Be Strong and Courageous
Joshua 1:6–9 (NASB95)
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have 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 success. 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Three times the Lord told Joshua to be strong and very courageous. So Joshua, the new leader, marches against one of the great fortresses and walled cities of the day, Jericho. God does a tremendous and unique miracle; the walls fall down at the sound of a trumpet and a shout, and they have a great victory. It could only be God who did it. The city of Ai would be a piece of cake, but they go against it and are defeated because Achan had stolen some silver and gold from Ai that they had been commanded to be dedicated to the Lord. Jericho was the first fruit in the land, and as the first fruit, it belonged to the Lord. The first fruits always belong to the Lord. So after finding the stolen goods in their midst, they had to go up against Ai a second time. They had to be courageous at Jericho, at Ai, and even more difficult at Ai again.
When Joshua got a word from God, 7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go,” three different times. I am sure Joshua didn’t know why God told him three times. But he needed courage, especially after the time of defeat.
God’s word is for what you are facing today, and it is also for tomorrow after a time of defeat, failure, or even faith- and joy-robbing bad news. The way out of defeat is to trust God, be strong, and very courageous. It never changes. No matter if you are coming off a great victory or a great defeat, God says, “Be strong and very courageous.”
Courage is faith wrapped in action and obedience.
Be strong and courageous.
I love you.
Pastor Randy