Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 2, 2024
Joshua 1:1-9
1 After Moses the LORD’s servant died, the LORD spoke to Joshua, Nun’s son. He had been Moses’ helper. 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross over the Jordan with this entire people to the land that I am going to give to the Israelites. 3 I am giving you every place where you set foot, exactly as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will stretch from the desert and the Lebanon as far as the great Euphrates River, including all Hittite land, up to the Mediterranean Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you during your lifetime. I will be with you in the same way I was with Moses. I won’t desert you or leave you. 6 Be brave and strong, because you are the one who will help this people take possession of the land, which I pledged to give to their ancestors. 7 “Be very brave and strong as you carefully obey all of the Instruction that Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t deviate even a bit from it, either to the right or left. Then you will have success wherever you go. 8 Never stop speaking about this Instruction scroll. Recite it day and night so you can carefully obey everything written in it. Then you will accomplish your objectives and you will succeed. 9 I’ve commanded you to be brave and strong, haven’t I? Don’t be alarmed or terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Good Morning! Fear not, God is with us!
God’s words to Joshua bring me great comfort when I am overwhelmed. When life seems too hectic and out of control, we need to slow down to pray and read this passage. Moses, as the leader of the Israelites, had been larger than life. Despite the complaining and frequent doubts, the people believed that Moses was in direct connection to God and that everything would be okay as long as they followed Moses.
Now, Moses is gone, and Joshua is faced with the immense challenge of leading them into the promised land. I’m sure that he felt unprepared and wondered if the people were ready to believe and follow him.
Joshua could not accomplish this on his own. I imagine young David trying to wear the armor of the big, adult warriors and being so weighed down that he couldn’t move. Joshua was not Moses. God would lead him to be his true, authentic self. His task was too much for him to bear. No one could have carried that load.
The Good News is that no one is called to go out on their own. God calls us and promises to be with us always.
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. You lead us into the troubled waters to gather all of the lost sheep. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Don’t give up, God is with us!
With God, all things are possible! Pastor Liz