"Never Alone" by Stefanie Hendrickson RG110618
Joshua 1:1 After the death of Moshe the servant of Adonai, Adonai said to Y’hoshua the son of Nun, Moshe’s assistant, 2 “Moshe my servant is dead. So now, get up and cross over this Yarden, you and all the people, to the land I am giving to them, the people of Isra’el. 3 I am giving you every place you will step on with the sole of your foot, as I said to Moshe. 4 All the land from the desert and the L’vanon to the great river, the Euphrates River — all the land of the Hitti — and on to the Great Sea in the west will be your territory. 5 No one will be able to withstand you as long as you live. Just as I was with Moshe, so I will be with you. I will neither fail you nor abandon you.6 “Be strong, be bold; for you will cause this people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers I would give them. 7 Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed. 9 Haven’t I ordered you, ‘Be strong, be bold’? So don’t be afraid or downhearted, because Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.” (Complete Jewish Bible)
Haven’t I ordered you, ‘Be strong, be bold’? So don’t be afraid or downhearted, because Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).
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Have you ever you found yourself lost? Perhaps it was while you were a small child and by some mishap you and your parent were separated? It may have happened when you were older and you discovered you had no idea how you ended up where you did. Either way, that feeling of panic—being lost and alone—is scary.
Joshua was now the leader of the freed Israelite people. The leader Moses had died and the role of leader fell on Joshus. He and all the Israelites were perched on the edge of the land promised to them by God. Now they must move forward and claim it. I wonder if their past failures crossed Joshua’s mind. Did the people’s lack of faith in God when times were tough give Joshua pause?
If this happened, God was clearly reminding Joshua of the most important thing to recall: God is faithful and just and will never leave. God, again, instructs his followers to obey, listen and reJoshua. Those are key actions to faithfully following the One who never leaves.
Are you feeling abandoned? God promises to never leave us. Remember God’s faithfulness. Obey God’s call. Trust in God’s ever-presence.
Hymn for Today: "I Know God's Promise is True" by Lelia N. Morris
1. For God so loved this sinful world,
His Son He freely gave,
That whosoever would believe
Eternal life should have.
Refrain: ’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,
God’s wonderful promise is true;
For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,
And I know God’s promise is true.
2. I was a wayward, wand’ring child,
A slave to sin and fear,
Until this blessèd promise fell
Like music on my ear.
Refrain: ’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,
God’s wonderful promise is true;
For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,
And I know God’s promise is true.
3. The whosoever of the Lord,
I trusted was for me,
I took Him at His gracious word;
From sin He set me free.
Refrain: ’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,
God’s wonderful promise is true;
For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,
And I know God’s promise is true.
4. Eternal life, begun below,
Now fills my heart and soul.
I’ll sing His praise forevermore
Who has redeemed my soul.
Refrain: ’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,
God’s wonderful promise is true;
For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,
And I know God’s promise is true.
Thought for Today: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in the Virgin Islands.
***
Until this blessèd promise fell
Like music on my ear.
Refrain: ’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,
God’s wonderful promise is true;
For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,
And I know God’s promise is true.
3. The whosoever of the Lord,
I trusted was for me,
I took Him at His gracious word;
From sin He set me free.
Refrain: ’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,
God’s wonderful promise is true;
For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,
And I know God’s promise is true.
4. Eternal life, begun below,
Now fills my heart and soul.
I’ll sing His praise forevermore
Who has redeemed my soul.
Refrain: ’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,
God’s wonderful promise is true;
For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,
And I know God’s promise is true.
Thought for Today: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in the Virgin Islands.
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