Tuesday, May 5, 2020

We Are Not Alone

As Moses was soon to be separated from Israel, they going into the Promised Land, he to see it from afar, he summoned Joshua to stand before the people. The Lord had chosen Joshua to succeed Moses as head over Israel and it was time to commission him to that task: “Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 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.’” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)

This was a word of warning and of promise. The challenge before Joshua was going to be difficult. He would need to be “strong and courageous.” But throughout he could be assured that the Lord would be with him, neither leaving nor forsaking him. Was God good to his word? At the end of his life Joshua testifies to Israel, “I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.” (Joshua 23:14) They possessed the land and ate “the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that [they] did not plant.” (24:13)

This same God is the God to whom David appealed and about whom he could testify, “this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:6) There is a striking difference, however, between the circumstances of these two men of God. While Joshua stood with a multitude, David was alone — alone, frightened, and without refuge or provision (see 1 Samuel 21). As James Boice notes, "He had nothing. No wonder David described himself as 'this poor man.’” Yet, in his poverty, to whom does he turn? It is to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Moses and Joshua, who is also the God of David. In a time of great distress David discovered that Yahweh knew where he was, the circumstances that drove him there, and learned from him how he might be delivered.

Have we less reason than Joshua or David to hope that we can experience the truth that God will never leave us nor forsake us? Our faith in Jesus connects us to this promise keeping God. Recall his final words to the disciples, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) In his poverty, David “sought the Lord” and the Lord answered and delivered him from all his fears. Jesus will do no less for us. We, too, can be strong and courageous knowing he will be with us — always with us — ready to hear our cry.