God's Assurance of Presence and Power in Life and Ministry

The book of Joshua gives us the details of the conquest and division of the land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua, the divinely appointed successor of Moses. When we go through the events that are recorded in this book, we see that it begins with the conluding recorded events in Deuteronomy. It is believed that this work was composed by Joshua himself with details how the people of Israel crossed Jordan and secured a bridgehead, the two campaigns which broke the power of Canaanites summarising Israel's further military progress.

This book is about the God–oriented mission of Joshua through whom the almighty God fulfilled His promises to the people of Israel in relation with the possession of the land, which the Lord swore unto their fathers (ch.1:6;23:14;24:13). Being born in Egypt, Joshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation” (Numb.13:16, Oshea(Joshua) or Jehoshua), may have served Pharaoh's army. So he was well qualified to command the Israelite forces against the Amalekites at Raphidim (Ex.17:8--16, see v.9, this is the first mention of Joshua, who was about 45 at this time). From Ex.24:13, we come to know that Joshua served as personal assistant to Moses during the year at Mount Sinai. And Joshua 1:1, also reveals his role as an assistant to Moses. However, Joshua was commissioned as successor to Moses before his death (Ex.27:18--23), and he led the people in their conquest of Canaan (which took place around 1400 B.C.). The outstanding qualities that we notice in him were faith, courage, obedience, and devotion to God.

The first chapter of the book of Joshua, illustrates the Commission (vv.1–9) and Command (vv.10–18) of Joshua. That is, the Commission of God to Joshua, and the Command of Joshua to the people.

The Promise of Divine Presence

The Lord had appointed Joshua to succeed Moses (Joshua 1:1–4). However, the leadership of Joshua had been clearly specified in Deut.31:1–8; 1:38; 3:28, and reassured in Joshua 1:6. Joshua, the son of Nun,had been made leader of the army (Ex.17:9), long before, and more recently had been invested with some of Moses’ authority (Numb.27:18--23). While giving Commission to Joshua, the Lord spoke to him about his great task of conquering the land and dividing the inheritance among the people of Israel. During that time, the Lord also strengthened him by His promise of Divine presence and power with him in his mission (Josh.1:5). 

Here, the Lord told him that no man should be able to stand before him all the days of his life. As He was with Moses, so He would be with him. The Lord also encouraged him by telling that He would not fail him, nor forsake him. At the same time, the almighty God reassured His promise to Joshua through the solid words of His presence and power with him(1:9).

Joshua is to encourage himself with the promise and the presence of God. He came to acknowledge that he could do nothing independently without the help and presence of the Lord almighty. On the other hand, his strong belief was that the Lord who was with Moses is the same who is able to strengthen him and work through him too. Many times, Joshua personally witnessed how the Lord almighty was with Moses and miraculously worked through him. The God who commissioned Joshua and spoke to him is ‘an all–sufficient one,’ who could make everything possible with His presence and power. The Lord who commanded, called, and commissioned him to conquer the land was stronger and more powerful than anything in the world.

In Ex,3:12, Lord spoke to Moses,”certainly I will be with thee…” Five times Moses tried to excuse himself from God's call (Ex.3:13; 4:1, 10, 13). However, God assured him that He would be present during the time of deliverance and that one day the nation would worship Him at that very mountain (Ex.3:12). 

In answer to Moses’ prayer, the Lord said, His presence would go with him, and He would give him rest (Ex.33:14). Then Moses responded that, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here” (Ex.33:15). The mission of Moses was successful because of the presence and power of God. The same God had given the assurance of His presence and power to Joshua that He would be with him wherever he goes.

Joshua's Command and the People's Response

Joshua commanded the officers of the people, and to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half–tribe of Manasseh, and reminded them of the words that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded them. They responded that they would obey him the way they obeyed Moses. Their only desire was that “Only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses” (Josh.1:17). Here, we acknowledge the words of the Lord and the words of the people related to the presence of God and also the power of Him in the life situations of His children.

Significance of Divine Presence and Power in Life and Ministry

The Holy Bible teaches us that the people of God, both the godly men and women, had really experienced the presence and power of God in their life situations in an amazing manner. As we all know, we live in a restless world with restless conditions. In the ministry field as well as in the realm of common life, we experience different types of chaotic situations today. At this juncture, how can we overcome these issues and challenges which occur daily against our life and ministry is an important question to be answered clearly. It can be answerable only with the help of God's presence and power. It is a reality that the presence of God will lead and guide us to walk smoothly in the midst of the problematic situations which originate in front of us. As the way God encouraged and empowered Moses, Joshua, and other leaders of Israel to conquer and inherit the promised land, He will definitely strengthen us to stand for the Kingdom of God in this generation.

As we are the children of God who are rendering our God entrusted services, our true help comes from the Lord, who created heaven and earth, who is also the keeper of Israel (Ps.121). He is always alert to protect His children, for He does not slumber (momentarily) nor sleep (soundly and lengthly). God watches over the believers all the time, in every circumstance, and forever. In the darkest days of human life, His divine presence pours out courage and strength to His dear ones.

When we turn to the New Testament, we come to see that even to the smallest assembly of believers God has assured His presence. Jesus Christ, while busy with His earthly ministry had told, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). Thus, the presence of God and His power can be experienced individually and corporately, whenever we, the people of God, gather together in the name of Him. Jesus Christ provides a lasting and continuing divine Presence to His dear ones who fully put their trust in Him. That is what Joshua had experienced in his personal and mission endeavour. Actually, the success of Joshua's mission would lie in his personal obedience to the law of God (Josh.1:8). In the same way, if we are fully obedient to the word of God definitely we can have success in our life and ministry. The presence and power of God works through His word. Jesus, our Master has assured His presence to the disciples that He would be with them always, even unto the end of the world (Mtt. 28:20). As we all know, we have no physical presence of our Master today, but we have the spiritual presence of Him which will continually come with us to make us strong to overcome the hurdles that block our running. Truly speaking, the invisible presence of Jesus Christ motivates all of us today to go ahead boldly even in the midst of the adverse life threatening contexts.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world (Jn.8:12), the true light which enlightens everyone (Jn.1:9), especially, all those who earnestly seek Him. It reminds us that the presence of Jesus, the true light, shines among us and eradicates all the powers of darkness that come against us. In the book of Isaiah (Isa.63:9), it is mentioned that the “angel of his presence” saved them. Here, the angel of the Lord, denotes the Lord Himself, a theophany a self–manifestation of God (Gen.16:9).

The assurance of God's presence and power gives courage in life's battles. That is what we see in Deut.20:1, where Moses encourages people by mentioning the presence of God–for the LORD thy God is with thee. The presence of God is a comfort in our trials (Isa. 43:2,5). The gospel writer Luke specially mentions the appearance of an angel from heaven unto Jesus to strengthen Him, while He was at the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk.22:43--44, though these verses are not in certain important manuscripts). Jesus, in His humanity, suffered a lot. But the power to overcome all such things had come from the Father of all comforts (Hebrews 5:7). God's presence and power bring godly solutions to our problems. Apostle Paul, while writing to the Corinthian believers highlight the comfort and the compassion of God (2 Cor.1:3–6). In the biblical point of view God permits suffering in a child of God's life so that he or she can comfort others. 

Paul, the one who really experienced the presence and power of God in his personal life clearly mentions that his own sufferings are identified as Christ's (2 Cor.4:10; Phil.3:10; Col.1:24). And what he suffered was intended to encourage others (2 Cor.1:6). He really experienced the presence of Christ four times: at his conversion (Acts 9:5), in Corinth (Acts 18:9-10), on his first visit to Jerusalem (Acts 22:17–18), and here during his last visit to Jerusalem. Paul, in his distress, pleaded with the Lord three times about it, that it should leave him. However, the Lord replied to him that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Thus, he said that he would boast all the more gladly of his weaknesses, so that the power of Christ might rest upon him (2 Cor.12:8,9). Paul continues that he is content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, and calamities. He holds this view because he himself says that when he is weak, then he is strong (2 Cor.12:10). 

As we are the children of God, we too, need such an understanding and attitude in our lives when we go through the spiritual journey. Very often the upright one of God may go through the hardships in life. During that time the divine presence of God, which is available everywhere and controls everything in the universe, will guide and protect them. The psalmist says, “For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall” (Ps.18:29). In Ps.16:8, David says, “I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” The fellowship and the nearness, we have with our God, will make us strong, for it is with His presence and power only we all will find the real success in our life and ministry. 

Apostle Paul says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil.4:13). Let it be our mindset while involving with the physical and spiritual life journey. Because great is the One who is with us.