SEPTEMBER 21, 2012
Much
Trouble
Read: Joshua 1:1-7
I will
not leave you nor forsake you. —Joshua 1:5
A
young boy named Riley started a fight with Avery on the school
playground after
a soccer match. The teacher broke it up, and both
boys were sent to the
principal’s office. Later, Avery said, “And of
course, like always, we both got
in trouble.” But he shared that he
learned a lesson: “God is always with us,
even if we get in as much
trouble as this.”
The
nation of Israel was in big trouble. Yet the Lord promised the
nation’s new
leader: “I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Josh. 1:5).
Joshua was taking
over leadership of the Israelites after Moses’ death,
just before they were to
enter the Promised Land. Trouble was on the
horizon with numerous military
campaigns against their enemies coming
up (8:3; 9:1-2). Without God’s presence,
they couldn’t begin to acquire
the land.
Joshua
had a strong faith in the Lord, as seen when he spied out the
land of Canaan
(Num. 14:6-9). But God graciously gave him the reminder
as he took over the
leadership role that he could be courageous because
of His presence. He
promises the same to His children today (Heb. 13:5-6).
It’s
a comforting lesson for God’s children of all ages to know: The Lord is
always
with us. Even when we’re in “as much trouble as this.”
Dear Lord, we’re so
thankful to be Your children,
and that You’ll
never leave us.
Help us to hold on
to that promise when
trouble seems to
threaten on every side. Amen.
When troubles call on
you, call on God.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
