Joshua 1 to 4
Strong and Courageous
Joshua 1 to 4. Joshua is charged by the Lord to be strong and courageous. Is this a charge that is only applicable to Joshua? Do Christians today need to be strong and courageous in our service for the Lord Jesus Christ?
1 After the death of Moses the
servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses'
assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over
this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to
them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot
will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From
the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river
Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the
going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to
stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses,
so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong
and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that
I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very
courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my
servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the
left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the
Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day
and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is
written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you
will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord
your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:1-9, English Standard Version
Joshua 1 to 4
Strong and Courageous
After the death of Moses, in Joshua 1 to 4, the Lord had a conversation with Joshua encouraging him to follow Him with strength and courage. Look at the promise God gave to Joshua.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
What a remarkable promise! One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Joshua 1:8. As God further encourages and admonishes Joshua, He stated,
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Was this a promise from Joshua 1 to 4 made only to Joshua? No! There
is the key to success for Christians today; just as assuredly as it was
meant for Joshua, so should we claim Joshua 1:8 as our verse today. God not only told Joshua to be strong and courageous, but He also told him how to
accomplish it. What is that key to success?
But, you shall meditate on it [the Scriptures] day and night.
God knows our propensity to not only forget Him, but also to let the
daily occurrences of life swallow up our thoughts and our time. These verses from Joshua 1 to 4 are so very relevant to us today as well.
I
am a piano teacher and have noticed that those students who tend to
consistently practice, week after week, are those who have set aside a
specific time each day for their practice. How much more should we set
aside a specific time or times each day to read the Word, meditate, and
pray. If we wait until we have time, it will never happen.
Is that really such a big deal? Look at God's response.
For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Nothing that we need to do should take precedence over that time spent
each day with God; even if we are the most important leader or ruler of a
country! Just as Daniel, one of most important leaders in the country in which he lived, prayed three times a day, so should we be zealous in our times with the Lord.
So,
today, as we think of these verses from Joshua 1 to 4, I encourage you to be strong and courageous; spend time with the
Lord today. Get to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Friend above all friends. His Word will never fail you, neither will He leave you or
forsake you. He has given everything--even His very life to purchase a people for Himself.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Devotional Reflections from the Bible
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