What would you do if you knew you were promised success?
Joshua 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
After Moses’ death, Joshua was called to lead Israel into the Promised Land. This was a huge responsibility, but God assured Joshua that He would bless him if he obeyed His commands. The key to Joshua’s success was his obedience to God. Let’s consider what God promised Joshua and the responsibilities that came with it.
Joshua 1:3–6 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
To secure these blessings, Joshua had to take action. First, he had to go. Each step he took was a step towards claiming the land God had promised. If he didn’t move, he wouldn’t secure any land. Second, Joshua had to be strong. Obeying God’s law and leading the nation according to His instructions wouldn’t always be easy. He might face opposition, but he needed to stand firm. Third, Joshua had to let God’s word guide him. It was to be his meditation day and night. Finally, Joshua had to remember that God was always with him. He was entering enemy territory, but he wasn’t alone. God had chosen him to lead Israel to victory.
God’s promise to Joshua and Israel was already given. They just had to take it. Today, the church doesn’t have a physical promised land, but we do have the promise of a victorious Christian life if we follow God’s way.
Devotional by Pastor Rod Holler, Sr.