Courage is living with the absence of FEAR. Joshua models what it means to trust in the Lord as he steps out in faith and follows God’s directions for him after Moses has died. Are you following His instructions today? Are you a Joshua or not?
Joshua 1:1-9…”After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them–to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates–all the Hittite country–to the Great Sea on the west.
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land, I swore to their forefathers 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. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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 terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
God urges Joshua to be strong and courageous and He tells Joshua that He will be with you and will never leave you nor forsake you.
Is God telling you to be strong and courageous?
Do you trust God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? If not, it’s time to do so, as His Great Commandment is, in strong language, telling us all what His most important desire is through the Great Commandment Matthew 22:37-40. LOVE HIM 100% and LOVE EVERYONE!
God promised to bless Abraham and make his descendants into a great nation Genesis 15:16. God would choose the right time for Israel to enter Canaan, because the nations living there then would be wicked and ripe for judgment (their sin would run its course) Genesis 17:7, 8.
God promised to give all the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants, and God promised to help the Israelites drive out all the evil nations from Canaan. The Israelites were to be an example of right living to the whole world; this would not work if they intermingled with the wicked Canaanites. The Israelites were to utterly wipe out the Canaanites because of their wickedness and because of Israel’s call to purity. The Israelites were to completely destroy the Canaanite altars so nothing would tempt them away from worshiping God alone.
God told Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land (also called Canaan) and conquer it. This was not an act of imperialism or aggression, but an act of God’s judgment.
What is God telling you to destroy? What’s in your Canaan that He wants you to annihilate?
All mighty God, please reveal to me what wickedness and sin in me you want to remove. Please guide your Holy Spirit to give me the strength to stay the course as I seek to enter your promise land. Father, I know apart from you I can’t do anything. Please breathe into me to bless me with the wisdom and discernment necessary to fulfill Your will in me. Amen.
With Gratitude,
Bill