“I Will Not Fail You Or Forsake You”

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:1-9

Whenever the Lord assigns us a difficult task, He gives us what we need to carry it out.

Joshua was thrust into a position of great responsibility. No doubt the enormity of the challenge before him made him tremble with fear. How could he ever follow such a great leader as Moses? In his own strength it would be impossible to lead the people out of the Promised Land. But along with the marching orders, the Lord gave him an assuring promise: “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” The Lord also said Joshua should be strong and have courage, and not to be afraid or dismayed. Those were the assurances Joshua needed.

If God has given you some special work to do that frightens you, it is your responsibility to jump at it. It is up to the Lord to see you through. As you faithfully do your part, He will do His part.

When God guides, God provides!

Our Daily Bread – April 2, 2009