Go with the Lord Your God
Now what? It is a legitimate question. Whether quickly or slowly, or a mixture of both, the years have passed. During that stretch, there was an opportunity to listen carefully and to learn quietly, a chance to grow older and get smarter. But going forward is going to be different. Now what?
I am not talking about the soon to be graduates of St. John Lutheran School. I am referring to the soon to be guide of Israel. Joshua was no longer the four decade understudy at Moses’ side. He was the brand new leader. Moses had faithfully served in that role for 40 years. But he was dead (Jos 1:1,2). That responsibility now rested on Joshua’s shoulders. (That is a good thing to keep in mind that God’s work does not depend on one individual. Others come after to fill sandals and shoes.) Joshua was a good choice—a competent general and a confident spy, Moses’ right-hand man for so long (Ex 17:13; Nu 14:6-9; 27:18; 32:12). He would now be in charge of a nation often known for its grumbling and groaning.
So now with the Jordan River in front of Joshua and the children of Israel—how would they go across?—and the land of Canaan beyond that—how would they go in?, maybe the thought crossed Joshua’s mind: Now what?
More than likely that is why the 8th graders chose this section of Scripture for today (and tomorrow, next week and next year). They can identify with him. There may be some anxiety. What about this? It is no different from the rest of us. There may be apprehension. What if that? We hear what the Lord said to Joshua. And we take it to heart. Like Joshua, we don’t look back, but look ahead. Go with the Lord your God.
The Lord asks—not for information, but for instruction. Think of a parent who consoles a child: “Did I not explain that I am right here?” The answer is obvious. Of course. There you are. So it is with the Lord. “Have I not commanded you?” (Jos 1:9). There is authority behind that—like a teacher to a student: “Didn’t I tell you to turn in that paper?” “Yes. Yes, you did.” But this is better. “Didn’t I direct you to focus on my presence? The answer was “yes.” “Yes, you did.” “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous” (Jos 1:9). Not once right before this: “Be strong and courageous” (Jos 1:6). Not twice: “Be strong and very courageous” (Jos 1:7). Now three times when this verse picks up: “Be strong and courageous” (Jos 1:9). The repetition is for emphasis to slow his breathing down. Again like a mommy to her little one: “It’s ok. It’s ok. It’s ok.” To paraphrase the Lord God, “Joshua, be bold and be brave.”
Add to that two more commands: “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged” (Jos 1:9). Perhaps his knees were shaking like standing in a skyscraper during an earthquake. Possibly the thoughts in his head were going in a hundred directions like a broken glass on the kitchen floor. To reword the Lord: “Joshua, don’t be full of dread and filled with terror.”
I could state that in the middle of a tornado and it would mean nothing: “Don’t be alarmed.” But I can’t do one thing to stop the funnel cloud spinning in circles. It is different with God. “For the LORD your God will be with you” (Jos 1:9). Again it is like a parent holding the hand of a little one to comfort. Really it is “because with you the Lord your God.” He highlights why there is no reason for fear—with you (personally, individually)—and who is there—the Lord your God (your God!). God would not leave Joshua: “For the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Jos 1:9). No matter where his would walk as he went before the people, conquering cities and capturing towns, the Lord his God was right beside him.
The Lord your God does not forsake you (He 13:5). Today is not just Graduation, but Pentecost. Jesus had been with the disciples for almost three years. But now he was leaving them—to head to the cross to die for our guilt and out of the grave to guarantee your rescue and to head back to heaven and God’s right hand to rule over all for you (Eph 1:20ff.).
But he promised another—“the Counselor” (Jn 16:7), that is, one who comes to your side to help and to guide like when a coach who puts his arm around a dejected player to encourage. That is the assurance of the Holy Spirit. He is the One who convicts of sin—that it is something against God. But he convinces us that we are right with God because he clears our account of any charge through Jesus. We have nothing to be afraid of, not now, not ever, because Jesus defeated the devil for good. As the school theme verse for this year recalled for the student body: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (He 6:19). We put our hope in something, better, someone, sure—Jesus.
That doesn’t mean that there won’t be danger or difficulty in life. The apostle Paul listed some: “trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword” (Ro 8:35). Those were real for the Roman Christians. Ours may be different. But just as dangerous. But we are “more than conquerors” (Ro 8:37). As such, no one and no thing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ro 8:39). Through her baptism that is true of Tenley. God adopted her and will not abandon her. Or us.
What about the future? What now? There are unknowns and uncertainties. But what is undeniable and unchangeable is that you don’t go alone. “The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Ps 121:8). You go onward. Go with the Lord your God.
We read from Joshua 1:9 as the Lord reminded Joshua and our God reassures us:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
June 4, 2017
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