WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: What challenges might God be calling you to face at this stage in your life? Pray that through his Word he’ll enable you to meet them. Doubts and promises Moses was one of the outstanding figures in Israel’s history; yet someone had to pick up the baton of leadership after his death. Joshua was his chosen successor (see Deuteronomy 31:1–8 and 34:9), yet doubts remained about him – maybe among the people, and certainly within Joshua himself. Could he step into Moses’ shoes and lead the people into the Promised Land? So how does the Lord address this issue? First he restates his promise to his people. They will possess the land he’s leading them into, and nothing will stand in their way. That wasn’t only a promise for Moses’ time, but for all time (see v 5). God’s presence Just as he underlines his promise of the land to his people, so he emphasises the promise of his presence to Joshua: ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’. God’s people, doing God’s work, can always be assured of God’s presence. Mind you, Joshua has his part to play: as God is faithful, so he must be faithful too, both in strength and courage and unswerving devotion to God’s revelation in the Law. Respond: Ask again what the Lord might be calling you to do. As you do so, listen to his words of challenge and promise: ‘Be strong and courageous: I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-01-30