Time to Enter the Land

After the death of Moses the Lord's servant, The Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses. "Moses My servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River- all the land of the Hittites- and west to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. 

Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you.

Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.

This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth, you are to recite it day and night so that you may be carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 

Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:1-9

Finally, the promised land becomes a reality. A new leader and a new land. God confirms the promise already made about the lands the people were to inherit. It is interesting that God says, three times,'' be stronger and courageous." As the Lord took the tribe of Israel through the Red Sea, all they had to do was follow. Now God is proposing they ford a flooded river,   this time to take their promise.

Why did God say: 'be strong and courageous'? Was their fear in Joshua's heart? This is the first time He leads without Moses. He has seen the tribe and how they treated Moses, perhaps he was not relishing having to face off the rebels, should they appear. Perhaps he doubted his own ability to stay strong to the end. We are not told Joshua's state, he appears to lead well.

Stepping out into a new venture is daunting, yet another piece of advice that The Lord have Joshua was to recite the book of instruction day and night, to stay in the word. There is a promise to getting the instructions right, he would prosper in all he did.

Our Lord promises never to leave us, He has given us His Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us. If we remain in the word and His word remains in us, Jesus said we could ask anything in His name and it would be done for us. 

To remain in the word requires us to spend time in it, not giving it mental assent, reading books about it, but actually reading it and more, meditating on it. As I read my bible I am looking for the Sprit of Life. What is God anointing for my heart to receive. It is like a treausre

hunt, such fun!!!

I am about to step into a new venture, I have some clue but am keen to see it unfold. I have studied for this, spoken about stepping into it, but now, finally am doing it. I am not rushing but am measuring my steps, seeking advice but not fearing. Fun! The best part is, He is there, I am at peace and I know it is right. I do not have the full picture and am not peturbed because He has such good surprises, I love them and wouldn't miss them for all the earth.

I imagine I know what it is like to have a vision of a man in Macedonia calling out to Paul and I know how exciting it would have been for him to know, 'this is the next step.' Today I had said, "I will leave Tamworrh and drive to Brisbane next Wednesday. " I was open to by which route. Then I received a call from a frantic client. What she needed I could do but more importantly I knew I would go by that route. Just by caring and being available I gave her peace. How cool! I love what I do!