“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon…”

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses….

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: 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: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

from Joshua 1:3-7

 

As Joshua was preparing to lead Israel into the battle for Canaan, he was exhorted four times in Chapter One to be strong and courageous. The secret of being strong and courageous is found in Joshua 1:8: “His book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night…”

 

The name ‘Joshua’ is a form of ‘Jesus’. The Lord Jesus leads us into the battle to possess the land that flows with milk and honey – righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Num. 14:8, Rom. 14:17).  The battle is first and foremost against the enemies that dwell in the land: evil desires and habits that dwell in our body and rule in our nature (Rom. 7:5). The battle is fought as we follow the Lamb and deny our lusts and desires, praying, “Not my will, but thine” as Jesus prayed. Jesus — our Joshua — is our strength. As the enemies in the land — “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16) —are conquered through grace, we inherit the land that flows with milk and honey: a life pleasing to God.

 

“Take the promise that suits your need, and step out on it; not touching it timidly on tiptoe, but placing your foot flat down upon it. Do not be afraid it will not hold your weight. Put your whole need on the Word of the eternal God for your soul, for your body, for your work, for the dear ones for whom you are praying, for any crisis in your life: then stand upon it for ever!”

Dr. A.B. Simpson, quoted in Springs in the Valley

 

Let me take your promises one by one, Lord, and walk on them by faith step by step, and confess them as my inheritance according this verse: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you…”

 

Lord Jesus, you are my Joshua. I look to you for strength in the battle against trials and temptations — let me face these enemies as you did when you lived in the flesh (Heb. 2:18). May I be willing to suffer, denying the desires of the flesh, and thus overcome in the battle. Let me obey your Word, meditating in it day and night (Josh. 1:8). Amen.