It may have been early in the morning hours, with the sun peeking over the horizon and the birds greeting it with melodic chatter.  It could have happened at the darkest hour of the night, while others were enjoying restful sleep.  Whatever the time of day, it was certainly a dark night of the soul for one lonely man sitting at the foot of the mountain.

Sighing deeply, Joshua continued staring at the mountain peak where he had last seen and spoken to Moses.  He knew Moses was gone, but his heart yet hoped to see him come boldly striding down into the camp.  After all, it was Moses they had followed out of Egypt.  Moses had called the plagues upon Pharoah.  Moses lifted his road over the sea and it parted.  Moses had prayed and manna came from Heaven and water from a rock.  It was when Moses' arms were uplifted that Joshua led Israel in the defeat of Amalek.  Moses had such a rich and intimate relationship with the Living God!  How could they go on without him?  And besides this, even with Moses' great anointed walk with God, Israel had still not entered the Promised land.  What could he do?  Sure he had dreamed, like any man, of success and leadership;  but the weight of leading Israel felt like it would consume and crush him.  Oh!  How he longed for Moses!

Suddenly God spoke, "Moses my servant is dead;  therefore arise, go over this Jordan...unto the land which I do give them...Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you..." Jos. 1:2,3.  We can learn much from God's instruction to this "seated" leader.
 

"Moses my servant is dead..."  It does not matter how good or bad yesterday might have been, it is history.  Joshua could look back to Moses' leadership for inspiration, encouragement, and direction; but he could not live in yesterday.  Caananland (the place of God's promise) is never behind, but always ahead of you or surrounding you.  Just as Joshua had a rich heritage, we too have received a wonderful history of great moves of God's Spirit.  We can be encouraged and inspired as we rehearse the details of these great revivals.  We should look back and check ourselves, our churches and our ministries to be certain that we have not moved from the original foundation (See Cor. 3:11).  Yet, as we glance back, we must remember that yesterday is gone.  While we love to read and hear of the giants of faith who ministered faithfully in yesteryear, this is our day.  We must not live looking back to what God has done through others.  Moses is dead, but the God of Moses still lives and He is still "mighty to save".

"...Now therefore arise..."  Just like Joshua, you and I will never accomplish great things for God as long as we are sitting down.  The first step in possessing your promises is to get up!  Regardless of why we have sat down, we must shake ourselves and arise!  God will give us the land but He will not make us get up.  His Spirit will accomplish the work but we must make the effort of obedience.  This is the time!  Let's arise!

"...Go over this Jordan..."  What river of difficulty has kept you from moving into the deep blessings of fulfilled destiny?  Whatever it is - go over it!  You are more than a conqueror through Christ the Lord!  Nothing can stop you if you dare to believe and obey God.  "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;  and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:  when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;  neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."  Is. 43:2.  For Moses, God had parted the Red Sea and He said to Joshua, "...As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee..." Jos. 1:5.  As Joshua obeyed God, the Jordan that separated the people from the blessed place had to part just as the Red Sea had parted earlier.  Is God also with you?  He has not changed!  What He has done-He will do!  Rise up men and women of God and cross over everything that separates you from the promised place.

 "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given you..."  It already belongs to us, but we'll never realize it until we put our feet upon it.  Many are waiting for God to do something about His promises, while God is waiting for us to walk our talk and by faith possess what He has given us.  No wonder Jesus said,  "...the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."  Mt. 11:12.  Let's take it!  This is our day and we refuse to live below our rightful place in God.  A lost world is waiting for the children of God to rise up and possess what God has already given.  Get up, Go over and Possess Your Promises!

Copyright Operation Hope Ministries - Keith and Margie Nix - www.operationhope.ws