Good morning,
Moses is dead. The mantle of leadership has been passed to Joshua. God places His seal of approval on Joshua in Joshua 1:5-9. God makes sure Joshua knows he will not be going alone into this battle. God will be with him all the way.
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (1:5)
God command’s Joshua to be strong and courageous. Then to divide the land.
“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.” (1:6)
God command’s Joshua to follow the book of the law. Observe, obey, meditate, so that they might be prosperous and have great success.
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (1:7-8)
God command’s Joshua not to be afraid or dismayed. Why? God will be with him where ever he goes.
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (1:9)
Did it ever occur to you that we serve the same God as Joshua? The challenge to be “strong and courageous”, is God’s challenge to believer’s today. God’s presence, protection, are available to all believers in Christ.
It is still God’s desire for every believer to read, obey, meditate, and do what the Bible says. We are commanded to tell others about our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. This is where our battle begins. We must go in the power of the Holy Spirit, with strength and courage.
May we be found faithful to God. Joshua was.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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