Life happens, Joshua 1

I have been lax in my postings. Life happens! Last week was busy, busy!! I was preparing for my man, JTB, to come home for a visit! Plus work, the kids and school! So it has been crazy. JTB got in Saturday early evening! We went to church on Sunday morning, lunch and then went to see NSB in South City Theatre's production of "Wizard of Oz". Yesterday was a school day for the kids and JTB worked on our toilets!  Plus we went to Lowe's for some more supplies and dreamed a bit about the stuff we would like to do in our house! Especially the kitchen!

Cast picture from "Wizard of Oz". NSB was Uncle Henry, a flying monkey and a tree!


Today's reading on my You Version reading plan is Joshua 1. 


Joshua 1 starts out with God telling Joshua, Moses is dead. It is time to go on with life. How hard that would have been for Joshua. Just think his mentor, Moses, is dead. The responsibility for the spiritual and natural well being of the Israelites was now on his shoulders. He knew what they were like, so I am sure it was a responsibility that he took, but also was on his knees a lot!


God laid a lot on Joshua's shoulders in those first two verses, but then He lays out the plan for Joshua. He tells  him that every where the sole of his foot treads, the Lord has given to him, just as he promised Moses. Even when God comes to us with instructions on something he wants us to do, He backs it up. He lays out the plan, but also His promises! Verse 5 attests to that! " 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." (HCSB) What an absolutely wonderful promise! Yet that promise just wasn't for Joshua! Peter spoke in Acts 10:34 (KJV) "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" So to me that means that what God did for one person in the Bible He will do for me! Praise God!! God continues to instruct Joshua on what he must do in verses seven and eight. "7 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. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do." 


As a good man and leader, Joshua does what the Lord has commanded. He prepares the people. A good leader will always prepare the people for a move of God! So if you are sitting in a church where the Word is not being preached, then your leader is not preparing the people for a move of God! You need to pray and ask God if you should get out and find a Word preaching church! 


The people of Israel obeyed the leading of Joshua. Which tells you that they respected the man and that he was a man to be followed! Verse 16 and 17 says "They answered Joshua, "Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. 17 We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. And may the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses." 


I am sure that it comforted Joshua. The Lord allowed confirmation, by the people, for Joshua! When He calls us, He instructs, equips and confirms! Our God is an awesome God! He loves us and is concerned about every aspect of our lives, including the instructional part of our lives. He wants us to grow, to stretch, to continually trust Him more!


Do you trust? Do you follow His instructions? I am constantly growing in that area, just as you all are! May we all trust and follow His instructions so we can grow to be more mature Christ followers!