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A Promise for Transitions
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”
Joshua 1:1–3
Three hundred years ago, the English playwright Christopher Bullock included the line “‘Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but death and taxes” in his play The Cobbler of Preston. It is believed to be the first time the expression appeared in writing, but the saying is apparently much older. As Christians we know one more certain thing—the promises of God given to us in His Word. Even so, the reality is that we live in a world filled with change. People we counted on may move, turn against us, or die. Companies that seemed to offer stable employment go out of business. The doctor calls with test results that weren’t what we wanted to hear.
Joshua faced a major transition. For forty years Moses had led the Children of Israel, taking them from bondage in Egypt to the edge of the Jordan River. But now the great leader was gone, and Joshua had big shoes to fill and major challenges to face. In His first words to Joshua, God reminded him that although Moses was no longer with him, God still was. And the same promises on which Moses had relied would be true and faithful when Joshua claimed them. There is not even a hint that God will ever change. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
Joshua 1:1–3
Three hundred years ago, the English playwright Christopher Bullock included the line “‘Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but death and taxes” in his play The Cobbler of Preston. It is believed to be the first time the expression appeared in writing, but the saying is apparently much older. As Christians we know one more certain thing—the promises of God given to us in His Word. Even so, the reality is that we live in a world filled with change. People we counted on may move, turn against us, or die. Companies that seemed to offer stable employment go out of business. The doctor calls with test results that weren’t what we wanted to hear.
Joshua faced a major transition. For forty years Moses had led the Children of Israel, taking them from bondage in Egypt to the edge of the Jordan River. But now the great leader was gone, and Joshua had big shoes to fill and major challenges to face. In His first words to Joshua, God reminded him that although Moses was no longer with him, God still was. And the same promises on which Moses had relied would be true and faithful when Joshua claimed them. There is not even a hint that God will ever change. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
Today’s Growth Principle:
No matter what else may change in our lives, God never changes. He is faithful and true.
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