"I will never leave you nor forsake you"

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5 ESV)

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I’ve often heard people quote this verse from Joshua 1:5, that God will never leave or forsake us. I hear it a lot when people are going through rough seasons, or just during prayer. I’m not saying that this verse is always taken out of context or misused, I think it does apply in those situations; but it’s interesting to me that I never realized the author of Hebrews quotes it in the context of being content and free from the love of money. The “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Scripture is used to show that God’s presence is more than enough for us to be content and not under the rule and love of money or possessions.

When I think about it, it makes perfect sense that the eternal God of all creation’s presence with me and within me, working in and through my life and guiding and correcting and disciplining me throughout all I do--that’s something not everyone can say they have. If I’m honest, I find that I’m not always content just to be where I am, with what I have. My nature is to always want more.

Steve Jobs announces new gadgets and I want them. And whoever directs the advertisements for Apple products makes me feel like I absolutely have to have that specific product because it makes life so much better and improves the condition of the world. Why is it hard for me to remember that even when I get my hands on something I’ve been wanting, it doesn’t fix anything, I’ll still want more and more.

So this context shows me that God’s promise to never leave or forsake his people enables me to be content with what I have and helps me be free from the love of money.

But when we look at it’s original setting (God speaking to Joshua on the east of the Jordan as Israel was preparing to cross into Canaan), God means it in a completely different sense than money and contentment.

Joshua 1:5-6
[5] No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. [6] Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

Here, Joshua is charged with a military assignment. He’s going to lead a brand new nation of wanderers of some thousands of warriors into a land filled with experienced armies, giant warriors, and fortified cities. Against these overwhelming odds, God assures Joshua that he will not leave or forsake him throughout this task.

So it’s also meant to show that against overwhelming odds, when God’s people are obedient to him and his chosen leaders, he will bring them all through the valley of the shadow of death.
But even more than that, verses 7-8 shed even more light on what God intends for us to understand why he won’t leave or forsake his people:

[7] Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. [8] This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.

Here God adds that there must be obedience to his word and commandments. There isn’t just going to be military success; we aren’t just going to be content and free from love of money, God’s presence with us and among us is also meant to faithfully serve him in daily obedience to his word, “for then” our way is made prosperous, and we will have success, or be free from love of money and filled with contentment. God’s presence is coupled with his word. There isn’t any way around it.