Joshua 1:6-9 "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. (7) 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 whithersoever thou goest.
(8) 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. (9) 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."
In these four verses, God tells Joshua, "Be strong and of a good courage." Joshua is about to embark on a new leg of this journey. For forty years, they have gone in circles around the wilderness. Now they are going to cross the Jordan River into the land promised to them. God knows the obstacles that lay ahead for Joshua and for the people. It will not be an easy trip. There are enemies in the land. Remember the report of the 12 spies who had been sent to check out the land? There are giants in the land. There are great walled cities. All twelve agreed on this point, but then ten of the men said, "We were as grasshoppers in our own sight."
Joshua was one of the two men who said, "With God's help, we can take the land." He and Caleb stood courageously before the people when all the others were wanting to turn around and go back. Have you ever had a time in your life when you wanted to just throw up your hands and say, "I give up." That's Satan speaking. God says, "Be strong and of a good courage." Yes, it was a fact there were giants in the land. Those giants would have to be defeated. Yes, it's true there were great walled cities in the land. Those cities would have to be overthrown. The obstacles had to be dealt with. How could they do it? How could they be strong and courageous when they knew their weaknesses?
Yes, it is true that God told Joshua to be strong and of a good courage. Yes, it is true He told him that three times within a matter of seconds. Was God trying to build up Joshua's courage and strength by the power of positive thinking? Did God say to Joshua, "I know you can do this."? No, God was not making these statements based upon anything of Joshua's ability. God gave "book ends" to those three statements. God said in verse 5, "I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Then in verse 9, God said, "for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
When you feel like you cannot go another step, remember the bookends of God. He called you. He gave you the purpose and goal to reach. He gives you the means whereby to achieve that goal. Most of all, God gives Himself to walk each step with us. Paul drew from this great truth even while he was imprisoned. We read in Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Place your confidence, your faith, your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has promised never to fail and never to forsake.
In these four verses, God tells Joshua, "Be strong and of a good courage." Joshua is about to embark on a new leg of this journey. For forty years, they have gone in circles around the wilderness. Now they are going to cross the Jordan River into the land promised to them. God knows the obstacles that lay ahead for Joshua and for the people. It will not be an easy trip. There are enemies in the land. Remember the report of the 12 spies who had been sent to check out the land? There are giants in the land. There are great walled cities. All twelve agreed on this point, but then ten of the men said, "We were as grasshoppers in our own sight."
Joshua was one of the two men who said, "With God's help, we can take the land." He and Caleb stood courageously before the people when all the others were wanting to turn around and go back. Have you ever had a time in your life when you wanted to just throw up your hands and say, "I give up." That's Satan speaking. God says, "Be strong and of a good courage." Yes, it was a fact there were giants in the land. Those giants would have to be defeated. Yes, it's true there were great walled cities in the land. Those cities would have to be overthrown. The obstacles had to be dealt with. How could they do it? How could they be strong and courageous when they knew their weaknesses?
Yes, it is true that God told Joshua to be strong and of a good courage. Yes, it is true He told him that three times within a matter of seconds. Was God trying to build up Joshua's courage and strength by the power of positive thinking? Did God say to Joshua, "I know you can do this."? No, God was not making these statements based upon anything of Joshua's ability. God gave "book ends" to those three statements. God said in verse 5, "I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Then in verse 9, God said, "for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
When you feel like you cannot go another step, remember the bookends of God. He called you. He gave you the purpose and goal to reach. He gives you the means whereby to achieve that goal. Most of all, God gives Himself to walk each step with us. Paul drew from this great truth even while he was imprisoned. We read in Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Place your confidence, your faith, your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has promised never to fail and never to forsake.