Forty years Joshua had roamed the desert. Forty years seeing the promise but not experiencing it. Forty years refusing to doubt, forty years refusing fear, forty years knowing the promise is just steps away. Then suddenly.
Moses, their beloved, wise, humble and fearless leader died in the desert on the wrong side of the promise. God appeared to Joshua and renewed the promise He had given Abraham then Moses. But before He does that he reminded Joshua, “Moses, my servant is dead.”
As God brings us into our promised land, sometimes a death is necessary…a death of our past. We can’t move forward clinging to our past failures or past successes. God wanted Joshua to:
1. Not ask what would Moses do but what is God doing here and now. God gives us great leaders, teachers, and mentors on our journey. But as we walk into our promised land, we must have a personal plan from the mouth of God. Just as God had an individual plan for Joshua, He has one for each of us. Stop looking at what God has done through great men and women of God previously and look at what He wants to do through you today.
2. Not be intimidated by past failures. Joshua had wandered for 40 long years. Always seeing the promise but not quite reaching it. Dare he believe the time had now arrived? What if they mess up again? What if he can’t quite make it in like Moses? What if? God said to Joshua what he is saying to us, “I remember your mistakes no more. I am looking at your future. Join me. Your future is bright. I am bringing you into your promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Forget your years of wandering and concentrate on your coming years of dwelling.”
Brothers and sisters, it’s time to let go of the past. Do not allow your past to be a stumbling block to your future. Stop reminiscing about the good old days and trust God has better days ahead. Or stop lamenting your past failures and recognize you have been forgiven and God can and will redeem every past failure. “Moses, my Servant is dead. Therefore it’s time to walk into your promised land and receive all I have promised to you.”
““Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.”
Joshua 1:2 NLT