Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” (Josh. 3:9)
My first fourth-grade report card, let’s just say, left much to be desired! When Dad got home from work, he looked at it and told me to come to him. He took me onto his lap and talked about my grades. I appreciated his taking me away from the rest of the family to have our talk. His words were kind, to the point, and just what I needed to hear.
Before crossing the Jordan into the promised land, Joshua called the Israelites to him to hear God’s message for them. I can imagine they were super-charged and eager to get into that new land. But Joshua wanted to talk. Really, Joshua?
Yes, it was divine wisdom for Joshua to call them to him first, away from the excitement of the hour, to hear God’s words and tell them what they needed to hear.
In this fast-paced age, it’s easy to let our busyness interfere with what’s most important: to come away from that busyness, listen to what God’s will is for us, and be obedient to it. We must focus on what he, and only he, wants us to do, where he wants us to go, and what he wants us to say. God wants us to follow him. If we do, he will be faithful to us.
Let God’s words be our words to live by!
Ann Shadduck is a retired, at-risk-student teacher and evangelical Christian.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
