Life after Moses – God’s Call to be Strong and Courageous (Video)

Change is always hard, and times of transition can be quite challenging.  At Para Vista we are beginning to come to terms with the fact that Pastor Rolly will no longer be with us.  That’s a big change for us!  How will we transition successfully through this?

In Joshua chapter 1, we encounter the people of Israel in transition.  Moses was dead and Joshua was wondering whether he was up to the task of leading God’s people.  Those were some pretty big shoes to fill!  It seems to me that many of the things that God said to encourage Joshua, equally applies to us today.

In verse 3 God says to Joshua, “As I told Moses, I have given you and all my people the entire land.”  Here God is reassuring Joshua and the people that the promises spoken to Moses still hold good, even though Moses is no longer with them.

Note too how God refers to the people as “my” people, not Moses’ people.  In the same way, God claims you as his own here at Para Vista.  Jesus is your true Pastor, not Pastor Rolly or Pastor Reid.  They may have left, but Jesus is still with us!  And his promises to you still hold true!  God is, and will continue to be, faithful during this time of vacancy and transition.

In verse 5 God says, “I will be with you as I was with Moses.  I will always be with you; I will never abandon you.”  You can’t help but think of Jesus’ other name, “Immanuel” when you read this.  Immanuel, of course, means, “God with us.”

Next God says to Joshua the same thing three times in a row.  In verse 6 God says, “Be determined and confident.”  He repeats the same encouragement in verse 7, “Just be determined, be confident.”  And for a third time God says in verse 9, “Remember I have commanded you to be determined and confident!”  God says it three times.  Clearly God wants us to take this message to heart!

So, let’s be really determined to remember that and be super confident because of it, knowing that God loves each one of us and will be with us every step of the way!

Pr. Richard Haar