Walking with the LORD
Dr. Wong Fook Kong
Joshua 3:9-17
God Is Walking with Us
The Book of Joshua is a book of new beginnings. After wandering in the desert for 40 years, they have finally arrived at the border of the Promised Land. In the midst of their uncertainties God showed them that he was still with them. This could be seen in the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (chapters 3-4), which told everybody that the God who divided the Red Sea had arrived in Canaan! God’s appearance to Joshua served the same function (5:13-15). Finally, the miraculous defeat of Jericho (chapter 6) also served as evidence to God’s presence. The 7-day they circled around Jericho corresponded to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Just as they went out of Egypt after the first Passover, they defeated the first city in Canaan after the first Feast of Unleavened Bread in Canaan.
Although Israel had experienced many changes, there was one constant in their lives: God was still with them. In the same way, HKBTS is a witness to God’s presence and guidance. Throughout the last 6 decades we have had different presidents and teachers. Sixty years from now, by the grace of God, there will be other presidents and teachers. Each generation faces its own unique challenges and opportunities. Who knows what HKBTS will look like 60 years from now? But there is one thing of which we can be sure: God’s presence will lead us into the future just as he has led us in the past.
Change is inevitable. In the midst of change God will stay with us. However, this is not necessarily true of us. Thus, one of the most important things to consider at each new beginning is whether we are still walking with God or walking away from him. But then what does it mean to walk with God?
Our Walking with the Lord
Walking with the Lord means obeying his instructions. God was very specific about the ways they were to cross the Jordan and lay siege to Jericho. Similarly we must walk with God in His way, not ours. We can’t tell God we will walk with him as long as he does things our way. This is certainly true in our personal life because we can’t change lives – neither our own nor other people’s lives. We must rely on God to do this. This is also true from the wider perspective of the universal church of Christ. The challenges faced by the church today are no less daunting than the challenges the Israelites faced.
Walking with the Lord means going where He leads. It means following his leadership one step at a time. We don’t always see the whole picture at first. As we take one step, he shows us the next. Our responsibility is not to know the future but to decide whom to follow in the future. This is so even when we are apprehensive. The Israelites never had a secure, peaceful life throughout those past 40 years in the wilderness. They must have been apprehensive about what lay ahead. This is true of us as well. Following God is not necessarily a “safe” experience. God might push us out of our comfort zone. We may feel scared. But as long as we walk with Him we will be fine.
Each generation of Christians face their own unique challenges and opportunities. May our generation “fight the good fight” for our Lord just as the ancient Israelites did in their generation.