Discover the will of God for you (42)

“NO man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6: Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them.

7:Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8:This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success,” (Jos 1:5-8).

Jos 1:2: “Go over this Jordan … unto the land. Like the experience of Israel in the wilderness, their entrance into and conquest of Canaan can be called an example that was “written for our admonition” (1 Cor 10:11). (1) The Promised Land and its conquest by the people of God typifies not heaven, but believers’ present spiritual inheritance and salvation in Christ.

(2) Although believers already possess salvation and in one sense are in the “heavenly places … in Christ” (Eph 1:3), yet we must fight the fight of faith before we enter into eternal rest (1 Tim 1:18-20; 4:16; 6:12). As with the taking of Canaan, our possessing the promises involves spiritual warfare and conquest (Eph 6:10-20).

(3) For Joshua and the Israelites, the possession of the Promised Land was realised and maintained by faith in God, expressed in obedience to His Word and warfare against God’s enemies (vv. 7-9; cf. Deut 28). For the believer under the covenant, the possession of salvation and God’s blessings are likewise maintained by a present living faith in Christ that is expressed in obedience to His Word (see John 3:36) and in spiritual warfare against sin, the flesh and Satan (Gal 5:16-21; see Eph 6:11). Thus, possession of the land (i.e., the Lord’s inheritance) may be forfeited, as Joshua warns (23:16). The hope of final possession of God’s ultimate rest lies in faith in God’s promises (v. 6), in His power (3:14-17) and in his personal presence (vv. 5, 9).

1:5 Joshua’s new job consisted of leading more than two million people into a strange new land and conquering it. What a challenge—even for a man of Joshua’s caliber! Every new job is a challenge. Without God it can be frightening.With God it can be a great adventure. Just as God was with Joshua, he is with us as we face our new challenges.

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