“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NRS)
In today’s passage, Moses reminds Joshua that the LORD is leading Israel. Not only will the LORD be Israel’s leader, He will be his shield and protector, his conquering general.
The LORD will not leave his people to face the enemy alone. He will be with them. He will neither forsake them in battle nor fail to gain victory. So, because God is out front confronting their enemies, Joshua and Israel should reject all fear and dismay in following him.
Songwriters Gilmore and Bradbury wrote, “He leadeth me, he leadeth me. By his own hands he leadeth me. His faithful follower, I will be for by his hand he leadeth me.” From time to time I need the words of Scripture and this timeless hymn to remind me of God’s direction. He is faithful to lead. I want to be faithful in following him.
Another ageless gospel song goes like this, “Where he leads me I will follow. Where he leads me I will follow. Where he leads me I will follow. I’ll go with him, with him, with him all the way” (E.W. Blandy & J.S. Norris). The repetition emphasizes my need to remember that he leads and I follow. I must admit that I don’t always want to follow where he wants to lead me. I know Psalm 23 records that he is my shepherd and leads me beside still waters, but they don’t always seem very calm to me.
Then I am reminded that he has promised never to leave me nor forsake. Therefore, I cannot fail because he never fails! I will not be dismayed, the never-failing God is with me! I reject fear, in Jesus’ name, because the Divine Conqueror is leading me.
Elisabeth Eliot wrote, “If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in God’s hand but would be safer in mine.”
Dear Father, thank you for the confidence of your leading. Empower me to be confident and faithful in following you. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today and confidently follow God,