‘…Get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give…’ Joshua 1:2 NIV
God said this to Joshua: ‘Moses my servant is dead …get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give [you]…I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses… you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.’ (Joshua 1: 2-6 NIV) The lead-up to this point was a rough ride for Joshua. Previously, he spent a load of time serving Moses, and did it graciously and attentively. That’s totally admirable, seeing as they spent all that time wandering around a scorching desert with a bunch of guys who complained about everything (check the Old Testament, the people of Israel could be a right moany lot).
It would’ve been easy for Joshua to become an impatient rebel along with them, but he didn’t. He didn’t get pushy or irritated. He used that time as a preparation. Every day in the desert prepared him for the mahooooosive task of leading Israel into the Promised Land. God never ever wastes experience. Every single thing you’ve been through, including all the stuff that makes zero sense right now, is preparation for what God’s got in store. At the end of his life Joshua was able to say to the Israelites: ‘Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled…’ (Joshua 23:14 NIV) So prepare yourself so the God who came through for Joshua can come through for you.
SoulFood: Hab 1-3, Lk 8:26-39, Ps 65, Prov 19:5-8
word4U2day (an adaptation of The Word for Today authored by Bob & Debby Gass) is published under licence by UCB Australia. 2014 UCB International Ltd
