By “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all people, to the land which I am giving to them – the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.” (Joshua 1:1-6)
“Moses my servant is dead.” These are the words that God spoke to Joshua. Moses had been his mentor and his leader during Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness. Joshua had faithfully fought many battles for Moses and had always stood by his leader – arguably the greatest leader of all time. Now, Joshua was called by God to complete the task that had been started.
We can all point to people who have greatly influenced our lives. However, sooner or later they move on. Some pass away. Some relocate. Some simply drop out of our lives. Then we have to move on also. We use what we have learned from them and learn to trust God to help us complete the tasks that He sets before us.
God clearly told Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” God had been provider, protector and ever-present companion to Moses. He would be the very same for Joshua.
We have seen people who obviously experienced – or now experience – the presence of God in their lives. What we have seen God do for these individuals, He desires to do for us because He is not partial toward anyone. The Apostle Peter stated in Acts 10:34: “of a truth I perceive that God is not respecter of person.” This should give us the initiative to carry on God’s work when others fade out of the picture.
Let us hear God say to us the very words He said to Joshua: “Be strong.” “Be courageous.” “Don’t let fear hold you back”
You see, whatever we need God to be, He will be for us. As He has been with others, so He will be with us.
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 