Putting faith into action is a significant step for believers because it demonstrates our faith is genuine. After Moses’ death, the Lord told Joshua, Moses’ assistant, that Moses was dead and it was time for him to lead the Israelites across the Jordan into the land He would give them. During this crucial moment, Joshua …
God knew that transition requires courage and instructed Joshua accordingly. Repetition in a Biblical passage emphasizes the importance of the repeated word. The words strong and courageous are essentially synonyms in Hebrew.[1] God doubles the same instruction and then repeats it three times in four verses. Joshua 1: 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are …
When a chapter closes, it can be both exciting and stressful. God called Joshua to transition into leadership, and God calls us to tasks. Joshua 1:1 After the death of Moses, the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has …
Moses kept standing firm in the face of fear. The appearance of Pharaoh’s army panicked the people, and in their fear, they complained. But Moses doesn’t appear to flinch at their criticism. Exodus 14: 13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you …
Transition exposes our hearts and strip away our filters, as we see in the story of the Israelites approaching the Red Sea. The Egyptians pursued the Israelites with all of Pharaoh’s army—horses, chariots, charioteers, and troops—and caught up with them camped near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked …
Don’t be surprised when old fears resurface during transition; it is not unusual. Israel had left Egypt, but Egypt had not yet left them. Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why …
Deliverance does not cancel the battle, as seen when the Egyptians pursue the Israelites after their escape. This is true for us today. When Pharaoh learned the Israelites had fled, he and his officials regretted it. They questioned, “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” Pharaoh then prepared his chariot, summoned …
Trusting God during transition is a challenge everyone faces because life is full of transitions, some more difficult than others. At eighty years old, the Lord called Moses to transition from being a shepherd of sheep to leading the Israelites enslaved in Egypt. Forty years earlier, Moses believed he knew his identity; he was a …
We see Abram worshipping God in transition. God had called him, by grace, out of Ur and idolatry. God had promised to make him a great nation even though he and Sarai were childless. Moreover, God promised to make him a blessing to all families on earth. After Abram entered Canaan, God made another promise. …
Transitions require trusting God’s promises and looking to Him instead of relying on our own strength or understanding as we move through life’s journey. The life of Abram, whom the Lord renamed Abraham, is an ongoing journey of learning to trust in God’s promises. As the Lord told Abram to go to a new land, …