What can we Expect of a New Year – Elaine Ulrich
Joshua 3:1-7
“Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.” 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests “Take up the Ark of the Covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. 7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
After 430 years in bondage in Egypt and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel is about to cross over into Canaan. From Exodus 3:8 we know that it is a land flowing with milk and honey – a good land. In Deut. 11:11, 12 we read that it is a land of hills and valleys and that it “drinks water of the rain of heaven” – God’s supply for growth and fruit-bearing. Look at verse 12 – “[It is] a land which the Lord thy God careth for, for the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.”
I believe that as we cross over into the New Year, we can expect good things. We know that God’s mercies are new every morning, and that His faithfulness is great. We can expect hills and valleys – difficulties and trials. And, as the Israelites knew, so we know that there will be battles ahead – spiritual warfare, and attacks of the enemy. Yet I believe we can take to ourselves the assurance that our future is “a land that God cares for”, that He will be watching over us always – “from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” There will be surprises for us, but there will be no surprises for God – He knows the end from the beginning.
Like Israel, we are venturing into the unknown as this New Year dawns. We face uncertainty in our personal lives. Most of us have considered the possibility of illness, economic hardship, loss… we probably have a growing awareness of our own mortality, and a realization of how slender is the thread that holds us to this life.
But let us take courage! The land before us is a good land – well supplied by a God who cares for us, and who will watch over us from the beginning of the year to the end!
“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way’” – M. Louise Haskins – 1875-1957
But let’s look at the Israelites as they near the bridgeless, swollen, turbulent Jordan, and as they contemplate the uncertainties and the dangers of the land on the other side – probably (if like many of us) thinking about the giants, the fortified cities, the peril, than they are about the promise of God’s presence and power.
I think there are some directives here – instructions to Israel, but applicable to us as well.
1. Follow the Ark vs. 3
A. The ark was the symbol of God’s presence; it was their guide and their protection. If we are sure of God’s presence with us, and if we follow His leading, we can be confident of His protection.
B. The ark was a memorial – a reminder of the past faithfulness of God, and of His provision for every need.
C. The ark was a promise of gracious providence to come. Read vs. 10, 11 There will be changes, but God will remain the same. There may be – yes probably will be battles, losses, disappointments, hardships, but we can say – vs. 10 – ‘the living God is with us’!!
2. Proceed with Caution vs. 4
A. We need guidance. As Joshua said, ‘ye have not passed this way heretofore,” We must move in God’s will, keeping the Lord ever before us. We are to ‘go after’ it, but we must not outrun it. We must be patient – make no impulsive moves, but watch for guidance – and there will be guidance. God will guide us by His Spirit and by His word. We have not passed this way before – and we shall not pass this way again.
3. Sanctify yourselves – vs. 5
A. A time for spiritual inventory. Have I made spiritual progress in the past year? What is my spiritual temperature? Am I hot? Cold? Lukewarm? Am I totally committed to doing God’s will? Am I about my Father’s business?
B. A time for spiritual adjustments. Does my heart need a spiritual house cleaning? Do I need to confess of some sin of the spirit? Do I need to repent of some sin of omission?
C. A time for Godly resolutions. Resolved: that I will pay attention to – and obey – every prompting and every check of the Spirit.
D. A time for thanksgiving – for every ‘common blessing’ – for happy memories – for precious friendships and fellowship – and certainly for God’s faithfulness.
I would like to go to 1 Sam. 7:12, and put part of this verse alongside Joshua 3:4, which says, in part, ‘Ye have not passed this way heretofore.” Samuel says as he sets up a memorial stone – ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”
“Hitherto” – this expression looks back as to say – ‘so far the Lord has helped me”.
This expression looks ahead. It implies that there is still a distance to travel. There are still more trials, joys, more hills to climb, more tasks, more battles.
“Hereto” and “Hitherto” – a new way lies ahead, but we have confidence in the Lord who has helped us, and who will help us. He is the ever-loving – never failing God!