1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,550 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,161 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 13 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,190 Speaker 2: Hello, thank you for listening to your daily Bible verse. 14 00:01:30,751 --> 00:01:34,751 Speaker 2: The podcast that examines one verse each day to learn 15 00:01:34,811 --> 00:01:38,430 Speaker 2: more about God and His will for us. I'm your host, 16 00:01:38,631 --> 00:01:39,191 Speaker 2: Joy A. 17 00:01:39,251 --> 00:01:39,731 Speaker 1: Williams. 18 00:01:40,031 --> 00:01:44,231 Speaker 2: Today, we'll continue in our Joshua series, Courage for the Journey, 19 00:01:44,471 --> 00:01:47,891 Speaker 2: Trusting God One Step at a Time. After this short 20 00:01:47,931 --> 00:01:50,951 Speaker 2: word from our sponsor, we'll dive into today's Bible verse, 21 00:01:51,131 --> 00:01:53,871 Speaker 2: Joshua 1, verses 10 and 11. Joshua 1, verses 10 22 00:01:53,871 --> 00:02:09,361 Speaker 2: and 11 Today's Bible verse is Joshua chapter 1, verses 23 00:02:09,361 --> 00:02:13,460 Speaker 2: 10 and 11. And they read, So Joshua ordered the 24 00:02:13,581 --> 00:02:16,821 Speaker 2: officers of the people, Go through the camp and tell 25 00:02:16,881 --> 00:02:20,781 Speaker 2: the people, get your provisions ready. Three days from now 26 00:02:20,861 --> 00:02:23,631 Speaker 2: you will cross the Jordan here to go in and 27 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:26,710 Speaker 2: take possession of the land the Lord your God is 28 00:02:26,791 --> 00:02:31,271 Speaker 2: giving you for your own. Well, dear listener, I recall 29 00:02:31,310 --> 00:02:34,691 Speaker 2: the first day I took my son to preschool. He's 30 00:02:34,731 --> 00:02:37,371 Speaker 2: an adult now, so that was a couple of decades ago. 31 00:02:37,990 --> 00:02:40,611 Speaker 2: But all the things he would learn, the new friends 32 00:02:40,651 --> 00:02:42,911 Speaker 2: he would make, and the new surroundings where he would 33 00:02:42,951 --> 00:02:47,521 Speaker 2: adjust were each a part of this new adventure. But 34 00:02:47,601 --> 00:02:51,861 Speaker 2: our excitement was mixed with uneasiness about the unknown. As 35 00:02:51,941 --> 00:02:54,460 Speaker 2: my son walked away with his new teacher that day, 36 00:02:54,481 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: his bottom lip quivered as he said, Bye, Mom. Well, 37 00:03:00,061 --> 00:03:02,541 Speaker 2: I kept a brave face for us both, and I 38 00:03:02,601 --> 00:03:07,811 Speaker 2: gave my son a reassuring smile. But inside, I quivered too. 39 00:03:08,751 --> 00:03:11,811 Speaker 2: It's not easy to say goodbye to something familiar, even 40 00:03:11,990 --> 00:03:16,131 Speaker 2: when we're saying hello to something that is necessary. And 41 00:03:16,171 --> 00:03:19,090 Speaker 2: the Israelites may have felt the same way in Joshua 42 00:03:19,171 --> 00:03:23,231 Speaker 2: chapter 1. Today's verse is tucked into the passage of 43 00:03:23,270 --> 00:03:28,001 Speaker 2: Joshua chapter 1, verses 10 through 18. And after Joshua 44 00:03:28,061 --> 00:03:32,981 Speaker 2: received God's charge about how to lead the Israelites after Moses' death, 45 00:03:33,791 --> 00:03:37,751 Speaker 2: Joshua ordered the officers to give the Israelites their next steps. 46 00:03:38,731 --> 00:03:43,051 Speaker 2: It was time to settle in the land God promised. Now, 47 00:03:43,091 --> 00:03:48,941 Speaker 2: before then, for 40 years, the 12 tribes' lives were intertwined. Together, 48 00:03:49,261 --> 00:03:53,141 Speaker 2: they left Egypt after God delivered them from bondage. They 49 00:03:53,241 --> 00:03:57,211 Speaker 2: trudged through the desert terrain. They fought their enemies. Yes, 50 00:03:57,251 --> 00:04:01,511 Speaker 2: and they repeatedly disobeyed God and rediscovered how to trust him. 51 00:04:02,341 --> 00:04:06,761 Speaker 2: But they did it together. And this was going to 52 00:04:06,861 --> 00:04:11,561 Speaker 2: be an unfamiliar step. So what about you, dear listener? 53 00:04:12,201 --> 00:04:15,161 Speaker 2: Are you having to take a step towards a major change, 54 00:04:15,201 --> 00:04:19,081 Speaker 2: but you don't feel quite ready? Maybe like my son 55 00:04:19,121 --> 00:04:22,460 Speaker 2: and I on his first day of starting preschool, you're 56 00:04:22,561 --> 00:04:26,270 Speaker 2: quivering a bit inside too. The first step is often 57 00:04:26,311 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 2: the hardest. A bit of separation anxiety is common when 58 00:04:30,321 --> 00:04:33,621 Speaker 2: we must break with what's familiar and adapt to a 59 00:04:33,661 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: new place, a new group of people, or a new normal. 60 00:04:38,901 --> 00:04:43,291 Speaker 2: But in today's Bible verse, under God's direction, Joshua gave 61 00:04:43,311 --> 00:04:45,970 Speaker 2: the order for two and a half tribes to settle 62 00:04:46,191 --> 00:04:50,450 Speaker 2: east of the Jordan. The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the 63 00:04:50,531 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: half-tribe of Manasseh would settle there. Now this meant that 64 00:04:54,561 --> 00:04:58,411 Speaker 2: the remaining nine and a half tribes would cross over 65 00:04:58,481 --> 00:05:02,630 Speaker 2: the Jordan and settle on the west side. But imagine 66 00:05:02,671 --> 00:05:06,811 Speaker 2: their discomfort. Would their enemies see the smaller group in 67 00:05:06,851 --> 00:05:11,231 Speaker 2: the east as easy prey? After all, Joshua chapter 1 68 00:05:11,231 --> 00:05:14,571 Speaker 2: verse 14 says that the fighting men of the two 69 00:05:14,630 --> 00:05:17,311 Speaker 2: and a half tribes would go west of the Jordan. 70 00:05:17,871 --> 00:05:20,511 Speaker 2: These fighting men would help to secure the land for 71 00:05:20,551 --> 00:05:23,921 Speaker 2: the nine and a half tribes. But before any of 72 00:05:23,981 --> 00:05:27,771 Speaker 2: these things happened, the Israelites needed to take the first 73 00:05:27,801 --> 00:05:33,211 Speaker 2: step to receive what God promised. And in Joshua 1, 74 00:05:33,211 --> 00:05:38,871 Speaker 2: verses 12-15, Joshua reminded the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the 75 00:05:38,911 --> 00:05:43,591 Speaker 2: half-tribe of Manasseh that God promised them rest in this land. 76 00:05:43,611 --> 00:05:48,051 Speaker 2: And he made that promise previously through Moses. But as 77 00:05:48,141 --> 00:05:51,771 Speaker 2: God called the Israelites to something new, He had a 78 00:05:51,851 --> 00:05:55,971 Speaker 2: way for them to prepare, a way for them to proceed, 79 00:05:56,651 --> 00:05:59,131 Speaker 2: and a way for them to possess what God was 80 00:05:59,211 --> 00:06:02,241 Speaker 2: giving them for their own. And as we take a 81 00:06:02,301 --> 00:06:04,701 Speaker 2: closer look at their journey in the next few moments, 82 00:06:05,341 --> 00:06:07,841 Speaker 2: I believe it would help us to make our next 83 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,421 Speaker 2: step too. So the Israelites were told to get their 84 00:06:11,481 --> 00:06:15,811 Speaker 2: provisions ready. While our spiritual provisions are found in God's word, 85 00:06:16,391 --> 00:06:20,371 Speaker 2: every promise and principle prepares us for God's plan for 86 00:06:20,531 --> 00:06:24,751 Speaker 2: our lives. Is there a biblical principle, a promise God 87 00:06:24,811 --> 00:06:28,971 Speaker 2: has given you that's providing clarity, peace, and encouragement in 88 00:06:29,021 --> 00:06:34,001 Speaker 2: this season? Well, dear listener, whatever God has provided us, 89 00:06:34,601 --> 00:06:38,041 Speaker 2: we can trust it will sustain us in our next step. 90 00:06:39,121 --> 00:06:42,321 Speaker 2: And God gave them a way to prepare to get 91 00:06:42,380 --> 00:06:45,921 Speaker 2: their provisions ready. But he also gave them a way 92 00:06:46,001 --> 00:06:49,681 Speaker 2: to proceed. The Israelites were told three days from now, 93 00:06:49,761 --> 00:06:52,641 Speaker 2: you will cross Mount the Jordan here to go in 94 00:06:52,681 --> 00:06:55,881 Speaker 2: and take possession of the land. Now, entering a new 95 00:06:55,940 --> 00:07:01,601 Speaker 2: season takes new courage. Ideally, ideally rather, our confidence in 96 00:07:01,681 --> 00:07:08,081 Speaker 2: God outweighs our uneasiness. And taking possession required the Israelites 97 00:07:08,141 --> 00:07:11,961 Speaker 2: to take ownership of a new space, a new status, 98 00:07:12,201 --> 00:07:15,551 Speaker 2: and a new perspective on God's plan. Now, they were 99 00:07:15,591 --> 00:07:18,431 Speaker 2: told in three days they would proceed across the Jordan. 100 00:07:19,231 --> 00:07:21,931 Speaker 2: And you just might be familiar with the significance of 101 00:07:21,971 --> 00:07:26,901 Speaker 2: three days in scripture. Because the Hebrew name Joshua translates 102 00:07:26,961 --> 00:07:31,041 Speaker 2: into the Greek name Jesus. And three days is the 103 00:07:31,121 --> 00:07:35,161 Speaker 2: same time that passed prior to Jesus, God's son, being 104 00:07:35,261 --> 00:07:38,961 Speaker 2: raised from the dead after he died for our sins. 105 00:07:39,941 --> 00:07:43,361 Speaker 2: And just like the Israelites were able to cross over 106 00:07:43,421 --> 00:07:46,681 Speaker 2: the Jordan and take possession of what God promised them, 107 00:07:47,741 --> 00:07:51,681 Speaker 2: Everything God has promised us is secured through Jesus Christ. 108 00:07:52,521 --> 00:07:56,321 Speaker 2: Through faith in Christ, we cross over from death to 109 00:07:56,401 --> 00:08:00,481 Speaker 2: eternal life, from darkness to light, and from guilt and 110 00:08:00,601 --> 00:08:05,401 Speaker 2: shame to forgiveness and grace. And friend, I believe God 111 00:08:05,441 --> 00:08:09,361 Speaker 2: desires to bless us in ways we can't imagine, and 112 00:08:09,401 --> 00:08:13,401 Speaker 2: yet sometimes it requires us to distance ourselves from something 113 00:08:14,031 --> 00:08:18,431 Speaker 2: or someone familiar. But we must be willing to rest 114 00:08:18,571 --> 00:08:22,431 Speaker 2: on the riverbank of God's grace and truth. But the 115 00:08:22,531 --> 00:08:26,031 Speaker 2: uneasiness of our first step may also be a hit 116 00:08:26,111 --> 00:08:30,531 Speaker 2: to the uniqueness of God's plan for our lives. So yes, 117 00:08:30,611 --> 00:08:32,901 Speaker 2: he gave the Israelites a way for them to prepare, 118 00:08:32,991 --> 00:08:36,060 Speaker 2: to get their provisions ready, a way for them to proceed. 119 00:08:36,121 --> 00:08:38,821 Speaker 2: In three days, they would cross over the Jordan. He 120 00:08:38,921 --> 00:08:42,121 Speaker 2: also gave them a way to possess what he had promised. 121 00:08:42,821 --> 00:08:45,841 Speaker 2: And that way was to trust and obey him. The 122 00:08:45,881 --> 00:08:48,420 Speaker 2: possession wouldn't happen if they never took the step with 123 00:08:48,501 --> 00:08:51,731 Speaker 2: confidence in God to do what he had promised in 124 00:08:51,771 --> 00:08:55,331 Speaker 2: the land that he had promised. And therefore, we can 125 00:08:55,371 --> 00:08:58,851 Speaker 2: give glory to God for what he has promised us too. 126 00:08:59,831 --> 00:09:03,571 Speaker 2: Our new task, new environment, or our new status may 127 00:09:03,631 --> 00:09:06,861 Speaker 2: feel like a new struggle. But as we trust God, 128 00:09:06,941 --> 00:09:10,241 Speaker 2: I believe there is something new he does in us too. 129 00:09:11,361 --> 00:09:13,841 Speaker 2: But if I make my life only about what I 130 00:09:13,921 --> 00:09:17,711 Speaker 2: feel ready to do, I can easily miss what God 131 00:09:17,771 --> 00:09:21,631 Speaker 2: is calling me to do. Our entering the next phase 132 00:09:21,691 --> 00:09:25,771 Speaker 2: of our promised land awaits us. Surely there is grace 133 00:09:26,101 --> 00:09:30,981 Speaker 2: and mercy, wisdom and strength, peace and prosperity as a 134 00:09:31,041 --> 00:09:35,021 Speaker 2: part of God's plan. Friend, join me in prayer as 135 00:09:35,101 --> 00:09:40,801 Speaker 2: we release the uneasiness of our next step. Dear God, 136 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:43,941 Speaker 2: thank you for your plan for my life. While it 137 00:09:43,981 --> 00:09:49,821 Speaker 2: requires faith, I admit sometimes I'm afraid. Your plan requires 138 00:09:49,901 --> 00:09:52,471 Speaker 2: me to trust you, but sometimes I just want to 139 00:09:52,671 --> 00:09:55,231 Speaker 2: ask you to change what you're calling me to embrace. 140 00:09:56,011 --> 00:10:00,831 Speaker 2: But God, you are faithful, all wise and almighty. You 141 00:10:00,910 --> 00:10:03,961 Speaker 2: love me more than I could comprehend. And with you, 142 00:10:04,231 --> 00:10:07,761 Speaker 2: all things are possible and nothing is too hard for you. 143 00:10:07,780 --> 00:10:12,901 Speaker 2: So Lord, help us as we take our uneasiness and 144 00:10:13,081 --> 00:10:17,030 Speaker 2: place it in your hands. Then with open hands, we 145 00:10:17,071 --> 00:10:20,471 Speaker 2: can surrender to the wonder of what you are giving 146 00:10:20,611 --> 00:10:24,051 Speaker 2: us as our very own. And this is our prayer 147 00:10:24,491 --> 00:10:25,581 Speaker 2: in Jesus' name. 148 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:26,501 Speaker 1: Amen.