Take the Land

Hey River!

In Joshua 1 we see the Lord encourage Joshua and command him: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (v.9). The Lord goes on to say “Go throughout the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to cross this [river] Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess [as an inheritance].’ ” (v.11).  We can clearly see the Lord gives a command and a promise— “Be strong and courageous”, “prepare”, “go and take the land” are all commands God empowered Joshua to obey by attaching this promise: “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

In reading the story of Joshua, I realized there was an important detail I had misunderstood as a child. I guess I just assumed it was every man in Israel who marched around the walls of Jericho—but the armed men only came from the Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. Joshua said to them, “Your wives, your children, and your cattle shall [be allowed to] stay in the land which Moses gave you…but you shall go across [the river] before your brothers (the other tribes) armed for battle, all your brave warriors, and you shall help them [conquer and take possession of their land]” (Joshua 1:14). 

There are so many things happening in the lives of the people of our congregation—we really don’t understand the depth of the struggles we each face every day. There are different conflicts that are interrupting our lives and the lives of those we love—this is the land the Lord is commanding us to go and take. 

I feel like God has strategically placed each of us so that the conflict we face becomes the land we take. If He has the victory then every conflict must end with His promises fulfilled. It’s so beautiful that God empowers us to take the land for the people around us, too. That way, when we come together as a church and worship, our lives become interlocked—one story of victory and promise overlapping another until every heart, every family, every street, every neighborhood, every city and beyond is forever changed. This is the inheritance of the generations that follow. 

As we worship, as we praise the Lord our God we make room for Him to bring about His victory—room for His strength to empower us to go and take the land. It looks like conflict, but it’s God waiting to bless you and the generations after you with promise after beautiful promise!

-Kaylah

Set List:

Rattle--Elevation- https://youtu.be/xrAdbH28gIg?si=-4xNzYZMkyghh5es

Goodness of God--Bethel- https://youtu.be/IvSuGyJQ6oM?si=E_qOG6MR1KsPziTq

Victory is Yours--Bethel- https://youtu.be/rgTavMhgn00?si=CNG4ha2wYbis4XeU

Can't Help But Praise--Jordan Colle- https://youtu.be/tLL78ECkkEk?si=RF2zvHr_9hCPfbL1