Commanded!

Commanded!

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. Joshua 1:9 KJV

The Inspiration:

Moses the servant of God was dead. For a man like Joshua, it was hard. He had seen all the mighty things God did through Moses; he was there at the parting of the Red Sea; at the Mount Sinai where God came down in glory to speak to Moses; he saw Aaron's error, and the impact it had on the people of Israel. He also was at war at different times and situations, and he was also one of the spies sent out by Moses to look at the land of promise. Imagine returning back home and hearing other spies like yourself denying the promise of God, and because of the impact of those words, the people had to wander in the desert for another 40 years, until all the people who were 20 years old and above all perished in the desert, apart from Joshua and Caleb. This was the platform on which Joshua had to operate from; these were very big shoes to fill, and only a man who had God's backing would even dare to try. No matter how talented you are, that is not a guarantee of God's backing for the assignment He wants to commission. It is the One who defines the assignment who can also empower the vessel to accomplish His purpose. Outside of Him, nothing works.

The Contention:

God knew the enormity of the task ahead of Joshua, so He had to provide him support and encouragement. No matter how hard the task is, God will not demand from me that which He has not given grace for. If He directs it, it is because He has defined what is required, and He has also delivered it. God came to Joshua alone, away from the influence or pressure of men, to encourage him. If I will hear God speak, I need to step away from the attraction and distraction that the world brings. The world needs to be noticed for it to be relevant, but for the person backed up by God, the world holds no attraction. God wants to reach me, away from all the agenda and issues the world may push out. He wants me to hear him and then launch out in faith and obedience, sure of the One who is backing me up. His instructions for my life may look like suggestions, simply because I have the power to choose if I want to obey, but the truth is God wants me to see his Word as the authority I need for the life I have been called into. As the commander of the host of heaven, when God commands, everyone must obey. 

The Conclusion:

When I am sure of who is backing me up, I can face whatever comes with hope, faith and confidence. There is nowhere God promises an easy ride through life, but he certainly promises me His presence, in the midst of all the stress going around. With God's presence with me, I can face whatever comes: prison or the palace. God met Joshua in secret, away from the eyes of other men, but the fruit of that encounter was visible to all who came in contact with Joshua. It is not a wonder that it was said of Joshua that "the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country. He met with God first, and God made his name known. No matter how hard I try, I cannot replace God, and I won't become anything of note outside of Him. As I plan for the life I have been called into, I must ensure that I go with the One who has overcome the world. He has commanded; who dares rebel or disobey? He has commissioned and sent out; impact is inevitable. Till I reach home, may I never grow out of my need for God. May He be all that matters. God's time of favour is here.