Joshua chapter 1 vs 7 to 9 (New International Version)
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
If you are living in South Africa right now (or anywhere in the world, really) then you’ll know that times are perilous in many ways.
It feels like each passing year things get harder, not easier.
Joshua may have felt that way as Israel trudged around the desert for 40 long years.
He watched as an entire generation died out.
Only he and Caleb of the 12 spies had brought back a positive report to Moses after spying out Canaan.
He and Caleb felt the Israelites could take out the giants.
The other 10 did not think so, and they influenced the entire congregation to want to stone these two.
It could really have gotten nasty, but God stepped in.
So what was the difference?
In short, the two looked at what God could do. The 10, who incidentally were leaders in their respective tribes, looked at their own ability.
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Joshua had seen the miracles God had done through Moses. Of all people, he had come closest to ‘seeing’ God on the mountain.
He and Moses were close.
So, if anything, he should have been confident when taking the leadership following Moses’ death.
But maybe this wasn’t quite the case…
Why would God say to him, be strong and courageous if he was feeling strong and courageous?
Joshua was probably terrified. Maybe you feel this way at the moment? Will God really come through?
Joshua knew that his task was to take Israel into Canaan (the promised land) and take out the inhabitants therein, who God had said had done much evil and wickedness.
Instead of spending hours on explaining careful military strategy, God gives Joshua a few simple commands, and none have anything to do with fighting.
1. Be strong and courageous. In other words, stand up and take authority in God’s name.
2. Obey everything Moses instructed. In other words, listen to the advice and input from your parents and bosses.
3. Meditate on the Word of God every morning and every evening. In other words, think about God all the time.
4. Don’t be discouraged. In other words, don’t give up too quickly.
That almost seems too simple. In the case of Joshua, he did all this and was successful in all he did.
All he was really doing was carrying out God’s plan for him and for Israel.
If you can get these things right, you’ll probably find that things go a whole better for you in your family life and at work.
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