February 10, 2016

“So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there.  The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.”  Joshua 21:43-45

The Book of Joshua can be summarized in three words: power, presence and possession.

Joshua remembered how God’s power had brought them to the banks of the Jordan ready to cross over to Canaan, the Land of Promise. It gave him courage to believe the God Who had led them out of Egypt and had led them through the wilderness would now lead them in to Canaan.

As he gained encouragement and strength from remembering God power he encouraged God’s people by reminding them of all God had done!

It was God’s power demonstrated in the plagues that finally broke down the Pharaoh’s resistance so he agreed to let God’s people go.

God’s power opened the Red Sea to deliver His people and then closed it to destroy their enemies.

God’s power provided nourishing manna every morning for 2,000,000 people over 40 years in a wilderness.

God’s power brought water from a rock when His people were thirsty!

And’s power wouldn’t wane when they entered into Canaan!

Do you believe in God’s power?

Do you know God’s power?

Do you depend on God’s power?

As amazing as God’s power is there’s something far better than His power and that’s His presence because when you have His presence you also have His power!

Moses knew God’s presence like few others who ever lived. Joshua coveted God’s presence and sought it for himself and his people.

The presence of God dwelt on the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant between cherubs’ wings. That was the visible symbol of God’s presence that always went before His people wherever they went.

It was the presence of God that led Moses and the people in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. It was a desire for His presence that led to the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness.

God’s presence was the purpose of the Promised Land! It was there they could worship Him and know Him and serve Him in peace! He would be their rest!

Is God’s presence welcome in your life?

Is He real and precious in your life?

Can others recognize His presence in your life?

Through God’s power and His presence the Hebrews would possess the land promised to Abraham of old. Which, by the way, raises another inspiring truth – because of God’s power and God’s presence and God’s possession you can be sure He will deliver on His promises – every one every time!

God’s power and His presence and His possession as revealed in the Book of Joshua are the essence of His glory and the entrance to your Glory Days when you make them personal through your faith.