When Moses died, and Joshua was to take up his place to lead Israel into Canaan, LORD taught Joshua the following,
|
LORD to Joshua : Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and of good courage; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go." [Joshua 1:2-9] |
Many people were taught to forget LORD's Laws in this age of Jesus, in this age of New Covenant, in this age of "grace". This is utterly wrong.
|
Jesus : Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [Mt 5:17-20] |
Nearly all civilized governments rule with Law. This is no different with LORD. LORD rules the universe with His Laws, and He enforces it with angels and by Himself.
The main precepts in LORD's Laws are very few : justice, mercy, faithfulness. Therefore observance of which is not difficult.
LORD's promise to Joshua is true to us too. If we are careful to walk in LORD's Laws, LORD will be with us.
Also, we know that LORD rules the Universe with His Laws, and His angels and He Himself will be for us if we do not break His Laws. Therefore our confidence is very great, and should any feeling of "FEAR" try to gain hold of our heart, we could easily brush that aside, if we know that we haven't transgressed any of His Laws.
On the other hand, if we DO NOT KNOW LORD'S LAWS and do not know that LORD rules the Universe with His Laws, and transgress His Laws now and then, we will not have confidence, and FEAR could easily overwhelm us. And we will become prey to ruthless men, and be like ship without an anchor, being swayed and tossed endlessly.
Therefore let us study LORD's Laws (which may be found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and walk carefully in them.