It's finally time for the children of Israel to cross the Jordan and take the land of Canaan. The time of wandering in the wilderness is over. Joshua gives the command and the people obey!
Regarding Joshua, Ellen White writes:
"Joshua was now the acknowledged leader of Israel. He had been known chiefly as a warrior, and his gifts and virtues were especially valuable at this stage in the history of his people. Courageous, resolute, and persevering, prompt, incorruptible, unmindful of selfish interests in his care for those committed to his charge, and, above all, inspired by a living faith in God—such was the character of the man divinely chosen to conduct the armies of Israel in their entrance upon the Promised Land. During the sojourn in the wilderness he had acted as prime minister to Moses, and by his quiet, unpretending fidelity, his steadfastness when others wavered, his firmness to maintain the truth in the midst of danger, he had given evidence of his fitness to succeed Moses, even before he was called to the position by the voice of God. It was with great anxiety and self-distrust that Joshua had looked forward to the work before him; but his fears were removed by the assurance of God, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.... Unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.” “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 481)
God's promise to be with Joshua is also His promise to be with us today! And as we step forward by faith, just like the priest stepped into the Jordan river, so God will work and honor our faith. We still serve a God that can work "Jordan River and Red sea" miracles today! He can part the waters...
I also really love Psalms 37 (another one of my favorite Bible chapters), and how it so beautifully compliments the reading in Joshua. Right off in the beginning God tells us, "Trust in the Lord and do good, so shall thou dwell in the land and be fed."
Of course Ps. 37:4 is a favorite, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thy heart." But what I didn't realize in my younger years is that the greater meaning of this beautiful promise is not that He gives me MY desires... but that HE GIVES ME THE DESIRES (His desires)... So His desires become my desires and my desires become His. So beautiful!
I also love how we are told (Ps. 37:19) that we will be satisfied in FAMINE. In fact, David writes, "Ive never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread." That's because Christ is our bread. And He will not allow us to starve... Hunger yes... but not starve... He will supply our need... physically and most importantly spiritually. But we have to hunger before He can fill us. (Matt. 5:6)
Nothing deep and profound perhaps, but just little tidbits, reminding me of God's goodness of provision from heavenly desires to daily bread...
Tomorrow's Reading: Josh 4-5 and Romans 10
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