The Lord Goes Before You
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READING: ,
“It is the Lord who goes before you.”
8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
was the first full chapter of the Bible I memorized. I used the King James Version Bible, and I still remember the KJV English. If I’m honest, though, I memorized the words at age 13, but I’m still learning what they mean at age 57.
I’m particularly aware of these words today: “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me” (). What some versions read as “the valley of death” is essentially any dark valley into which we cannot see, yet through which we must also pass. All of us face such valleys in life, and they are at least alarming if not threatening and scary. The deepest darkness is always disconcerting unless you have light to lead the way.
Let me get straight to the point today. Over and over again, God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous as he prepared to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land:
This is something we have talked about many times as we have talked about the children of Israel as they prepared to enter the promised land.
The Lord was trying to remind them, He would be there, He would not leave them, He would prepare the way for them. He had brought them there, he would not let them fail.
Listen to three promises the Lord gives
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6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
The psalmist, of course, knew he was not alone in this journey; he knew his divine Shepherd was with him all the way. Using the image of a shepherd’s rod and staff, the psalmist found comfort in the truth that God would guide, protect, and watch over His sheep.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them.” ()“Do not fear or be dismayed.” ()“Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them.” ()
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8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
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23 And the Lord commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.”
Question.... Do any of those verses sound like anything that is meaningful for us today?
Yes, it is important for us to see and experience today.
And back in that day, it was important for Joshua as well,.
With God on his side, Joshua had no reason to fear, no reason not to trust Him, and no reason to fall.
God is with us (or in the KJV language, “thou art with me”). When we believe and remember this truth, our worries dissipate. Our fears lose their power. We tackle the tough assignments, knowing we’re not alone. We walk into the darkest places, going there because we know we carry the light there. No mountain is too high to climb, and no valley is too deep to cross. No sin is too powerful to conquer—for the God who defeated sin lives within us.
He would experience victory not because of who he was, but because the Lord his God had promised: “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you” ().
Furthermore, He said that He would not fail or forsake them (, ).
a had no reason to fear, no reason not to trust Him, and no reason to fall. He would experience victory not because of who he was, but because the Lord his God had promised: “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you” (). Furthermore, He said that He would not fail or forsake them (, ). Beyond those statements, just the simple phrase, “He will be with you” () should have been enough to give courage. “God is with me” should be sufficient to calm every nerve and erase every fear.
Beyond those statements, just the simple phrase, “He will be with you” () should have been enough to give courage.
“God is with me” should be sufficient to calm every nerve and erase every fear. Do we trust Him? Do we trust God for our situation today?
Nevertheless, the repetition of phrases like, “Do not fear or be dismayed” (, ) reminds us that even Joshua must have been tempted with fear at times.
Nevertheless, the repetition of phrases like, “Do not fear or be dismayed” (, ) reminds us that even Joshua must have been tempted with fear at times. It’s easy to trust God when you’re the key speaker in the next county’s revival service, but it’s not so easy when enemy armies have rallied against you. Joshua needed to hear these words recurrently in times of peace so that he would cling to those words in times of conflict. What he heard from the Lord today would be critical for him in the future.
God is with us, so I shalt not fear. Period.
It’s easy to trust God when you’re things seem to be going alright, it seems easy to trust God when there is just peace.
But remember the life of David, there were times when it was difficult for him, but it’s not so easy when enemy armies have rallied against you. But still there He placed his trust in God.
Joshua needed to hear these words recurrently in times of peace so that he would cling to those words in times of conflict.
What he heard from the Lord today would be critical for him in the future.
Joshua needed to hear these words recurrently in times of peace so that he would cling to those words in times of conflict. What he heard from the Lord today would be critical for him in the future.
I may be “preaching to the choir” here, but do you read and digest the Word of God regularly enough that you can turn to it quickly in times of turmoil?
ACTION STEPS:
Do you trust the God who is bigger than any giant you face in your own land?
Do you believe that He is with you, goes ahead of you, and will walk with you even unto death and beyond?
Have you decided this day to “choose life in order that you may live” ()?
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
If so, testify to your choice “by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him” ().
16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
You won’t regret your obedience to the One who goes ahead of you.
If so, testify to your choice “by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him” (). You won’t regret your obedience to the One who goes ahead of you.
You won’t regret your obedience to the One who goes ahead of you.
ACTION STEPS:
Determine what most causes you fear, and give it to God in prayer. He is with you. Think of all the people in the world who today follow false gods that can never be with them. Pray for them.
Strive to not be afraid at all today.The Lord is with you. So, rejoice!
PRAYER: “God, thank You for being with me. Amen.”
PRAYER: “God, turn my heart toward You. Give me courage no matter what I face today.”