Joshua 1:6-9
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Three times Joshua is reminded to be strong and courageous. And in verse 9 God emphatically makes the point. He is lifting Joshua up to be the leader of God's people. The leader that must follow after Mose's death. Joshua must lead God's people back towards the promise land yet keep them on task as instructed that they can only go so far on this journey home. God is very clear in his instructions to Joshua (just as Jesus was clear in His instructions to the disciples and ultimately even to us...): be strong and courageous, be careful to obey the law of Moses. Stay in the middle of the road, do not fall in the left ditch or the right ditch. Always have the Law ready and pray on it daily, follow it strictly, do not be afraid or discouraged because God is with you wherever you go.
Sounds like a text conversation we just had a couple of days ago about living in confidence with Jesus. But more importantly, the Gospel gives us this same message from Jesus...be strong, courageous in your faith, steadfast in your practice.
I agree. I also like verses 5 and 9. They reminded me of our conversations. 5 saying that god will never leave us nor forsake us. We have the same access to God as Moses did, as long as we strive for it. We can be confident, strong and courageous that just as God stuck with Moses through everything he will stick with us. Do not be discouraged, do not be afraid, because the Lord our God will be with us Wherever we go, and no one will be able to stand against us all of the days of our lives!
ReplyDelete