April 20-Be Strong and Courageous

Joshua 1-3

Psalm 49:1-9

Proverbs 11:22-23

Luke 13:1-17

“Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth: you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: Be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9

Three times in these four verses Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous. He was about to lead the children of Israel to take possession of the promised land. In Numbers 13 we find a description of the people of the land of Canaan. They are described as “powerful’ and “very large.” Joshua was very familiar with the people because he was one of the 12 spies who went into the land 40 years earlier. He saw them and remembered them well. Now, all these years later, he was given the task of leading the children of Israel to defeat them and finally take possession. Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the twelve spies who believed they could take over the land because they knew that God had the power to do whatever He promised. But Joshua knew how large and powerful the people were, and how difficult it would be to conquer them. He believed God would go with them and protect them, but he must have been frightened. In these verses God is giving Joshua encouragement. He looked into Joshua’s heart and met him where he was. He told him to be strong and courageous and assured him he is not alone. God is telling Joshua the importance of reading and obeying the book of instruction because it will lead them to success in whatever they do. God’s Word is our source of encouragement and instruction as well. It gives us strength and hope when we are afraid. It leads and guides us and if we follow it’s teaching we can expect to experience success. God knows our hearts and He meets us where we are. We do not have to be ashamed to admit that we are afraid. James Neil Hollingworth first penned a quote that has become very familiar: Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. Joshua knew that obeying God was more important than any fear he might have, and that taking possession of the promised land was the task set before him. He chose to obey God and believe in his promises.