“My God, my God why have you forsaken me”, sometimes in our heart of hearts when facing heart breaking test and trials we echo the agonizing cry of our Savior as He hung on the cross. We cry out to God day and night and there seems to be no relief to our pain, to our burden and we ask “God where is the help you promised? Where are you God when I need you the most?”
Joshua 1:1-9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
The account from Joshua 1 highlights that the nation of Israel was about to embark on a journey of new beginnings: there was a new leader; a new generation; they were preparing to go into a new land, the land of promise; they were going to have new houses, they could discard those battered, torn tents; they were going to have new clothes and new shoes and could now discard the ones they had for all the years they were in the wilderness that God had preserved on their backs and on their feet (miraculously). These were exciting times ahead for the nation of Israel but sometimes with new opportunities come new challenges.
The Challenges
A lot of forces were acting on the nation of Israel and their new leader, Joshua: Moses their leader had just died and all the responsibility now rest squarely on Joshua's shoulder; Joshua had no boat or access to a bridge to cross the Jordan River that was now at its widest, being Spring it had overflowed its banks; to govern and rule over two million people (try controlling three kids in a house); conquer a land that was filled with idolatrous barbarians whose cities were fortified with thick walls; the land of Canaan was filled with enemies as many as the sand of the seashore; and top it all off Joshua was way pass the age of retirement and being approximately 90 years old must have being saying "I am too old for this." Sometimes when our troubles are as many as the sand of the seashore and the obstacles seems insurmountable, God is setting the stage to do a mighty work in our midst and on our behalf and it's in these situation that we are forced to look up for divine assistance and "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord." (Ex. 14:13) Joshua needed help and not just any help he needed divine assistance. In Chapter 1:1-9 we see God pulling alongside Joshua and giving him His promise that "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
The Promise
These were encouraging words coming from Almighty God to lift up and revive the spirit of Joshua (isn't God the same today? In our dark moments He pulls alongside us and gives us a Word that carries us through those dark times). What we know about the promises from God is that "God cannot lie" (Titus 1:2) so His words are faithful and ever true; "that what He had promised He was also able to perform" (Romans 4:21); and 2 Peter 3:9 says "God is not slack concerning His promises." God has all the power, wisdom, ability and resources to fulfill all His promises. When we stand on the promises of God we are standing on a firm, solid and everlasting foundation. As Christians we also have this promise that was made to Moses His servant and then Joshua, Christ said in Matthew 28:20 "...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Paul said in Hebre, oops...sorry, the writer of Hebrews wrote in chapter 13:5 that "For He Himself has said "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
When God promises He will never leave us nor forsake us, God is saying He will never fail us or abandon us in our times of need; He will never leave us alone to fend for ourselves. God's promise to never leave us nor forsake us means He is actively acting on our behalf, working in our best interest, it means He is working it out, He is making a way, probable we don't see or know how but He is working it out. God's promise to never leave us nor forsake us means He is "a very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46;121). This promise means He is not just passively standing by watching our world crumble around us but He is working it out for our good (Romans 8:28) and for for His Glory. Hallelujah. Praise God Almighty.
The Position
When God is with us it means:
Confidence - we can be strong and courageous because God is on our side. Comfort & Care - the all powerful, Sovereign God is protecting and watching over me and is my refuge and shield in times of trouble (Psalm 91). Counsel - I have the Wonderful Counselor, Almighty in wisdom to talk to anytime to give me His divine guidance and wisdom. Note:- the two times Joshua failed in the Book of Joshua was when he did not first consult with God. Companionship - I will never be alone, because He is everywhere (Psalm 139).
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you want to be saved and have eternal life and your sins forgiven, the Bible says you must:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:9 KJV)
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom 10:10 KJV)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom. 10:13)
Then as a born again child of God (John 1:12) you will have the confidence, comfort, care, counsel and companionship of Almighty God wherever you go. Amen.