Thoughts for another day

July 20, 2012.

Today's verse: Jos. 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. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God saw something good for His people, viz. strength and courage all their lives.  But for this to be real, God expected them to know Him, not just in passing, but intimately.  Can you imagine what this world would be if all on earth knew the Lord intimately?  How it would be so heavenly; and every person would be in peace, like 'each man under his own vine and fig tree', the way the Word of God refers to it.  How wonderful if the fear of the Lord would be engraved in everyone's heart and they lived by His commands; particularly me – a person who dares write such reflections must also live by what he writes.

In our Scripture, Joshua whose heart was close to God, saw Him as the oasis of courage, strength and confidence, even as he went about the task of vanquishing his enemies, who came against him and his people, the Israelites from all sides just to fall miserably under the awesome power of God working through them, giving them victory in all their outings.  This, provided of course, they lived by His commandments.  Joshua was so much with the Lord that he also declared, 'But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.' He harbored no choice when it came to accepting 'One' as God for He knew there was only 'ONE GOD' and He was the GREAT "I AM THAT I AM".  

Knowing God so well, gave him the insight to understand His will: that he and his people must put all their confidence in Him, else He wouldn't work for them.  Joshua reckoned, 'why shouldn't they trust Him, seeing as it were His awesome and mighty hand all through the years when they ambled about in the desert.'  For, He gave them food to eat; water to drink; and even the clothes and the shoes they wore, didn't get old!  Joshua's heart yielded to God's heart and in His moment of rejoicing in God, He uttered the Scripture above.  Even today, I exhort you to do the same for know that God is the same, He doesn't change.  Therefore, no matter what, extol Him.  You may feel low and weak but remember God's power doesn't depend on your feelings and He is also strong when you're weak.  Trusting, look up to Him and He will change your lot.