Face to Face With Jesus - a Lenten MeditationSample

Joshua followed Moses closely throughout his leadership of Israel through the exodus. He waited for him regularly outside the tabernacle and beneath the mountain of God. These periods of waiting and watching must have created in him a deep honour of the God who led them all. After Moses’ death God speaks to Joshua alone and encourages him to be strong and courageous because He would be with him as He was with Moses. What a reassurance for a new leader of so numerous a people with the huge task of leading them into the promised land and resettling them! Joshua never wavers in obeying God and it’s this obedience that set him apart from the crowd (along with Caleb son of Jephunneh).

One added instruction that God repeatedly gives Joshua is that the book of the Law shouldn’t depart from him. That command in itself is heavy because God had given Moses many commandments (apart from the Ten Commandments). These commands, if imbibed into one’s life through a relationship with God would be easy to live by. When we love someone we do what pleases them and it’s not a task. It’s no different in our walk with God. When we love Him with all that we have and are, obeying his word and living by his commands is not burdensome.

Questions to ask yourself

Do I love God deeply?

Do I live according to his written word?

Is there an area in my life where fear is dominant? Should I remind myself to be “strong and courageous” for God is with me?