“But now, thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, ‘Fear not for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine.” Isaiah 43:1
In the experience of Joshua the son of Nun, who was the successor of Moses, there came a turning point in his life, a critical moment when his calling and commission were to be implemented fully. To indicate this moment, as is the case throughout Scripture, the Lord uses the word “NOW.” In Paul’s letter to the believers at Corinth, he emphasized this “moment of truth,” this “new beginning,” this turning point or point of engagement, by declaring: “…now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2) For Joshua this point came when the Lord spoke to him after the death of Moses. The Lord said to Joshua, “Moses my servant is dead; NOW therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.” (Joshua 1:2) The time had come for a monumental movement, or thrust, by the Spirit of God, to move the people of Israel into the land of promise. It was to be an endeavor which would only be possible by Divine intervention, as there were citadels of spiritual and material resistance in the populations of peoples they were to conquer. Israel’s basic infrastructure was the Law given to Moses by God, and God’s strategy and plan was very simple: worship, hear, and obey. The people had no cultural structure for battle as did their enemies, nor did they possess the armaments to win wars. However, their conquest of Canaan was a spiritual one, basically between God and Satan, with God on their side, intervening for them as they remainded in communion with Him. What more must be said about the turning point, the moment of engagement, the moment of choosing to move forward, leaving the past behind, and embracing Christ in the present moment for the present blessing?
The first thing to seen and understood is that this “turning point” is not just the good idea of men, that by their strength and wisdom, they could accomplish anything worthy of heaven and God. On the contrary, Israel had been brought to a place in her heart where she knew she was both helpless, and yet, a conqueror by God, by Christ. So, then command comes to “go over this Jordan.”
Secondly, we need to see that the underlying reason for the confidence, and certainty of faith in God that Joshua had, was based on the very clear and specific promises of God. The first concerned where his feet would walk: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” (Josh,. 1:3) God deals with Joshua’s very real concern that he had not come this way before. Only God knew where he would walk, and where he would fight. So, God gives him, and Israel, the assurance, even the certitude of His intervention and help every place where they shall walk, and where they shall conquer.
The second promise had to do with Joshua’s specific enemies, very real, unyielding enemies who desired the demise and destruction of Israel. The Lord’s promise was: “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.” (1:5) God, by His promises, deals with both issues, the “where” of the victory, and the “enemy” itself that will be conquered. But perhaps the greatest promise that includes all the others is this: “…for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (1:9) Here is the certainty of the provision, power, and very active presence of God. According to God’s word, and courageous, strong faith in Him, Joshua and all Israel will conquer. Nothing in God’s will will be impossible.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to live NOW. In Jesus’ name, Amen.