Today’s Reading: Joshua 24; Isaiah 40; Matthew 27:45-61

What must it have been like for the followers of Jesus the day after His crucifixion? He told them He would be back, that He would rise from the dead, but they did not understand. Their emotions were mixed with sorrow and fear. Some, like Peter, must have felt strong regret over their lack of faith in the difficulties of the day before. This day between the crucifixion and the resurrection, the period of waiting to see what God would do next, waiting for God’s help.

ARE YOU CURRENTLY IN THE TIME IN BETWEEN, WAITING TO SEE WHAT GOD WILL DO NEXT?

In his last days, Joshua reminded the Israelites of all God had done for them. God sent Moses and Aaron to stand before Pharaoh, and he brought terrible plagues against Egypt while protecting His people. When the Egyptian army pursued them, God placed darkness between the Israelites and their enemies. He parted the waters, giving the people dry land to walk on as they crossed the Red Sea. Then they watched as God released the waters, destroying the Egyptian army.

Despite these miraculous events and because of their lack of faith, God’s people spent 40 years in the wilderness. But here they were now, finally enjoying the beautiful land God had promised to them. He had rolled back the Jordan River as they crossed into the land of Canaan; the Lord had caused the walls of Jericho to crumble to the ground. He had fought their battles for them, sending terror ahead of them (Joshua 24:12). He gave them land they had not worked on, cities they had not built, and food they had not planted. Now it was past time for them to start serving Him wholeheartedly.

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.” – Joshua 24:14-18

They had come so far under the leadership of Moses and now Joshua. But this season of Joshua’s leadership was now ending and a new chapter was about to begin. They needed to be reminded to keep their eyes focused on the God who had consistently been there for them and who would faithfully continue to lead them.

FOCUS ON THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD, PATIENTLY KEEPING YOUR EYES ON HIM IN THE WAITING.

God does not abandon me in the TIME IN BETWEEN. He stays with me and is my constant Teacher. I hear His voice saying, “This is the way you should go”; I sense His presence reminding me that I am never alone. While waiting, I can rest in Him. I can transition as I move from one chapter to the next.

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!
Make it a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!
Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”
A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?”
“Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in the field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” – Isaiah 40:3-8

I can wait on the Lord because I know He is coming! He is my deliverer and my Lord, in whom I trust and for whom I wait. Anything else I could reach out to or cling to will fade away because nothing else is eternal. The word of my God stands forever and He is coming! And so, in the TIME IN BETWEEN, I choose to wait. I dare to trust and rest in the knowledge that God is good and that God is present and that God is coming!

Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. – Isaiah 40:10-11

The Lord is coming. And so, like Mary, we watch and we wait. We watch, knowing God is aware and has a plan. We wait, knowing God’s timing is always perfect.

Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching. – Matthew 27:59-61