March 22 - God Has A Plan...Who's Going Lead?

(submitted by Dave Bemus)


Joshua 1:9
“HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. DO NOT BE TERRIFIED; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO."

Imagine 40 years of wandering in the wilderness – manna and quail, endless stop and go, waiting for the Promised Land. Joshua had endured this journey with the entire Israelite nation and following Moses’ death, he receives God’s words of promise and encouragement in a call to prepare and lead His people across the Jordan into the long-awaited Promised Land. Imagine receiving the following words of encouragement from God: “I WILL GIVE YOU EVERY PLACE WHERE YOU SET YOUR FOOT, AS I PROMISED MOSES. NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STAND UP AGAINST YOU ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE. AS I WAS WITH MOSES, SO I WILL BE WITH YOU; I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU "BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, BECAUSE YOU WILL LEAD THESE PEOPLE TO INHERIT THE LAND...YOU WILL BE PROSPEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL. HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. DO NOT BE TERRIFIED; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO." (Excerpts from Joshua 1:3-9).

Kind of gets the blood pumping doesn’t it? Now the Promised Land is in sight - the only thing that stands between you and your destination is the rain-swollen Jordan River. What would you do? I visualize myself running ahead and jumping into the river, reciting those awesome verses…knowing God will help me reach the other side…he wouldn’t let me drowned…would he?!? Thankfully, Joshua listened and waited for God to provide further instructions and the priests carefully followed God’s directions. They carried the Ark of the Covenant ahead of the people and when their feet touched the river, firm and dry footing appeared as the Jordan parted, allowing the entire nation of 2 million Israelites to enter safely.

So often the raging waters of demands, expectations and overcommitment surround us and it’s easy to run ahead of where God is working and follow our own self sufficiencies to do “God’s work”. We pray and we memorize verses as we battle the currents -- The problem is we don’t allow God the opportunity to provide the firm and dry footing he planned to provide along the way. God longs to instruct us with His Word in the busyness of our day, counseling us with the Holy Spirit or with others He appoints to help and to glorify Him. He wants to tighten the relationship with us to move forward together.

Joshua would have not been much value to the nation of Israel had he run ahead into the Jordan and drowned – we jeopardize our kingdom potential if we try to serve God in the raging waters of busyness. Stop, pray and listen for God’s instructions. God empowers us with the same verses He shared with Joshua…it’s up to us who will lead the way.