January 12 - Backward & Forward

Hebrews 13:5
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
 
Joshua 1:5-6a
“…as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage…”
 
I once heard Pastor Tommy Steele describe the promise in Hebrews 13:5 as the backward and forward promise of God.
Forward: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Backward: “thee forsake nor thee leave, never will I”
 
After Moses had died, Joshua had some big shoes to fill after he was given the responsibility of leading the children of Israel once they reached Jordan. The Lord commanded him to “Be strong and of a good courage” several times. I can’t help but think that Joshua must have thought, “That sounds good, but how am I supposed to do that?” Can you relate with Joshua?
 
The direction that the Lord gave Joshua in order to “be strong and of a good courage” is the same direction that He wants us to use in our everyday lives. Look at verse 8…“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
 
Just like Joshua, God has given us the Resource to be prosperous and have true success in our lives. We must meditate and observe to do what is found within the pages of God’s Word. We need to abide ourselves in the Truth of the Scripture, and we cannot do that unless we are daily partaking from the Bread of His table.
 
Ronald Reagan had it right: “The enduring value presented in these pages have a great meaning for each of us, and for our nation. The Bible can touch our hearts, order our minds, and refresh our souls…Within the covers of that single Book are all the answers to all the problems that face us today, if we’d only read and believe.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Genesis 23-24  |  John 12  |  Proverbs 12