No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

~Joshua 1:5

Just to give you fair warning, I am reading the book of Joshua, and as with any time I read and study the Bible, I get a lot of thoughts about what it all means. My entries as a consequence may seem disjointed at times.

All throughout the Bible it seems as though God has abandoned his people. In truth it all started because his people abandoned him first by ignoring his first law of worshiping only him.

As a nation, we seem to be heading down a similar path of self-destruction. We worship other gods such as money, ourselves, our leaders and placing all our faith to prosperity and security in our government.

For many Christians including myself, we despair that God has abandoned us in return. Since he promised never to abandon us, I think he’s instead allowing us to face the consequences of our actions as a way to encourage — if not force — us to turn back to him.

God may let our country fall, but he has not — nor ever will — abandon us. All we have to do is return to him and he will return to us.

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do no be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

~Joshua 1:8-9

We sometimes fall into the belief that material prosperity and economic security is proof of God’s favor. That is missing the point. The Kingdom of God is not of this world, nor will it ever be. God is more concerned for our spiritual well-being, because no amount of riches will gain us entry into Heaven.

We are a spoiled nation, and God may well use our current turmoil to remind us where we need to expend our energies.

That is not to say we should give up and hide in underground bunkers until Jesus comes again. Quite the opposite. We are charged to be out in the world even as we are not to be a part of it.

It is not the approval of man, but of God we should seek. We should long for God to say to us when we meet him face-to-face, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”