As Moses stood atop Mount Nebo, overlooking the Jordan valley and into the promised land, God showed him all of the promised land (Deut 34:1) – this was the inheritance of the rabble of people who had survived 40 years in the wilderness because of their past disobedience. But now, the children of that generation stood at the cusp of entering into their inheritance, and yet – the enemies of old still occupied the territories before them. Their success or failure depended upon their courage and obedience to God under the leadership of Joshua. Every place the sole of their feet tread upon would be given to them if they remained faithful and obedient (Josh 1:3) – their charge was to “be strong and of good courage”, to obey God fully.
Even as we cross into 2015, Singapore’s Jubilee, we are looking with the searching eyes of Moses as we peer into the new year, wondering what new work, favour and promises God has set before us. Like the children of Israel, the key to our success remains the same – obedience to God. I believe that just as God had charged and encouraged Joshua and his people, those same words would apply to us as we face the plethora of challenges before us, both personal and corporate. Therefore, let us too be strong and very courageous – determining to turn neither to the left nor to the right of obeying our God – and the Lord would prosper us and we will have good success wherever we go (Josh 1:7-8).
