to accomplish. You and I are called up to do what God has called us to do in our own arena of life.

Let me suggest a reading of the first chapter of Joshua. Absorb all of those promises given by God to Joshua. Whatever the personal call, on our lives, the call is personal. I won't be held accountable for your call. In His Word, God makes clear his expectations for each of us. May we obey Him much like an Army private would toward his commanding officer.

Thank You Father for Your personal care of me. Help me to stay on track spiritually and to know Your love for me is precious and personal. Help me to be faithful in these days...faithful to the basic things of my spiritual walk with You. I love You and all You are in my life. In Jesus precious name....Amen