“THE PROMISE OF GOD’S PRESENCE!”

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).

     To follow in the footsteps of Moses and become the new leader of Israel was not an easy task.  The patriarch had spent forty years studying the military prowess of pharaoh’s army and another forty years exercising the patience and ability of a shepherd in the wilderness.  He needed eighty years of intensive training before he became the leader of God’s difficult people.  

     They had become Ungrateful, Unworthy, and Unsurpassed in their criticism.  The patriarch had become an intimate friend of the Lord!  But the time had arrived for another man to lead the nation of Israel.  Joshua had been chosen by God to lead Israel into the promise land, and to his everlasting credit, it can be said he did a magnificent job, all because he accepted the Promise of God’s Presence.  Look with me at the three dimensions of that Promise.

An Unfailing God
An Unwavering Guide
An Unseen General

     An Unfailing God - A Command to Serve!
Notice, if you will Joshua had received special training for his assignment.  Joshua was a seasoned warrior, an able administrator, and a saint when God commanded him to take Israel to Canaan, it 

  was a significant command.  “Be strong and be of good courage.”    This command was given three times, each time had a special significance.  Joshua was urged to be strong for the sake of the Land, the Law, and the Lord.  The reason for his bravery would be the abiding presence of the Lord.  Thank God each member of the Lord’s Church can claim the promise of God’s presence when we have a Canaan to Conquer!

An Unwavering Guide Challenge to Succeed!
     Moses had committed to writing all that the Lord told him on the mountain without the strength of God’s abiding presence, even the greatest military effort would fail.  He needed an unwavering guide, to govern, inspire, and overcome many difficulties.  The scriptures are to be an infallible guide to the man, woman, boy or girl that would read and apply them.

An Unseen General A Companion to Share!
     “And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho there stood a man over against him with his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us? Or for our adversaries” and he say, Nay, but as captain of the host of the Lord, am I now come.  Loose then thy shoe off thy foot; for the place where on thou standest is Holy Ground, and Joshua did so, Joshua 5:13-15.  

     God never intended for Joshua to serve alone; He delighted in sharing the Joys and Problems of his people.  

     As Christians in this battle we call life, God never intended for us to fight our battles all alone for we have, the PersonalPromise of His Presence!