Marion Cotillard, an actress in Christopher Nolan’s movie Inception, says of the director, “Things that I didn’t really get while we were shooting, I knew were maybe not to be understood. I found it very interesting to allow myself to be lost, because I knew that I had this amazing guide who would take us to a place where you really live the experience, because you abandon yourself for a story and a director that will make it all work.”

I think Joshua could have said similar things about the Director of his life. In today’s Scripture passage, the newly commissioned leader of Israel is standing at the threshold of Canaan. Moses, his mentor, has died. He’s the new top dog, and the weight of the responsibility must have been palpable. Twice God told him, “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6,9). And once He said it with emphasis, “Be strong and very courageous (Joshua 1:7).

It’s not difficult to imagine Joshua’s fear and apprehension. More than 2 million Israelites were looking to him to lead them to their homeland. How would he do it? God didn’t provide him with a detailed script, but He did give Joshua assurances and commandments.

Essentially, God’s assurances were: l’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you. I won’t leave you. I will be with you every step you take (Joshua 1:5,9). And God’s commandment was: Make sure you study and practice everything written in My Word (Joshua 1:7-8). Joshua’s response? Complete devotion and surrender to his amazing Guide.

Near the close of his life, Joshua proclaimed, “Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything He had spoken came true” (Joshua 21:45).

We too can abandon ourselves to a story and to a Director who “will make it all work.”

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Daniel 5:1-30