“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.