So I Will Be With You

​“And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.’” Joshua 3:7

​Shortly after the death of Moses, the Lord chose Joshua to lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land. Joshua witnessed all of the conflict, disobedience, and rebellion that came with leadership, and undoubtedly knew that he would face some of the same leadership trials Moses faced. Joshua also knew that the Lord was with Moses, and he saw on countless occasions how the Lord disciplined the Israelites, softened their hardened hearts, and brought them to repentance and obedience.
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In Joshua 3:7, Joshua and the Israelites were crossing the Jordan with the ark of the covenant before them. The Lord spoke to Joshua to remind him that He would be with Joshua just as He was with Moses, and He would exalt Joshua in the sight of all of Israel so that the Israelites would know that He was with Joshua. The Lord then gave further commands to Joshua for the priests carrying the ark to stand in the Jordan as they come to the Jordan’s water’s edge.

While reading this passage, we can find great assurance for biblical leadership in knowing that whoever the Lord calls and whatever He commands His child and servant to do for His glory, He will demonstrate His presence and power through the exaltation of His servant for His purposes. This does not mean that as you lead others, you will not face difficulties and hardships, but during those times, the Lord will elevate you, in His way and in His timing, to complete what He desires to do in and through you so that you and others will know He is with you.

​We can always trust the Lord to be with us and guide us in the direction He desires us to go, and when He desires us to go. Through the Lord’s exaltation, others will know that it is His work and He is with us, so He is exalted through His servant, and all glory will be given to Him.