The book of Joshua begins with Israel's new leader being encouraged by God. It always intrigues me that Joshua is told to be "strong and courageous" so many times (twice in Deuteronomy 31 and 4 times in Joshua 1); by Moses, by Israel and four times by God.
Yet this morning, what caught my attention was how encouraged Joshua must have been by God's promise to him. Joshua had been Moses right hand man for years. He was allowed to go with Moses into God's presence in a way that no one else in the nation was allowed. He observed the miracles God performed through Moses and knew that God had defended Moses leadership when it was threatened by the complaining, rebellious Israelites.
So when God said "I will be with you like I was with Moses; I won't ever leave you or forsake you", Joshua knew what a huge promise was being given to him. He faced a great task in leading the people into the Promised Land. But now, if had any doubts, he had received a great promise from God: he would be kept and strengthened by God just as his mentor Moses had experienced.
And we are told that we can claim that same wonderful promise: our God will never leave or forsake us." Hebrews 13:5
On another note: we received an encouraging note this week from a young woman serving over here. Jan and I learned that she and a colleague were not receiving the full amount of financial support promised when they left home. When we heard this, we gave each of them a small gift to encourage them. In her note of thanks she mentioned that both young women had been wondering how they would afford to eat in the coming week - and then Jan handed them our little gift in an envelope.
We were grateful that we had been able to give this practical help at the right time. However we were saddened to think that these young women are living with such financial pressure as they serve the Lord here. And we were saddened that "the folks back home" were not giving more faithfully to the meet the needs of these women.
Yet this morning, what caught my attention was how encouraged Joshua must have been by God's promise to him. Joshua had been Moses right hand man for years. He was allowed to go with Moses into God's presence in a way that no one else in the nation was allowed. He observed the miracles God performed through Moses and knew that God had defended Moses leadership when it was threatened by the complaining, rebellious Israelites.
So when God said "I will be with you like I was with Moses; I won't ever leave you or forsake you", Joshua knew what a huge promise was being given to him. He faced a great task in leading the people into the Promised Land. But now, if had any doubts, he had received a great promise from God: he would be kept and strengthened by God just as his mentor Moses had experienced.
And we are told that we can claim that same wonderful promise: our God will never leave or forsake us." Hebrews 13:5
On another note: we received an encouraging note this week from a young woman serving over here. Jan and I learned that she and a colleague were not receiving the full amount of financial support promised when they left home. When we heard this, we gave each of them a small gift to encourage them. In her note of thanks she mentioned that both young women had been wondering how they would afford to eat in the coming week - and then Jan handed them our little gift in an envelope.
We were grateful that we had been able to give this practical help at the right time. However we were saddened to think that these young women are living with such financial pressure as they serve the Lord here. And we were saddened that "the folks back home" were not giving more faithfully to the meet the needs of these women.
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