Joshua 1:2-3 "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. (3) Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses."
Joshua had been by Moses' side for the past 40 years. He and Caleb had been the
two who stood against the other ten spies. It was Joshua and Caleb who told the
people that they could take the land if the Lord would bless them. Now Moses is
dead and God has said to Joshua, "Arise, go over this Jordan..." We
will look at more of the promises that God gave to Joshua, but today I want to
think about the call that was given to Joshua. 147 verses in the Bible contain
the word, "Arise." As I scanned through a portion of them, that call
was to the people of God to go forward. The other portion was pertaining to
God's people asking God to arise on their behalf.
Why was it important for Joshua to be given that command? "Arise."
Notice the words before that one, "Moses my servant is dead." Moses
had been leading the people for 40 years in the wilderness. The people were
accustomed to the ways of Moses. They had become somewhat, if not very,
comfortable with Moses being their leader. But now... Moses is dead. Moses is
not with them anymore. It would be very easy for the people to sit down and let
their grief and sorrow take over their feelings and actions. God had allowed
them a time to grieve for Moses, but NOW it was time for Joshua "and all
this people" to arise and go forward. God then proceeded to reaffirm the
promises made to Moses would also be given to Joshua. "Every place
that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I
said unto Moses." What I said to Moses, I now say to you Joshua. So, here
is my first order of the day, "ARISE!." Get up and get moving. Then
we read, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the
days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail
thee, nor forsake thee." (Joshua 1:5) The Lord willing, we will look
more at this verse tomorrow, but for now, I want us to understand that God's
purpose does not change for us even when our circumstances may change.
As a note of encouragement, I want to say that this is true of nations,
churches, and individuals. The leaders of a nation may change, but God's
intentions and plans for us remain the same. Pastors come and pastors leave,
but the purpose of the church remains the same. Circumstances change in our
individual lives, but we must always nation, church, and individual, keep our
eyes, hearts, minds, words and actions focused upon the glory of our blessed
Lord. He is unchanging and He is faithful.
1 Time is filled with swift transition,
naught of earth unmoved can stand;
Build your hopes on things eternal,
hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Refrain:
Hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Build your hopes on things eternal,
hold to God’s unchanging hand!
2 Trust in Him who will not leave you,
whatsoever years may bring;
If by earthly friends forsaken,
still more closely to Him cling. [Refrain]