We should first remember God is in control.
When we leave God in control, we benefit. Why? Read verse 3, 6
A. Our success depends on God’s guidance.
One person said that the wilderness is “never God’s permanent destination for us.” There are so many people that die spiritually and never walk in the fullness of God. They wander around wondering why life keeps playing cruel tricks while God is trying to show them what He created them for.
God was guiding the people of Israel into the promised land and every step they took in it was going to be their inheritance. This reminds me of how Paul constantly told the people around him that when God is for us, who can be against us? God’s control becomes our courage, because He will never forsake us.
Read verse 5
B. Our success depends on God’s presence.
God guaranteed the inheritance of Israel and to put an exclamation point on it, He promises to stay with them. Joshua faced huge odds and God wasn’t going to leave him holding an empty bucket. God completes the good works He starts. God refuses to look like a liar, so He personally guides Israel into the promised land.
God never leaves us to do things alone. Victory wasn’t assured because Joshua was a good leader. Victory wasn’t assured because the people of Israel were pure and holy. Victory wasn’t assured because they had the ark. Victory was assured because God is a great God.
Israel traveled for 40 years in a wilderness. Fathers and grandfathers died. City life had been replaced with the life of nomadic journeys. Now they stood before the promise and the uncertainties were starting to flood in. Many had stood at the same crossing 40 years earlier. If you were 19 and younger you were given a reprieve. What was going to make this time different?
Moses had used spies who entered the land, and they saw giant problems called giants. Giant problems tend to cause people to shrink back and never reach their potential. But when God is involved, who can stand against Him? God gives His presence to reassure and comfort the down trodden, to remove the fear of the afraid, and keep us from being restrained by the feelings of uncertainties. Today God still gives His presences to us and seals that presence with His Holy Spirit.
I know personally that God is in control. After the initial blind date with my soon to be wife, I waited a few days before calling to set up another date. I was shy and nervous. I couldn't reach her. I tried a couple of times only to get the answering machine. To know me at that time, you would have known that I hated speaking to answering machines. I almost didn't leave a message after the third time calling, but I did.
To find out, my wife was in the middle of a move and was frightened that I would call her in the middle of it. She left the answering machine just in case. Just in case! I sure am glad I left the message. But it goes to show God has things in control, and when He is working things out in our lives, He is faithful to complete them.
When we go through transitions with God, His sovereignty reminds us that He is still in control. These transitions, however, still require effort on our part.
- With God’s guidance, we can apply for jobs we never thought we would get.
- With God’s presence, disappointment is not as hard when we are turned down because we know that God is holding open the door for us in the right place.
- With God’s presence, we can be assured that being too old is not a reason for not going back to school.
- With God’s guidance, we can live tomorrow when death seems to have taken away our future.
- With God’s presence, we can face the problems that exist from an unfavorable diagnosis.
Keep the faith today!
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