This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8
A mother helps her young daughter discover what happened to her first attempt at baking cookies. “Did you read the recipe carefully, sweetie?” the mom asks. “Yes, I read it twice before I made the cookies,” the disappointed daughter replies. “But, did you follow the recipe?” her wise mother asks.
We all know there is a difference between reading directions and following directions. Or, to use biblical terminology, there is a difference between hearing the Word and obeying the Word. When God prepared Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, He gave him a two-step recipe for success: Meditate (read carefully) on the Book of the Law and observe (obey) the Book of the Law. Only by following both steps would Joshua find God’s blessing for success.
We must follow Joshua’s example daily: Read God’s Word for the purpose of knowing how to walk in God’s ways. Reading and obeying is the recipe for blessing.
The Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures will expect obedience to the Scriptures. A. W. Tozer
Joshua 1-2 – Skip Heitzig
After forty years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land. As we begin our study in the book of Joshua, we learn that though the Israelites had failed to trust in God’s promises in the past, they were now ready to step out in faith and claim their covenant.